by Iman Milner

September 27, 2023

Slam Dunk Into Pickleball: NBA Star Trae Young Scores Co-Ownership Of Atlanta Bouncers

Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young is the latest athlete to take their talents to the world of pickleball by way of ownership.

Young joined the ranks of players who have invested in the sport when he announced co-ownership of the Atlanta Bouncers, the city’s major league pickleball team.

“Atlanta! Proud to announce I’m the new co-owner of the @AtlantaBouncers,” Young said via Twitter. “Come help me #backthebouncers at the first @majorleaguepb tournament of the year on Sep 22-24.”

Considered by enthusiasts to be the “fastest-growing sport” in the country, the Washington-born sport has caught the eye of some of the biggest athletes in the world, including LeBron James, Naomi Osaka, Patrick Mahomes, and Draymond Green.

Atlanta! Proud to announce I’m THE NEW CO-OWNER of the @AtlantaBouncers

Come help me #BackTheBouncers at the first@majorleaguepb tournament of the year on Sep 22-24 pic.twitter.com/mYvUpdRji8

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) September 20, 2023

The sport has grown in popularity in recent years, with the Association of Pickleball Players reporting over 30 million professional pickleball players in the country as of January 2023. Interest in the sport can be attributed to the ease of play, making it a game many can participate in. Less technical than tennis and more social than ping pong, pickleball allows players to burn calories in a fun way without overextending physically. The size of the playing area, generally four times smaller than that of a traditional tennis court, also allows for ease in communication between those looking to find fresh ways to connect with their loved ones and their opponents. It’s also a sport that can be played indoors, with no adjustment needed between seasons.

As with any popular sport, making pickleball accessible to all has raised its fair share of challenges. Among them is noise in residential neighborhoods where the sound of the paddles reverberate off of buildings, sending echoes throughout the streets. A group of residents in a Massachusetts city filed a lawsuit against the zoning board of appeals over the “daily injurious and obnoxious noise levels” emanating from nearby pickleball courts.

Tichenor, Isabella, family, talk, suicide, mom, child

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 27, 2023

Mom Whose Child Died By Suicide Urges Parents To Talk With Kids

A mother whose daughter died by suicide is urging parents to talk to their kids about their mental health. Brittany Tichenor’s daughter, Isabella, was 10 years old when she took her own life in 2021, following excessive bullying at school.

After the heartbreaking loss, Tichenor continues to advocate on behalf of her daughter for mental wellness check-ins at home, as reported by ABC News. She was recently featured on “Good Morning America,” encouraging parents to prioritize mental health support for their children.

“I just didn’t know how bad it was,” Tichenor told the talk show program of the bullying her daughter suffered and her mental state. “I think she made a temporary decision in a moment of hurt, and I’ll never forget that.”

Isabella, who was also known by her nickname “Izzy,” was dealing with intense bullying at her elementary school in Utah, but her mother was unaware of how awful her daughter’s mistreatment was. The fifth-grader was also autistic and one of the few Black children at her school. Tichenor claimed that the taunting would not only be from her classmates but even some teachers, with her daughter stating that the mole between her eyebrows was often a cause of ridicule.

“I knew part of it, and I kept calling the school. I kept calling the district. But I didn’t know the severity of it,” said Tichenor of her pursuit to find out more of her daughter’s experience. “I told her, ‘You can tell me anything,’ and she normally did, but I kind of feel like she was trying to protect me. I just wish she had told me.”

Isabella’s death is part of a growing problem in schools and mental health issues for adolescents, as the rising number of children dealing with anxiety and depression in the past years. The very same year that Isabella passed, suicide was named the second leading cause of death for both youth and young adults, as confirmed by the CDC.

In August 2023, Tichenor reached a $2 million settlement with her late child’s school district, Davis School District, after the allegations and alleged negligence on the administration’s part to stop the bullying. Sharing Isabella’s story is not easy, but Tichenor’s openness and insight to parents can be impactful in saving a child’s life.

“If [children] tell you something, that they’re getting bullied, do what you need to do to protect them,” expressed the mom. “And make sure you’re there as a support 24/7.”

Tichenor now works with SafeUT, a mental health support platform in Utah, to establish an anti-bullying campaign and parent advisory council.

Usher, Skims, Super Bowl, Kim Kardashian

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 27, 2023

Usher Will Embark On World Tour After Upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Performance

R&B singer Usher, already a busy man with his Las Vegas residency, was recently announced as the headliner of 2024’s Super Bowl halftime show. The entertainer also has plans to hit the road on a world tour right after he graces the Super Bowl stage in Las Vegas in February 2024.

According to Billboard, the team behind the “My Way” singer is checking out arenas worldwide to lock down possible tour dates. The outlet also announced that Usher is releasing his ninth studio album, Coming Home, the same day as the halftime show. It will be the first album the star has put out since 2016’s Hard II Love.

The last time an artist announced a new tour after a Super Bowl halftime performance was in 2017, when Lady Gaga did so.

Usher reacted with excitement after his halftime performance was revealed to the world.

“It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before,” he said. “Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”

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Usher, who famously serenades women at his shows, avoided confrontation at a recent one. While singing in front of Gabrielle Union during a Sept. 24 performance in Paris, he stopped his usual routine as he stood before Union’s husband, NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.

As he stopped singing, he told the crowd, “Let’s not get carried away. Y’know, this is Dwyane Wade—I ain’t crazy! That man will knock my whole head off and then dunk it!”

After drawing laughter from the audience, Usher and Wade hugged, ensuring all was well.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 27, 2023

The ‘Barbie’ Movie Is Driving Adults To Buy Emotional Support Dolls

It’s still a Barbie world, even after the hit movie has left theaters. Barbie has prompted people to buy emotional support dolls in order to reconnect with their inner child, echoing the plot of the film.

As reported by CNN, many adults have documented their journey through TikTok, posting videos of themselves in the toy sections of stores to pick out dolls that best resemble who they are. These “emotional support Barbies” go beyond the typical play one engages in through childhood: They tap into nostalgic yearning and hopefulness, both of which the film emphasize.

The outlet says this cathartic experience is one of “girlhood,” another theme of the acclaimed movie, and the passing down of Barbies to a new generation has become a popular trend on TikTok as well. Not only is buying a child’s first Barbie gaining traction, so is presenting the doll to a mother or grandmother who never had the opportunity to play with one as a little girl.

One video that went went viral showed a girl gifting her mother a Dia de los Muertos doll that represents their heritage and girlhood all at once.

@bbrxtneyy24 I was fighting them tearssss y’all lmao me and my mom are a work in progress but i have so much love for her and now have a better understanding of her childhood and how regardless she did better than how she grew up i love you momma @Angebella! ✨ ♬ What Was I Made For? [From The Motion Picture “Barbie”] – Billie Eilish

Both the mother and daughter shared the heartwarming moment. The mother looked at her gift in awe, showing that dolls can provide healing for people of all ages.

This “ageless sense of play” can be of great benefit to one’s mental health, as it can counter depression, according to a psychology professor Kristin Flora.

“We have quite a bit of research that shows the benefits of play for children. But increasingly, we have scientific evidence that play is beneficial for adults as well, especially in the mental health realm,” shared Flora with CNN.

She continued: “Some of the research suggests that it can help stave off depression. It can help us build a sense of optimism, which is really important when things are uncertain. It can help us decide what disposition to take as we live through unprecedented times.”

According to Flora, this phenomenon transcends racial, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers, just as the Barbie movie spoke to women and girls of all backgrounds, encouraging them to participate in the pink-filled joy the movie evoked.

“Through our dress, we can exert that sense of play or playfulness,” shared the educator. “And what was striking for me was that this moment of play cut through age, race and ethnicity, ability status, every identity. It was everyone, together, enjoying this cultural moment.”

by Daniel Johnson

September 27, 2023

Paralyzed Maryland Man Pulled From Car by Police Reflects On Law Enforcement’s Unfamiliarity with the Disabled

A Maryland man who is disabled and unable to walk was pulled out of his car on Sept. 25 by an officer who mistook him for a man wanted for a crime in the area. As MSN reports, the officer told the disabled man that he needed to get out of the car, and the disabled man informed him that he was paralyzed. Undeterred, the officer proceeded to pull the man out of the vehicle. The man’s wife, who recorded the encounter, explained to the officer that her husband was paralyzed, was unable to walk, and was a paraplegic. She also informed the officer that she was his caretaker and that he required a wheelchair.

In the video, the man can be heard asking the police officer why he was being treated this way. The man also asks the officer if he had his bodycam on before adding, “This could have been a little easier, you guys, this is f***** up.”

Charles County Maryland yesterday. Disabled man pulled out of car by cops while texting them he is paralyzed. pic.twitter.com/58XcVrDKNy

— 🔥🔥Priest🔥🔥 (@illtrillachilln) September 26, 2023

According to the Police Brutality Center (PBC), the police are not equipped at all to deal with individuals living with disabilities. As a result, disabled individuals comprise anywhere from one third to one half of all people killed by the police. Differently abled people also make up the majority of high-profile use-of-force cases. In its study of media coverage of law enforcement use of force and disability from 2013-2015, the Ruderman Foundation mentions Brian Sterner, who was thrown from his wheelchair by a Tampa, Florida, officer who thought Sterner was faking his condition.

Sterner told WTSP in 2008, “This deputy … she looked at me, she didn’t believe that I was a quadriplegic, I guess, and she walked behind me with those handles on the back of that hospital-grade wheelchair and she just dumped it straight forward.”

He continued, “I told them how to pick me up and put me back in the chair, but without sensation—I don’t feel anything from my chest down—so I didn’t know they were broken then, my ribs.”

Police officers, according to the PBC, often do not have the patience and understanding that are required to interact with individuals living with disabilities and paralysis. As a result, people such as Sterner and the man in the TikTok video often face unwarranted brutality.

A 2021 article from the Center for American Progress criticizes police for expecting compliance and for their general lack of awareness around interacting with people with disabilities.

Vilissa Thompson, who authored the article, wrote, “In addition to the use of excessive force, law enforcement have also been shown to remove or deny certain accommodations, such as a cane or wheelchair, related to individuals’ disabilities.”

As the recent video depicts, the man, who has not yet been identified, was not even allowed to have his wheelchair until after he had been yanked from his vehicle and onto the street by an officer. This, of course, illustrates Thompson’s point perfectly. Thompson also cited the inefficacy of disability-centered training programs because of their lack of uniformity, saying that “standards for these trainings are not consistent in terms of curriculum, frequency, or who is qualified to conduct them.”

by Atiya Jordan

September 27, 2023

Sheryl Lee Ralph And More Keynote Sistas In Sales Attend Inaugural SIS 100 Power List Honoree Gala

“Sistas have always been in sales,” Sheryl Lee Ralph told BLACK ENTERPRISE just minutes before she gave a keynote speech at the inaugural SIS 100 Power List Honoree Gala.

Donning a chartreuse pantsuit, the Emmy award-winning actress, singer, director, author, and philanthropist shared just how nostalgic it was for her to think about the movement that is Sistas in Sales. “My whole life is about sales,” she told BE. “I’ve always known a Black woman leading their entrepreneurial ventures.”

Sheryl Lee Ralph delivering a keynote speech. (Photo courtesy of Sistas in Sales)

Founded by Chantel George in 2017, the Sistas in Sales Summit celebrated its sixth year by hosting its annual summit, presented by Walmart Connect, at the Glasshouse Midtown West in New York City. On Sept. 21, the organization held a star-studded event where corporate sellers in all stages of their careers showed up and showed out.

The gala was special, George told BE, adding how important it was to honor the individuals who have had an impact on the organization’s development. The plan is to honor 100 sellers every year.

“It’s very unclear how to navigate the world of sales past a certain point of your career. If you are the only woman of color on your team and you may not have a connection with your manager, they may not vouch for you. And that’s that vouching you need to get out of that position and unlock your career,” George explained.

“I challenge that diversity and business are in two separate places. Diversity and inclusion [are] here by the fact that we’re all women of color, but that doesn’t mean that the bar is lower as it pertains to business and sales excellence. We bring those two together.”

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Bevy Smith was a keynote speaker at the gala. She graced the stage to Drake’s “Fancy,” fully embracing what could be the soundtrack to her own incredible transition from a fashion advertising executive to TV and radio host. Smith told BE that she had to learn how to navigate the white male-dominated sales industry by being tenacious and self-confident. She advises that one of the first lessons to learn in sales is that there is always a way to turn a “no” into a “yes.”

Bevy Smith speaking at the SIS Power 100 List Honoree Dinner. (Photo courtesy of Sistas in Sales)

Erin Gossett, a NYC-based client account manager at Pinterest, attended the gala and the summit in hopes of finding a community to help her grow further in her sales career beyond her professional role. She was motivated by development opportunities like the Sistas in Sales summit, learning soft skills and prioritizing mental and physical health.

“Being exposed to all the ways and products I can sell has the imagination running wild and is fueling my energy to continue learning and getting better with time,” Gossett told BE.

“I have struggled with finding a community of other Black sellers, women and men, and have been actively seeking to find these spaces. Thankfully, Sistas is Sales has presented me with the opportunity to help overcome the visibility struggles I’ve had in the past.”

Founder George told BE that she has since created other initiatives, which she calls “birds of a feather,” to keep “pushing this global expansion and finding other women in sales around the world that can relate to us.”

“I’m a salesperson. It’s been the only job I ever had. Because I run a sales organization, I have access to amazing talent. My sales team [is] incredible, and they all understand the best ways to work with our partners. It’s a win-win.”

She added: “The vision is to grow to 30,000 by 2028, and our reach is close to 10,000. We are on our way.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2023

Nipsey Hussle’s Foundation Serving As Charity Partner Of LA Marathon 2024

The marathon continues carrying on Nipsey Hussle’s legacy in the city of Los Angeles. The late rapper will have his memory honored at Los Angeles’ next big marathon thanks to a partnership with the Neighborhood Nip Foundation.

On Monday, Sept. 25, Nipsey Hussle’s Neighborhood Nip Foundation was announced as an official charity partner of the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The foundation created by the late rapper, who was passionate about uniting his hometown, will join the 39th annual L.A. Marathon taking place on March 17, 2024.

“We are honored to be able to partner with the LA marathon,” Sam Asghedom, Hussle’s brother, said. “It means a lot to us because it’s something that Nip spoke about and had an interest in being a part of.”

According to Asghedom, his late brother was a huge fan of the LA Marathon and always had a vision of tying his Marathon brand with the city event. He even had hopes of running the marathon himself one day.

“He told the whole team about it and how he wanted the brand to do something with the LA Marathon, especially since it’s in L.A.,” Asghedom continued.

“Nip actually wanted to run the marathon. He told us all to get ready and get in shape for it. That’s why it feels so good for this to be coming to fruition.”

Hussle was murdered on March 31, 2019, outside his Marathon clothing store in his South L.A. hometown. He’s remembered for his talented lyricism and his passion for uplifting the community.

Now, as a nod to the rapper’s legacy, The Marathon Clothing (TMC) brand will enter a team of 15 or more into the LA Marathon and raise funds that will aid the Neighborhood Nip Foundation. Those looking to support Hussle’s foundation in the marathon can register at themarathon2024.com. The foundation will also sponsor individuals who cannot afford the marathon fees.

“Nipsey Hussle’s iconic legacy is a beacon of inspiration for everyone in the City of Los Angeles, and we are delighted to welcome the Neighborhood Nip Foundation as an official charity partner in March,” Melissa Christian, charity director for the Los Angeles Marathon, said.

“This partnership truly embodies that spirit, uniting our neighborhoods in a shared commitment to build a healthier world while celebrating Nipsey Hussle’s enduring legacy of resilience in the city he loved.”

by Sharelle Burt

September 27, 2023

Washington National Cathedral Replaces Confederate Stained-Glass Windows With ‘Racial-Justice Themed’ Designs

The Washington National Cathedral has a new look.

On Sept. 23, the cathedral revealed new “racial-justice themed” stained-glass windows depicting protesters, the National Review reports. In September 2021, the Episcopal church announced it was working with Black artist Kerry James Marshall on the project that would replace the windows depicting images of Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.

The new windows, titled “Now and Forever,” feature images of protesters holding signs saying “FAIRNESS,” “NO FOUL PLAY,” and “NO.” One protester is in a wheelchair, and full faces aren’t shown.

The church’s leadership voted to have the Confederate flags removed from the windows in 2016; after 2017’s deadly Charlottesville, Virginia, rally, the windows were removed entirely.

During the unveiling ceremony, the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, said the previous images “told a false narrative.”

“Simply put, these windows were offensive, and they were a barrier to the ministry of this cathedral, and they were antithetical to our call to be a house of prayer for all people,” Hollerith said.

“They were intended to elevate the Confederacy, and they completely ignored the millions of Black Americans who have fought so hard and struggled so long to claim their birthright as equal citizens.”

Hollerith says Marshall’s work “lifts up the values of justice and fairness and the ongoing struggle for equality among all God’s great children.” According to NPR, the profound artist has had work housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. His career has been devoted to creating Black lives and Black culture on canvas.

Along with the windows, visitors can view an original poem titled “American Song” by Elizabeth Alexander, inscribed in stone tablets close by. “A single voice raised, then another. We must tell the truth about our history,” the poem starts. “How did we get here and where do we go? Walk toward freedom. Work toward freedom. Believe in beloved community.”

Cory Booker, Bob Menendez, New Jersey, Senate

by Sharelle Burt

September 27, 2023

Got To Go! Sen. Cory Booker Calls For Resignation of Sen. Bob Menendez Amid Bribery Charges

According to Forbes, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) wants his fellow New Jersey colleague Sen. Bob Menendez to resign immediately.

Reports came out on Sept. 22 that Menendez and his wife, Nadine, allegedly accepted bribes from three Jersey-based businessmen—Wael Hana, a/k/a “Will Hana,” Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes– in exchange for using the senator’s official office for financial gain. Booker released a statement saying the charges put the trust of New Jersey residents at risk. The New Jersey politician reportedly used his influence to benefit the Egyptian government.

“The allegations are of such a nature that the faith and trust of New Jerseyans, as well as those he must work with to be effective, have been shaken to the core.”

The response from the outspoken state official was immediately looked upon since Booker was a character witness for Menendez during an earlier corruption trial, often referring to him as a friend and mentor.

Since the charges were announced, Menendez claimed he would stay in office and fight to clear his name—however, nearly nine Democratic senators—Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Jon Tester, Tammy Baldwin, Bob Casey, Jacky Rosen, Andy Kim, Martin Heinrich, Mark Kelly, and Michael Bennet joined Booker in the resignation call. “Stepping down is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment that holding public office often demands tremendous sacrifices at great personal cost,” Booker said, according to North Jersey.

“Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. And in this case, he must do so again. I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving.”

The Justice Department is charging the couple with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, and conspiracy to engage honest services fraud. The couple is accused of receiving thousands of dollars in bribes in cash, gold bars, and a luxury car for favors. Menendez has denied all the charges, claiming the “allegations leveled against me are just that” and “will be the biggest fight yet.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2023

Model Fears For Safety In Apartment Building After 2 Found Dead In Their Homes

A young model in Los Angeles is fearing for her safety in an apartment building where one other woman and another nearby were found dead.

Brittany Mason, 26, demanded out of her lease at Skye at Bunker Hill luxury apartments on Figueroa Street after real estate agent Maleesa Mooney was murdered inside her apartment on Sept. 12. However, according to Mason, her landlord refused to end her lease, KTLA reports.

In addition to the murder, Mason witnessed people sleeping inside the building and other activities that made her fearful for her safety.

“Initially, the unit across from me, people were subleasing it so I was seeing different people coming in and out every day and the other thing was, at one point, people were having big parties and there were tons of men coming through here,” she said.

Just weeks ahead of Mooney’s murder, another young model, Nikki Coats, was found dead in her luxury apartment in downtown L.A., just blocks from where Mason resides. As a result, Mason asked out of her lease but was met with opposition from building management.

“Honestly, I don’t feel safe and I shouldn’t be forced to live here if I don’t feel safe,” she said. “I don’t think that’s ok.”

Meanwhile, the families of Mooney and Coats are demanding answers to their unsolved murder cases.

“At this point, all I want is some answers as to how my daughter died,” Sharon Coats, Nikki Coats’ mother said. “I’m not getting anything from the detective, LAPD. The medical examiner told me she could have just went to sleep, died in her sleep!”

“This cannot be another John Doe cold case,” Jourdin Pauline, Mooney’s sister said. “We have to find whoever did this.”

Thankfully, Mason has since been released from her lease.