by Mary Spiller

September 29, 2023

Black-Owned NC Bookstore Reopens As A Bookmobile

A Black-owned bookstore that closed down earlier in 2023 has reopened with a unique business venture that is proving more sustainable.

As reported by WFAE 90.7, bookmobile owner Sonyah Spencer sells books from a painted white school bus in North Carolina’s South Park area. Spencer was forced to improvise in her bookselling business venture after her brick-and-mortar shop, The Urban Reader Bookstore, grew too expensive to keep open.

Spencer said of paying $6,000 monthly to lease the space, “Business owners need to adjust according to the economic times. For me, it wasn’t financially right for the amount of rent I was paying at the brick-and-mortar location. I was going red every month. It got to the point where the other business I do during the week, I was supplementing to keep the bookstore open.”

Spencer told the outlet that once her 18-month lease ended earlier in 2023 she decided to take her book-selling shop on the road, buying the bookmobile.

“I get it. If I lived in Pineville, where I used to live, would I drive all the way to the university to go to a bookstore? No, I wouldn’t,” Spencer said. So, I said, you know what, let me go to the people, so the people don’t have to go to me.”

Now her costs are much more conducive to a successful business plan. Her payments include around $60 for gas, bus maintenance, and about $100 for parking every month.

Now able to serve many more communities, Spencer continues selling books by Black authors, LGBTQ+ books, and children’s books. She acknowledged that many of the books are controversial now and have even been subject to bans, but said it was better for her to leave her shelves uncensored.

“I pray for the librarians, the school districts, and the community libraries, because their road to getting a book on the shelf is harder for them than it is for me,” said Spencer.

A fellow community member named Robert emphasized the importance of resources like Spencer’s bookmobile. He said, “We live in the United States of America, and freedom of speech is important. The opportunity to choose, to read, and to explore whatever we want is a good thing, so it’s great to see this out here.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 29, 2023

California Woman Returns To Store After Stealing $600 Merchandise To Demand Return Of Dropped Phone

Two women in California went into a beauty supply store and stole expensive merchandise. One of them decided to go back after discovering she’d left her phone behind, and demanded that the employees return her property. When her phone wasn’t turned over, she assaulted the store owner. Both women were arrested a short time later by Murrieta police officers.

According to the Los Angeles Times, 24-year-old Kaydrianna Hall and her accomplice, 19-year-old Serenadi Banks, were arrested by police officers about a mile from the store and outside a home. The two were seen on surveillance footage pretending to shop for supplies; as they approached the register to check out, they made a run for the exit. One of the women dropped her iPhone, which had her driver’s license and credit card, inside its case, according to police.

The woman returned to the store to retrieve her possessions, and the workers refused to hand over the items. They even said they would return it to her in return for the $600 worth of stolen goods, but she declined. That is when she hit the store owner and fled again.

The Murrieta Police Department posted about the incident, which occurred on Sept. 19, on its Facebook page.

“Last week, two women walked into a nail supply store just after noon. After they found what they wanted, they proceeded to walk right out the front doors, failing to pay for the now stolen merchandise.

“Believe it or not, one of the suspects returned just minutes later and told the store employees to return her phone that she had dropped when stealing from the store. #YoureKiddingRight The phone also had her California Driver License and credit card inside the phone case. #YupThatsHer.”

The post then says that the woman had her charge bumped from simple theft to robbery.

When the police officers caught up to the women, they found the stolen items in their vehicle, in plain sight. That’s when both were arrested on numerous charges, according to the police.

“Thankfully, the injuries to the store owner were minimal. For sure woulda been easier to just buy the products with the credit card that was in the phone case. “

Alexis Skye, atlanta, Revolt, Human trafficking, summit, Georgia

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 29, 2023

Alexis Skyy Opens Up About Becoming A Victim Of Human Trafficking As A Teenager

Reality star Alexis Skyy is sharing her story of surviving sex trafficking to help raise awareness of the often overlooked crisis.

The “Love & Hip Hop” star attended the Revolt World Summit in Atlanta and spoke on a panel about the growing epidemic of missing Black women and girls in America. It’s a personal issue for Skyy, who recalled falling victim to sex trafficking when she was a runaway teen.

In a clip captured by Noir Online, Skyy recalls being a “young girl who just wanted to be free,” and while she came from a “great family,” she desired to “explore” the outside world. Knowing she couldn’t go back home after running away so many times before, Skyy asked a friend if she could stay with them.

However, she was “set up” by a friend who told her she would get her a job as a waitress. Skyy remembers waking up inside a house filled with other victims.

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A post shared by NoirOnlineOrg (@noironlineorg)

“I didn’t know what was going on,” Skyy said, recalling she was the “youngest one there,” at just 15 or 16 years old.

“The very night I was taken to the club and sold off and raped,” Skyy revealed of her “worst nightmare.”

Skyy said she felt “hopeless” as older men from the Atlanta metro area took advantage of her while she was “held against your will every day.”

“I was just wanting to give up,” she said. It took two or three months before she was able to escape her abuser.

“I had to gain courage and know that there is an end because I’m going to put up a fight,” Skyy said.

This wasn’t the first time Skyy had spoken openly about her experience with human trafficking. In 2019, she posted a video PSA to raise awareness of the sex trafficking crisis plaguing the city of Atlanta.

“Atlanta GA is one of the top 5 cities for human trafficking in the US,” she WROTE. “Please be safe out here and watch your surroundings.”

Alexis Skyy talks about sex trafficking in Atlanta.#alexisskyy #Atlanta #Atlantanews #celebnews #entertainment #vh1 #lhh pic.twitter.com/LPTph17yBa

— Aman Magazine (@Aman_Magazine) November 17, 2019

Morris Chestnut, Rebuilding Black Wall Street, OWN, Jon Pierre, Mary Tjon-Joe-Pin

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 29, 2023

Morris Chestnut Hosts “Rebuilding Black Wall Street” To Spotlight Resilient Tulsa Community

Morris Chestnut is lending his talent and charm as the host of OWN’s new six-part series tracing the century-long impact of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre and chronicling that community’s resilient rebuilding.

“Rebuilding Black Wall Street” comes two years after the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, during which an angry white mob destroyed the flourishing Greenwood District, leaving an estimated 300 dead, more than 1,200 homes destroyed, and at least 60 businesses and community buildings burned to the ground. That day is considered the single most horrific incident of racial terrorism since slavery.

Despite the tragedy, trauma, and scars the massacre left behind, the Greenwood District has remained resilient in its journey to rebuild. Its strength and joy are highlighted in the Oprah Winfrey Network’s uplifting renovation docuseries hosted by Chestnut.

The six episodes follow Chestnut and designers Jon Pierre and Mary Tjon-Joe-Pin as they guide viewers through Greenwood’s rich history and the personal journeys of those featured, many of whom are descendants of original Black Wall Street residents.

As new businesses and projects come to life in “The Black Wall Street,” as the area was known, viewers witness the physical and emotional challenges that come with large-scale construction while also celebrating the promise of Greenwood’s future.

Profiles include “The Birthing Center,” founded by Tulsa Race Massacre descendant Montika Collins, who aims to create North Tulsa’s only natural birthing center and return the tradition of midwifery to the Greenwood District. “The Family House” follows Tulsa massacre descendant Rachel Walker, who seeks to preserve the home passed down to her through generations with help from the nonprofit 1256 Movement. “The Transition Home” shows how Tulsa’s complex history laid the groundwork for massacre descendant D’Marria Monday to build a haven for recently incarcerated women reintegrating back into society.

“The Farm” tackles the ongoing effort to change the food desert of North Tulsa through Rodney and Sheila Clark’s family farm that’s in need of a major upgrade. “The Mansion” includes special guest Ananda Lewis, who helps Jon Pierre and Mary upgrade the historic Skyline Mansion, which serves as a studio for local rap group Fire in Little Africa. “The Restaurant” sees NBA alum Kevin Johnson open Fixins Soul Kitchen in Tulsa and feed three survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

“Rebuilding Black Wall Street” premieres on OWN Friday, September 29, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CST.

by Iman Milner

September 29, 2023

Man Arrested In Connection To Tupac Shakur Murder

Las Vegas police have arrested a man believed to be connected to the suspected shooter responsible for the unsolved murder of rap legend Tupac Shakur.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously covered, a break in the case that has captivated Tupac fans and crime investigators alike since 1996 came in July 2023, when police determined there was enough evidence to order the raid of a home in Henderson, Nevada.

At the time, no one was named; however, the person of interest has now been identified as Duane “Keffe D” Davis. On Sept. 29, Las Vegas law enforcement arrested Davis on unidentified charges connected to the shooting, and he is expected to be indicted.

In 2019, Davis authored a memoir, Compton Street Legend, in which he detailed the events of Sept. 7, 1996, that led to the untimely demise of Shakur in a Las Vegas hospital six days later. He claimed to be one of two living eyewitnesses to the fatal shooting and implicated his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, as one of two possible shooters in the backseat of the Cadillac long believed to be the vehicle involved.

Davis said that he came clean to federal authorities in 2010 while facing a life sentence in prison connected to drug charges.

“They promised they would shred the indictment and stop the grand jury if I helped them out,” he wrote in Compton Street Legend.

Law enforcement has been interested in Davis’ involvement in the shooting for many years, the Associated Press reports.

“It’s so long overdue,” said Greg Kading, a police detective who investigated the “Dear Mama” rapper’s killing. “People have been yearning for him to be arrested for a long time. It’s never been unsolved in our minds. It’s been unprosecuted.”

Nevada police have spent the years following the release of Davis’ memoir collecting enough evidence to firmly consider him a viable suspect in Shakur’s murder, the outlet reports.

“He put himself squarely in the middle of the conspiracy,” Kading said.

“He had acquired the gun, he had given the gun to the shooter and he had been present in the vehicle when they hunted down and located both Tupac and Suge [Knight].”

Several murders that law enforcement believe were connected to that of Shakur’s occurred in the years following his death, including that of rapper Christopher “Biggie” Wallace. Davis is one of the last living connections to the murders of two of the most cherished figures in hip-hop.

“All the other direct conspirators or participants are all dead,” Kading said. “Keffe D is the last man standing among the individuals that conspired to kill Tupac.”

by Mary Spiller

September 29, 2023

First Black-Owned TV Station Opened 38 Years Ago Today In Detroit

On Sept. 29, 1975, the United States’ first Black-owned television station signed on for the first time. Historical Detroit station WGPR-TV 62 is celebrating its 38th anniversary this week.

According to Michigan Advance, the monumental moment came just a few years after the Federal Communications Commission decided to permit African Americans to operate their own television station in Detroit.

Vice President of WGPR-TV 62 programming told the Ann Arbor Sun in 1975 that it wouldn’t have been such a big ordeal if American society was more accepting of Black people in television.

George White said, “There wouldn’t be any need for a station of this type if things were running as a democratic society should be run. The problem with the general media, which refers to TV stations too, is that they haven’t considered us important enough. Therein lies the need.”

The WGPR-TV 62 station marked an essential step in the industry as the station worked in avenues of advocacy, providing previously unattainable employment opportunities and job-specific training for African Americans in the industry. The news station bolstered the Black economy in production, broadcast journalism, sales, and entertainment. With an all-Black evening news broadcast, Amyre Porter, Doug Morrison, and Sharon Crews were hailed as the United States’ first Black prime-time news team.

Former Republican President Gerald Ford, originally from Grand Rapids, congratulated WGPR-TV’s owner, William Banks. Ford’s pre-recorded message aired on the station’s first broadcast in 1975.

He said, “Congratulations to WGPR-TV and the men and women who helped to make it a reality. I’m particularly proud that this first Black-owned television station in the continental U.S. will be in my home state of Michigan. … Most importantly, WGPR will serve as a symbol of successful Black enterprise. This is truly a landmark, not only for the broadcasting industry but for American society. I want to see more of this kind of progress.”

Banks’ organization eventually sold WGPR-TV 62 to the CBS Television Network Inc. for reportedly $24 million. The Michigan Historical Commission raised a city marker at the original station’s headquarters in 2016, and the very next year, the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum opened on Jan. 16.

EEOC Takes On Tesla: Allegations Of Racial Discrimination And Retaliation Spark Federal Lawsuit

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 29, 2023

EEOC Takes On Tesla: Allegations Of Racial Discrimination And Retaliation Spark Federal Lawsuit

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it has filed a federal lawsuit against car maker Tesla for racial harassment and retaliation. The company is being sued for allegedly allowing widespread racism and ongoing racial harassment of its Black employees. It is also alleged that Tesla penalized Black workers in retaliation for those who opposed the harassment.

Tesla was initially investigated after EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows filed a commissioner’s charge claiming it violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The electric car company was accused of subjecting Black employees to an unlawful hostile work environment and retaliation for those who complained against it.

“Combating systemic harassment in workplaces is a key strategic enforcement priority for the EEOC. Unfortunately, as the lawsuits EEOC has filed this fiscal year show, racial harassment remains a persistent problem in employment. Every employee deserves to have their civil rights respected, and no worker should endure the kind of shameful racial bigotry our investigation revealed,” said Burrows in a written statement. “Today’s lawsuit makes clear that no company is above the law, and the EEOC will vigorously enforce federal civil rights protections to help ensure American workplaces are free from unlawful harassment and retaliation.”

The lawsuit states that racial harassment has been an ongoing problem at the company since at least 2015 until now. Black workers at Tesla’s Fremont, California, manufacturing facilities have endured hearing derogatory terms like the N-word, “monkey,” “boy,” and “black b*tch.” They were also subjected to racial abuse, pervasive stereotyping, and hostility from coworkers. The racial epithets and stereotypes were used casually and openly in high-traffic areas and worker hubs. The Black workers were also confronted with graffiti that included variations of the N-word, swastikas, threats, and nooses. These were seen on desks and other equipment, in bathroom stalls, within elevators, and on new vehicles that came off the production line.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and back pay for the workers subjected to harassment and retaliation. The EEOC is also looking for injunctive relief designed to reform the company’s employment practices so that such abuse will not happen in the future.

by Iman Milner

September 29, 2023

Jeezy And Jeannie Mai Living Together Amid Divorce Proceedings

Rapper Jeezy and television personality Jeannie Mai are living together in the midst of their divorce proceedings.

The “My President Is Black” artist and former The Real host are currently cohabitating at their home in Georgia along with their 1-year-old daughter, Monaco, and Mai’s mother, TMZ reports. The rapper, whose real name is Jay Jenkins, filed for divorce on Sept. 14 in Fulton County Superior Court, much to the dismay of Mai, who was reportedly in the dark about his decision.

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A post shared by @jeezy

Several rumors about the cause of the relationship breakdown surfaced online amid news of their divorce, including an alleged affair between Mai and “Saved by the Bell” television legend Mario Lopez. Mai denied the allegations via a source, TMZ reported.

However, claims of Mai and Jeezy’s cultural customs coming to a head have not been denied by either party. As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, the pair were allegedly at odds over “certain family values and expectations” after Mai moved her mother and her brother into the home she and Jeezy shared. At the time of his divorce filing, the rapper claimed the two were “currently living in a bona fide state of separation” and that their marriage was “irretrievably broken” with “no hope for reconciliation.” Neither Mai nor Jeezy have confirmed what brought them to this place.

Social media took notice of Mai’s Instagram post just a week prior to the filing, which showed no signs of trouble brewing in paradise.

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A post shared by Jeannie Mai Jenkins (@thejeanniemai)

In the video, Mai and the couple’s daughter are seen praying before a meal and sharing celebratory thanks for the success of the rapper’s memoir Adversity for Sale. “Your story has always been an inspiration to me, but seeing it in print has left me even more in awe of your strength and wisdom,” Mai captioned her post. “You invited us into the most intimate corners of your life, where pain and triumph coexist. This moment isn’t just a testament to your literary skills baby, but a recognition of your ability to inspire through the power of storytelling.”

Mai and Jeezy were married for two years.

RELATED CONTENT: Jeezy Files For Divorce From Jeannie Mai

by Stacy Jackson

September 29, 2023

‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ Extends Run On Broadway

The Manhattan Theatre Club has extended the run dates for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding ahead of its Oct. 3 opening night.

According to Playbill, the Broadway production, extended through Nov. 5, is the MTC’s first production for the 2023-2024 Broadway season at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

The play, written by Jocelyn Bioh, invites audiences into the experiences of the West African hairstylists at Jaja’s Harlem hair braiding salon. Love, dreams, and secrets unfold as the women bless neighborhood customers with different braided masterpieces.

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A post shared by Jocelyn Bioh (@jjbioh)

Earlier this month, Bioh discussed details about her preparations for the play with The New York Times. The New York native told the outlet about her mission to take theatergoers “into this really unique, funny, crazy, exciting, in some ways mundane, space that holds women who all have incredible stories.” Together, Bioh and the play’s director, Whitney White, thought of a way to bring a range of hairdos to life on the main stage.

Wig designer Nikiya Mathis constructed a variety of wig styles for the production.

“There are so many moving pieces to the show that involve hair, and it’s not just me backstage,” Mathis said. “It’s also the actors onstage; it’s what Jocelyn has written, and it’s what Whitney will be helping us to reveal.”

Cast members practiced braiding techniques during rehearsals to prepare to execute the styles in real time on stage.

“Part of that,” Mathis added, “is going to be the magic of figuring out how we’re going to construct the wigs and how to potentially take them apart.”

Playbill credited A-listers, including LaChanze, Taraji P. Henson, and Madison Wells Live, as part of the play’s producing team. The cast of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding features Brittany Adebumola, Maechi Aharanwa, Rachel Christopher, Kalyne Coleman, Somi Kakom, Lakisha May, Nana Mensah, Michael Oloyede, Dominique Thorne, and Zenzi Williams.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 29, 2023

Home Depot Surveillance Reportedly Proves That Tyrese Is Lying About Racism Claims

The Home Depot is pulling out the receipts on Tyrese Gibson to debunk his claims of racism at a Los Angeles store location.

One month after Tyrese filed a $1 million lawsuit against the retail chain for alleged racial profiling, Home Depot is clapping back with surveillance footage showing exactly what happened when the singer/actor visited an LA store on the evening of February 11.

According to the newly filed documents, Tyrese brought a large amount of items to the cash register and the cashier proceeded to scan them, TMZ reports. But the “Fast and Furious” star apparently wasn’t done shopping and left the cash register to go grab more items.

The issue is that Tyrese reportedly left the cash register for about 25 minutes, which resulted in the cashier clearing the area. It’s a different account from Tyrese’s claims of a computer glitch that caused the delay, prompting him to go to the parking lot to avoid other customers recognizing the celebrity.

Tyrese claims he told the cashier that members of his team would complete the purchase. But Home Depot says surveillance shows the singer never spoke to the cashier.

Surveillance does show Tyrese coming back into the store and getting into a verbal exchange with the cashier who completed his transaction. In August, Tyrese and his associates Eric Mora and Manuel Hernandez filed a lawsuit against the chain claiming they were “subjected to outrageous discriminatory mistreatment and consumer racial profiling,” Variety reports.

“The actions of the cashier and manager were discriminatory based on race and origin,” the lawsuit claims.

“There is no other plausible explanation for the mistreatment of Plaintiffs.”

The “Baby Boy” star estimates he’s spent no less than $1 million at various Home Depot stores over the years. However, the chain says they have no idea how long he’s shopped there and aren’t sure how much he’s spent over the years.

RELARED CONTENT: Tyrese Files $1M Lawsuit Against The Home Depot For Racial Profiling