by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 26, 2023

The Hate Train For VP Kamala Harris Gets Ugly Despite ‘Fight For Our Freedom’ Tour

As Vice President Kamala Harris makes her way down South as part of her “Fight For Our Freedoms” college tour, some naysayers are making it known that they are not here for her appearance.

Harris is expected to meet and engage with students within the Atlanta University Center, comprised of Spelman, Morehouse, and Clark Atlanta University students, in a moderated conversation to discuss issues concerning the Biden administration that affect young people. The vice president expects to speak on reproductive rights, gun reform, and voting in the upcoming election.

While Harris has already stopped at Hampton University, North Carolina A&T, and Reading Area Community College, Atlanta residents are not so enthused by her visit, stating their displeasure in the comments under ATLScoop’s post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ATLSCOOP®🍑 (@atlscoop)

“I cannot stress enough how much we don’t care about this woman,” a commenter shared under the post.

Another commenter stated that they believe she was a ploy to gain Black voters’ trust but has not done much to aid the community.

“Idk why, she been in there and ain’t done one thing for black ppl. Her and Joe Biden used skin color to get black votes and been sending all the billions to Ukraine.”

The White House announced Harris’ venture to visit Hispanic-serving institutions, community colleges, and HBCUs to converse on nationwide concerns, ranging from LGBTQIA+ equality to book bans. On her purpose for the tour, Harris emphasized her mission to speak with the new generation about the looming issues that may impact their futures most and encourage them to stay civically engaged.

“This generation is critical to the urgent issues that are at stake right now for our future,” said Harris. “It is young leaders throughout America who know what the solutions look like and are organizing in their communities to make them a reality. My message to students is clear: We are counting on you, we need you, you are everything.”

Whether or not her Atlanta event will go without protest remains in question, as Harris’ inclusion won’t be met with unanimous praise.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 26, 2023

Dwyane Wade Wanted Daughter Zaya To Play Basketball With LeBron And Carmelo’s Kids Before Her Transition

Dwyane Wade is sharing the hard life lesson he learned about making plans for other people’s lives, particularly your children.

The basketball great opened up on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast about the old basketball hoop dreams he had for his daughter Zaya Wade before her transition. With Wade being close friends with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the Miami Heat alum had high hopes for their children continuing their legacy together on the court.

“I have Zaya. LeBron has Bryce. Melo has Kiyan. All within a 2 to 3-week span,” Wade explained.

“All our kids gonna grow up hooping together. “Oh we on! Boy we gonna have 3 babies! We on!”

“You couldn’t tell me that we wouldn’t be on the circuit right now, baby! We hooping,” he added.

But Wade was issued a hard reality check when Zaya turned 12 and came out as transgender.

“See what happens when you start making plans for other people’s lives?” he said.

Soon he was reintroduced to Zaya, his youngest of two children shared with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches. Wade also shares son Zaire, 21, with Funches, son Xavier, 9, with Aja Metoyer, and daughter Kaavia, 4, with his wife Gabrielle Union-Wade.

“Then, I got to meet my child. And a lot of people like to talk about Zaya’s transition, but to me, Zaya hasn’t transitioned into anything,” he said.

“She’s but a kid, and now becoming a young adult,” he continued. “I’ve watched her go through life. There hasn’t been any transition for us. There’s been a transition for the world, but for us, I see the same kid that I’ve seen since May 29, 2007. Nothing has changed.”

Zaya celebrated her family’s tight bond and the support they give her in a Harper’s Bazaar interview last month.

“Coming out is such a big change. It’s hard to navigate. We’ve all really learned more about each other and the way we can coexist and grow together in this crazy world, especially in the public eye,” she said.

“It’s like a spotlight is always on you. At the end of the day, though, we are a family, and we support and love each other and we are grateful.”

Russell Westbrook, Little Kitchen Academy, NBA, Club, Investment, Acquisition,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 26, 2023

Russell Westbrook Pulls Up To Pensole Lewis College To Inspire Design Students

Russell Westbrook was a featured speaker at the first and only HBCU (historically Black college or university) solely dedicated to design, Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design. The school, located in Detroit, unveiled the Pepsi x Frito-Lay Refresh and Relax Lounge on Sept. 21, 2023, and was designed by students currently enrolled in the university.

According to VIBE, the future NBA Hall of Famer was there with the founder of Pensole Lewis, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, author Kevin Carroll, and PepsiCo’s Kent Montgomery. The men were there to participate in the lounge opening that Rodney Banks and Angel Buckens designed. The duo were the winners of the inaugural PepsiCo Design & Innovation program, with support from MillerKnoll.

Yesterday, Russell Westbrook visited Pensole Lewis College in Detroit, the only HBCU dedicated to design.

Through his partnership with PepsiCo, Westbrook spoke with students and helped unveil a brand new student lounge. pic.twitter.com/vkZUYwNkiM

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) September 22, 2023

Westbrook said, “I’m so grateful to be part of a partnership that is inspiring young Black creatives and prioritizing their education like the PepsiCo program at Pensole Lewis College. I share a mission with PepsiCo in wanting to create educational opportunities and provide valuable resources to young people who don’t always get the same support as their peers. Together, we want to inspire and encourage students to continue their creative journey and pursue a career in design.”

This initiative by PepsiCo Design & Innovation is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to further diversity in design in the Detroit area. Additional programs include a $25,000 donation to Diversity in Design, providing 250 local Detroit high school students with hands-on experience.

Local students from the School of Marygrove, Oakland Early College, Martin Luther King, Detroit Edison, University Prep Art & Design, Detroit Kappa League, and Closing the Gap Detroit also participated in the PepsiCo Design & Innovation and Pensole Lewis College Design Thinking workshop that was done in partnership with Chicago Mobile Makers.

Hooking Up Comes With A $499 Premium On Tinder Select

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 26, 2023

Hooking Up Comes With A $499 Premium On Tinder Select

Tinder is raising the price for finding true love. The company has introduced Tinder Select, an exclusive premium option for top-tier members to access innovative new features of the online dating platform.

Announced on Sept. 22, the company stated that the rollout was offered to a small portion of Tinder’s users, less than 1% of the most active members. However, using the premium features comes at a significant markup—$499 a month—as confirmed by Bloomberg.

For the hefty price tag, Tinder Select will allow users to peruse exclusive search options and matching. While Tinder has current paid subscriptions available to members at a significantly lower price, this new plan is by invitation only. The most significant difference stems from Tinder Select’s “VIP” search options, which will enable subscribers to initiate conversations with people they may not have access to on a lesser-tiered plan.

While its beta form is limited to its “select” few, those who are curious and willing to be charged almost $6,000 annually for the membership can apply to be part of this new cohort. However, Tinder has announced this will only occur on a rolling basis.

The company’s Chief Product Officer, Mark Van Ryswyk, offered more insight into how it developed this new form of finding and connecting with potential love matches to serve its consistent members better.

“We know that there is a subset of highly engaged and active users who prioritize more effective and efficient ways to find connections. And so we engaged in extensive tests and feedback with this audience over the past several months to develop a completely new offering.”

While some users are shocked at the relatively low-stakes dating platform moving toward more costly plans, this premium subscription model is not new to its parent company, Match Group Inc. The business owns multiple dating platforms, including Match.com, OkCupid, Hinge, and the newly acquired The League. The latest addition to its portfolio boasts hefty subscription costs, serving its often high-value clientele. The corporation also owns BLK, a dating website centered on Black singles.

The transition for Tinder hopes to indulge more of its “power users,” who accumulate over half the time users spend on the app, to increase the revenue garnered. Even as subscriber numbers wane, its quest for an overall platform refresh continues.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 26, 2023

Contrary To Popular Belief, The Artist Formerly Known As Kanye West Wasn’t ‘Really’ Knocking Boots With Julia Fox

Julia Fox won’t be dishing on her sexual experiences with her ex Kanye West, because according to the socialite, “there, like, wasn’t any.”

The “Uncut Gems” star has a memoir set to release next month that gets candid about her past sexual experiences. But if anyone is expecting any tea on Kanye, they can think again.

Fox dated the rap/fashion mogul for one month during the early part of 2022 and has no inside scoop on what Kanye is like in the bedroom since they had little to no sexual interaction, NY Times reports.

When asked why there are no details on her love life with Kanye in the new book, Fox says, “Because there, like, wasn’t any. It wasn’t really about that.”

Kanye dated Fox for a few weeks after meeting at a New Year’s Eve 2021 party and splitting up in February. The pair were dating while Kanye was in the thick of divorcing his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.

The Yeezy founder seemingly enjoyed parading around in public with Fox and having her serve as his muse at the time by styling the 33-year-old model. The highlight of their intimacy might’ve just been the makeout session they shared in an Interview magazine spread.

Insiders told E! that the rapper wasn’t looking for anything “serious” at the time and was just focused on his businesses. In September 2022, Fox revealed the “red flags” that led to her breaking up with the rapper.

“The unresolved issues that he was dealing with. It just seems like he had a lot to work on, and I just don’t have time for it, or energy,” Fox told the Evening Standard.

“I don’t have the bandwidth or emotional capacity for it. I’m proud of myself for that.”

She also shut down any notion that her brief romance with Kanye was a publicity stunt.

“That’s such bulls**t. He got my number through a mutual friend, period.”

Kanye has since moved on with his current spouse Bianca Censori. The pair reportedly married in a private ceremony in January but never filed for a marriage certificate.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 26, 2023

Atlanta Emerges As #1 City To Embark On Business Journey

For those with entrepreneurial dreams, Atlanta may be the city to make them come true. LinkedIn has deemed the Georgia capital as the most optimal place to start a business.

According to the new data compilation released by the professional networking website, the city rose to the top hotspot for aspiring entrepreneurs, primarily due to its 92% year-over-year growth in people founding their own companies.

The city’s post-pandemic recovery also played a role in its emergence as a business owner’s haven, with its strong job market making it a lucrative place to move for employment-seekers. LinkedIn also suggested that the shift in work culture encouraged employees to follow their own pursuits.

Through its blend of metropolitan ambition and Southern hospitality, Atlanta residents gather at coffee shops along the BeltLine, which runs through different parts of the city, or in diverse, distinct neighborhoods to shop locally. The Peach State’s most populated area is a center for eclectic companies, and there are plenty of young families and professionals to cater to.

Atlanta’s entrepreneurial friendliness stems from a supportive communal hub of fellow business owners as well as consumer eagerness to take a chance on new local businesses. Atlanta was the sole Southern city to make the cut, with Austin taking the second-place ranking. Completing the top five most optimal places are Seattle, San Francisco, and Chicago, respectively.

Atlanta’s not only the best choice for entrepreneurs but also growing Black families. As determined by Kindred, the city’s cultural facets and wealth-building resources are advantageous for Black families as they prioritize their children’s quality of upbringing. As one of the top three cities for Black people to thrive, Atlanta remains a consistent place for those looking for cultural affirmation and business opportunities.

by Daniel Johnson

September 26, 2023

Book Ban Battle Just Got Real As California Governor Fights Back

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into effect on Sept. 25, 2023, that fines schools that ban books that discuss race or gender identity.

Assembly Bill 1078 will also make districts pay for replacement textbooks when they don’t purchase books that agree with the state’s anti-discrimination laws, a provision that Newsom fought to have added to the bill. As Politico reported, Newsom is taking a stand against the book bans led by conservative factions like Moms for Liberty and others across the country.

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Newsom stood alongside state school Superintendent Tony Thurmond, saying, “Remarkable that we’re living in a country right now in this banning binge, this cultural purge that we’re experiencing all throughout America and now increasingly here in the state of California, where we have school districts banning books, banning free speech, criminalizing librarians and teachers. We want to do more than just push back rhetorically against that, and that’s what this legislation provides.”

California is banning book bans and textbook censorship in our schools.

In partnership with @AsmCoreyJackson and @TonyThurmond, we’re cementing CA's role as the true freedom state: a place where families—not political fanatics—have the freedom to decide what’s right. pic.twitter.com/0br2MQN2rm

— California Governor (@CAgovernor) September 26, 2023

Newsom’s law also establishes that any review of a district failing to follow the anti-discrimination law must go through Thurmond. This means the districts are no longer subject to the county board of education system.

Notably, Newsom’s bill follows Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s June 2023 bill, HB 2789, which fines public libraries that go along with “partisan” or “doctrinal” bans.

A public library violating Pritzker’s bill would find itself ineligible for state funding starting Jan. 1, 2024. According to Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, the bill aims to give librarians, not special interest groups, the final say.

“We are not saying that every book should be in every single library,” said Giannoulias. “What this law does is it says, let’s trust our experience and education of our librarians to decide what books should be in circulation.”

To be eligible to receive funds, Illinois public libraries must adopt the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights or a similar pledge, adhering to the belief that “materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.”

Aaron Glee, Oluwatoyin Salau, Victoria Sims,

by Daniel Johnson

September 26, 2023

BLM Activist Oluwatoyin Salau’s Killer Sentenced To Life In Prison

A Florida judge has sentenced Aaron Glee to life in prison for the 2020 murders of 19-year-old BLM activist Oluwatoyin Salau and 75-year-old Victoria Sims.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Glee was supposed to plead guilty in January 2023 but decided to have a trial instead. In June, the 52-year-old Glee pleaded guilty to a first-degree murder and kidnapping charge. He opted to spend the rest of his life in jail rather than face the death penalty.

Salau, who attended Tallahassee Community College and participated in Black Lives Matter protests, went missing a few days before Sims.

Glee admitted to tying Salau up and sexually abusing her multiple times before he eventually killed her. Police found the women’s bodies after tracking the phone belonging to Sims, who was also kidnapped by Glee after he raided her home. Sims’ body was found in one of Glee’s bedrooms underneath a sheet stained with blood. Salau’s body was found underneath a pile of leaves in a wooded area behind Glee’s shabby rented house in Tallahassee.

Glee fled from the police on a Greyhound bus, but he was caught in Orlando.

Salau’s murder set off a firestorm of criticism around who is centered in calls for justice in the Black Lives Matter movement, causing the hashtag #JusticeForToyin to trend on Twitter. Vox reported that a video showing Salau’s call to include trans people in the more extensive discussion about Black Lives Matter went viral following her disappearance.

On June 6, 2020, Salau tweeted about a series of events, including a sexual assault that had recently happened to her. She also had been trying to escape abuse at the hands of her family, according to Danaya Hemphill, one of Salau’s friends.

Hemphill wrote on Twitter in memory of Salau, “Oluwatoyin, You spent your life being abused by family, sexually assaulted, and you still managed to FIGHT for black lives. You protected black lives. Only for you to be raped and killed. We need to protect our black women. They are dying while fighting a war for us.”

Sims was a volunteer for AARP Florida. Her neighbors remembered as a kind woman who greeted everyone she met with a smile.

“She was probably one of the most kind and gentlest souls I knew,” Leslie Spencer, associate state director for AARP Florida, told the Tallahassee Democrat. “She always had a wise and thoughtful word to add to the conversation, but she wasn’t afraid to ask hard questions of lawmakers. She was an amazing human being, and absolutely—the void that she will leave, I don’t know that we can fill it.”

Sims’ daughter, June Campos, told the court in a victim impact statement: “An angel lived and walked among us. On June 13, 2020, the angel’s earthly light was extinguished, and the heavens called her home . . . She was an advocate for all humans and all human rights, even for monsters such as you.”

https://twitter.com/nyshthabeast/status/1705359091583910278?t=ZnC0bXPw5Q7UlgSahnl0nw&s=19

Rebecca Figueroa, a friend of Salau, expressed regret and guilt for not picking up a call from her friend on the night she was killed. Figueroa told the court, “Part of us is still enraged toward this disgusting excuse for a human being,” she said. “We’re not the same, just glued pieces of something Aaron Glee has torn apart.”

Later, Figueroa also called for Glee to receive the death penalty, saying that “consecutive life sentences are a far more precious gift than he deserves.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 26, 2023

Usher ‘Ain’t Crazy’ Enough To Serenade Gabrielle Union In Front Of Dwyane Wade

Unlike “Confessions,” there won’t be a part two of Usher serenading famous women who are publicly with someone else. At his Sept. 24 show, Usher stopped himself from serenading Gabrielle Union, saying “I ain’t crazy” after seeing that Dwyane Wade was also in attendance.

Usher has now taken things his way to Europe, performing for a star-studded crowd at La Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. The Grammy winner made many headlines not only for his fan-favorite residency in Las Vegas but also for his “controversial” habit of singing to the celebrities present.

Usher made sure not to get too close and comfortable with the Being Mary Jane star, especially with her husband, an NBA legend, within distance to “dunk” him. HipHopDX shared footage of the hilarious incident.

Usher stops himself serenading Gabrielle Union due to Dwyane Wade: “I ain’t crazy!” https://t.co/52WCdDsvQr pic.twitter.com/z14ibWIrtO

— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) September 25, 2023

“Let’s not get carried away,” Usher urged his fans once the song stopped. “Y’know, this is Dwyane Wade—I ain’t crazy! That man will knock my whole head off and then dunk it!”

The upcoming Super Bowl halftime show headliner did get in the mix with Keke Palmer and the father of her baby, Leo. After Usher and Palmer went viral for his special serenade to the longtime fan at his Vegas show in July, her boyfriend, Darius Dalton, tweeted about how her see-through black lace dress was a bit too revealing for the new mom.

The incident launched a debate on Black Twitter about what clothing for women, specifically mothers, is “appropriate” and the traditional roles in relationships, especially considering how successful Palmer is.

While the father of Palmer’s child couldn’t take the heat, the father of Union’s could. There appears to be no bad blood between the two family men, as the recently inducted NBA Hall of Famer shared “love and respect” to Usher in his Instagram story following the night of fun.

by Sharelle Burt

September 26, 2023

Four-Day School Weeks Becoming Popular In School Districts—But Not For Parents

More and more school districts nationwide have adopted four-day school weeks, and communities are split, PBS reported.

In primarily rural and western parts of the U.S., the districts praise how the change saves money and does wonders for recruiting teachers. Paul Thompson, associate professor of economics at Oregon State University, found that close to 900 school districts operate on a shorter schedule—increasing from a little over 100 in 1999 to 662 in 2019.

Sounds good for the students and school administrators, but what about the parents?

“I feel like I’m back in the COVID shutdown,” Brandi Pruente, mother of three, said. For working moms like Pruente, the four-day week is a nightmare because they struggle to find activities for their kids on the fifth day or someone to watch them. The new schedule saves the district money but forces parents to dish out more. Even with the district offering child care for $30 per day, the French teacher has no desire to utilize it.

“I want my kids in an educational environment,” she said. “And I don’t want to pay for somebody to babysit them.”

Superintendent Dale Herl of Independence, Missouri, wasn’t too keen on the idea, but outside conversations convinced him parents would figure it out.

“You have to go back and look, you know, what do parents do during the summertime,” Herl asked. “What do they do over, you know, spring break or Christmas break? Not all parents have the luxury to cater to their kids outside of holiday breaks.”

Lawmakers in Missouri have pushed against shorter school weeks, with three-day weekends jumping from 12% to 30%. Some of the state’s lawmakers have pushed back, citing that students need more time in the classroom with education professionals. One proposed legislature proposed having four-day week students transfer or enroll in private schools at the expense of their home districts.

The legislation failed to be picked up.