September 24, 2023
Louisiana Tech honored basketball star Karl Malone alongside other legendary athletes such as Fred Dean, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Willie Roaf. But as the Louisiana Illuminator reported, Malone’s personal conduct during his college days was far from perfect.
In 1983, when Malone was a sophomore at Louisiana Tech, he impregnated a 13-year-old, Gloria Bell. Malone was 20 years old. He denied fathering the child, and upon meeting the son, Demetress Bell, 17 years later, he told him, that he would have to make his own way in life. The child, who grew up to become an NFL offensive lineman, eventually reconciled with Malone.
Blood tests showed a 99.3 percent probability Malone was the father of Demetress Bell, according to the Associated Press.
This has not stopped Malone’s past from coming up whenever he is honored, and the fact that multiple college institutions are simultaneously facing fallout from sexual violence has not helped.
“I wonder what message the university believes it sends to our students when it installs a statue on our campus of a wealthy and famous man who sexually abused a minor when he was a star athlete,” Louisiana Tech history professor Drew McKevitt told the Illuminator.
When Malone was asked about his past by the Salt Lake Tribune during festivities around the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was less than diplomatic.
“I’m not discussing any of that. I don’t care,” Malone said. “That’s my life, it’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything. So… whatever.”
Louisiana Tech’s administration offered several examples of its employees trying their best to keep the topic on sports as when Eric Wood, Louisiana Tech’s athletic director, and Jim Henderson, the president of the University of Louisiana System, which includes Louisiana Tech, offered their insight.
“The university is recognizing former student-athletes who have been inducted into the highest professional halls of fame,” Henderson said.
This is a very similar tone to Malone’s stated desire to leave his past in the past—even if it will always follow him.
RELATED CONTENT: FBI Releases Documents About An Attempted Murder-For-Hire Plot Against Kobe Bryant’s Rape Accuser
September 24, 2023
It’s Usher, baby. The “Superstar” himself will make his Super Bowl Halftime Show debut as headliner of the coveted performance.
In a shared post with Apple Music, which co-sponsors the event with Roc Nation, Usher confirmed that he will be heading back to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl.
View this post on Instagram
In a different promotional effort to mark the announcement, Usher unveiled a fresh video where numerous celebrities, such as NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. and Kim Kardashian, deliver the news to a younger iteration of Usher as seen in his “Confessions, Pt. II” music video from 2004.
View this post on Instagram
In a playful nod to one of his iconic tracks, the recycled video segments were carefully edited to sync with the A-listers, including one with the current version of Usher sharing the news with his past self. The announcement was met with much fanfare, as the star is now solidifying his legacy in mainstream music.
In an official statement, Usher spoke of the “honor of a lifetime” and promises fans that it will be an unforgettable occasion.
“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,” shared the 44-year-old, as reported by Billboard. “Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”
The Grammy winner is currently on another extension of his acclaimed Las Vegas residency at the Park MGM Hotel, where he has performed his timeless hits from his career in front of celebs such as Keke Palmer and LeBron James.
“Usher is an icon whose music has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape throughout his career, we couldn’t be more excited to have him headline this year’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, ” said Seth Dudowsky, head of music for the NFL.
RELATED CONTENT: ‘The Fallout Continues’: Lizzo Reportedly Dropped From Super Bowl Halftime Lineup
September 24, 2023
Detroit’s construction industry is being transformed by two Black women, Dannis Mitchell and Kimle Nailer, who are at the head of several projects moving the city forward.
Mitchell is the director of community engagement for Barton Marlow; Nailer is owner of Nail-Rite Construction Company.
The two have taken different paths, according to the Michigan Chronicle. Mitchell headed up Barton Marlow’s bid to perform work on the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings shared home, the Little Caesars Arena, after they tapped her to lead their diversity efforts. And Nailer built her company, Nail-Rite, from the ground up after a career in real estate.
As a result of her commitment to ensuring diversity within the construction field, Mitchell created a program, the Barton Marlow Bootcamp. Over time, this program evolved into a successful pilot initiative as other companies recognized its effectiveness in training and introducing young individuals to construction careers.
“Internally I asked for more resources and needed to build a team to do so,” Mitchell told the Michigan Chronicle. “I was allowed to hire several people and specifically hired young women of color to enter this space. I was very intentional about it because it allows us to go into various school districts across the country to talk about skilled trades and management jobs.”
Nailer entered the construction industry after a city auction allowed her to hold multiple properties at once, freeing her up to collect passive income as she fixed up other holdings in her housing portfolio. Living in Chicago also helped Nailer see how developing one central project like McCormick Place could free up room for additional development and nearby economic opportunities.
“Because I lived in Chicago …McCormick Place was undergoing major renovations and immediately thereafter all of the communities surrounding at skyrocket in value,” Nailer said. “So, I said, this is a great time to build.”
Nailer said she was inspired to enter Detroit’s construction scene after seeing the Little Caesars Arena development, which Mitchell helped facilitate.
“I said construction is the industry I should be in,” Nailer said. “This is an industry that can be reparations for the Black community. The wages are higher; the projects can redevelop communities. If you stabilize the income, you have more homeowners, more solid tenants, and the neighborhood stabilizes.”
Nailer and Mitchell are both working toward using construction as a way for Black Detroiters to build wealth by ensuring they have a path to participation in the construction industry from the beginning of the projects to the end of them.
They both are looking to Detroit as the vanguard of what can be possible, and Nailer believes that it can happen if the city seriously invests in uplifting its Black populace.
“The industry being exposed to the Black community and culture is my goal,” Nailer told the Chronicle. “I believe our churches should be the builders of our housing. In a one-mile radius, if churches teamed up with the City of Detroit, then they should be the community partners with the Land Bank. We can then teach the skill of construction from start to finish.”
RELATED CONTENT: Black Woman Entrepreneur, Owner Of 50 Airbnb Properties, Launches Construction Firm
September 24, 2023
Reality television star and famed hairstylist Shekinah Joida Anderson, better known to fans as Shekinah Jo, is expanding her financial portfolio by opening a funeral home in Manchester, Georgia.
The Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta cast member initially shared the opening of the Revival Funeral Home on September 16 via Instagram. On September 21, Anderson shared an additional announcement on IG and Facebook that contained a stunning image of herself with the funeral parlor in the background.
The 39-year-old entrepreneur revealed that she was open for business, what her new company offered and what set Revival Funeral Home apart from the competition.
“Now Open For Business @therevivalfuneralhome
Revival’s mission statement on the website states, “Our mission is to offer exceptional funeral services that reflect the unique lives of those we are entrusted to care for. We aim to provide a warm, welcoming environment where families can find comfort, support, and understanding during their grieving process. Our experienced and compassionate staff is here to assist you every step of the way, ensuring that all arrangements are handled with sensitivity and respect.”
Fans and supporters showed Anderson love in the comments section.
“Absolutely a blessing to be a blessing to the bereaved. 💕✨,” one person wrote.
Another person penned, “Congratulations… this major 🔥❤️love all the way from Maryland.”
Someone else wrote, “Won’t He Do It!! 🤍🤍🤍🤍”
In July, a TikTok user posted a video of Anderson confirming that she owned a funeral home despite naysayers.
“This business… is gonna be the same business that was already here. I’m not putting a hair school here. Lies. A hair school won’t be here… It will be my funeral home.”
Anderson passionately told supporters and followers that she wasn’t there to “get over on” anyone and would take care of patrons who supported her business. She even advised funeral directors to apply for a job at Revival, promising to pay well in the seven-minute video.
@tstylz01 #shekinah #shekinahjo #lhhatl #lhh #shekinahglory #realitytv #fyp #loveandhiphopatl #funeralhomes #funeralstory #funeraldiretor #burialground #burial #burialplot #churchtiktok #baptist #funeralserviceindustry #atlanta #newbusinessstartup #newbusinessventure #vh1 #vh1loveandhiphop #vh1realitytv #newbusinesscheck #loveandhiphopatlanta ♬ Sound scenes like ethnic funeral marches – kogumax
Outside of the funeral home, Anderson also owns a successful hair care company, Shekinah Jo. As a celebrity hairstylist in Atlanta with almost 30 years of experience, the businesswoman has styled famous folks like Tiny Harris (also her good sis), Tamar Braxton, Ciara and Monica. The 39-year-old reality television star is dedicated to “the growth, beauty and health of your hair.”
Billboards along Interstate 55 displayed pro-choice messaging to combat shaming messages.
Nonprofit organization Shout Your Abortion is behind the installation of the billboards, which were posted along I-55 from Memphis, Tennessee, to Carbondale, Illinois. According to The Washington Post, the six billboards were installed in August to run through Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri—five states that have banned most abortions.
Memphis Flyer reported that the billboards are part of Shout Your Abortion’s campaign in response to the anniversary of Tennessee’s abortion ban.
“We were motivated by the desire to tell people that it’s OK,” SYA’s co-Founder and executive Director Amelia Bonow said.
“You may just be used to hearing this judgment and shame and hatefulness, but that is actually not the majority. The vast majority of Americans support abortion rights.”
Bonow said the messages target drivers from the South who feel at odds with abortion, The Washington Post noted. The billboards include messages such as “God’s plan includes abortion” and “Abortion is OK,” followed by the statements “You are loved” or “You know what’s right for you.”
The billboards were placed to be seen by drivers heading north to Illinois, where abortion is legal. “It feels really good to think that we could have made somebody’s experience just a little bit easier,” Bonow said.
Interstate 55 carries 10s of thousands of abortion seekers out of southern states to Illinois, where abortion is legal. I-55 is covered with horrific, shaming billboards. @ShoutYrAbortion put up 6 good ones, to show love & affirmation to those making the journey. pic.twitter.com/8HlfSG1z4B
— Amelia Bonow (@ameliabonow) September 16, 2023
The messages are scheduled to come down this month. However, Bonow is seeking donations for the billboards to remain up longer. A GoFundMe has also been set up to keep four of the billboards up for another month.
Support for abortion has been amplifying following The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that companies such as Apple, Amazon, Citigroup, Disney, Starbucks, Target and Tesla have agreed to fund travel costs for employees seeking abortion care.
CNBC reported that in 2022, Google—which also agreed to cover travel costs for employees seeking medical care—updated policies to allow employees in impacted states to apply for relocation “without justification.”
RELATED CONTENT: Study: Black Women More Likely To Choose In-Clinic Medication Abortion Services
September 24, 2023
The City of Atlanta’s Police Department is highlighting a special unit, one that is composed of all-Black female officers who conduct traffic stops within the city.
Traffic units such as these are considered to be among the most dangerous tasks in the force. The work extends beyond the mundane tasks of ticketing those who violate traffic regulations; they must also stop the those who commit more threatening acts on a daily basis.
Speaking to WSB-TV, members of the unit elaborated on their wide-ranging cases and responsibilities, and how this representation comes with its own pros and cons.
“Compared to when I came on the department, this is very unusual to have this many females, especially this many Black females,” shared Sgt. Tiffany Hampton. “And for this to be a traffic unit, you know traffic is one of the most dangerous calls that we could go on.”
Officer Michaela Herring told WSB-TV that she stopped two suspects last month who were accused of shooting random bystanders with an airsoft gun. The driver was out on bond for murder; the passenger was wanted for family violence.
Her shared identity with the fellow officers in her squad makes their bond as police officers even stronger, as encountering discrimination due to it is not uncommon.
“That comes with the job, so you honestly have to love what you do,” said another officer.
Their role in this unit is also one of prevention. The initial step to “keeping the communities safe” often begins with traffic stops.
“We’re looking for people who are carrying contraband, people who are a danger to themselves or others,” Herring said. “[We’re] just really keeping the community safe and a lot of those interactions start in the vehicle.”
As the APD deals with everyday occurrences, they are showcasing their strides in diversity as women take over the roles that are directly impactful in citizens’ safety.
RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Public Schools Name Timya Robinson First Black Female Police Captain
September 24, 2023
BET co-founder Sheila Johnson is detailing her journey as a businesswoman in her upcoming memoir, Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph.
Johnson recently sat down with Fortune to give some insights on what readers will learn about her professional life as the co-founder of the mega network, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, and the first Black female billionaire in America.
“I’ve suppressed so much in my life, and the pain has been terrible,” the mogul expressed. “Everyone else has been telling my story, and [theirs] isn’t accurate. I needed to take my power back.”
The American businesswoman stepped into her billionaire status in the early 2000s after BET sold to Viacom for $3 billion. Johnson’s book discusses how the once-esteemed TV network, the “go-to destination for Black audiences,” faced its eventual decline.
“There was no network that appealed to the African American voice. And our voices needed to be heard,” Johnson shared about the initial goal for the network, which took a significant hit after her then-husband and co-founder, Robert, known as Bob, was caught cheating and subsequently ended BET’s successful run.
Calling her ex-husband “brilliant,” the media mogul also expressed her thoughts on the decline of the network in a 2004 interview.
After leaving the network, Johnson moved on and opened her luxury hospitality company, Salamander Hotels and Resorts, an entrepreneurial venture that introduced both new challenges and rewards.
“I could have stayed home and just enjoyed my money, but I wanted to prove that I could create a business on my own because, at BET, I wasn’t credited for how big a role I played in its success,” the boss shared. She recalled the wait for approval of her 340-acre Salamander Middleburg Resort in Virginia, land in the “nation’s horse and hunt capital” south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
“This was a town that was totally bankrupt but so bucolic,” Johnson said. “I thought that building [a resort] could become the economic engine, and I could visualize it.”
She won the town’s approval by one vote. “I knew if I could make it work, it would be historical,” she added.
According to Forbes, Johnson is now worth an estimated $840 million.
The entrepreneur has investments in Florida and Virginia hotels, planes, real estate, and horses. BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s 2014 “Woman of Power,” she has also invested in sports teams such as WNBA Mystics, NBA Wizards, and NHL Capitals, a business decision that named her the only Black woman to own stakes in three professional leagues, according to her Fortune interview.
Johnson also established her 900-acre Innisbrook Golf Resort in Florida, which hosts an annual PGA Tour championship.
RELATED CONTENT: SHEILA JOHNSON
September 23, 2023
Ahead of her Renaissance Tour stop in Houston, Beyoncé made an appearance at the Knowles-Rowland House alongside her mother, Tina Knowles. The pair were on hand to help kickoff an $8 million rebuilding project of the complex for unhoused people.
The building was originally constructed in 1999 and will be reconstructed with funding from the Knowles family and Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland. As KHOU reported, the complex is expected to be rebuilt in 2024 following an increase in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Pastor Rudy Rasmus’ Bread of Life nonprofit is leading the project. The relationship between the Knowles family and Rasmus goes back to when Rasmus pastored St. John’s Downtown Church when Beyoncé was a child.
Today, Judge Hidalgo’s team joined the unveiling of the Knowles Rowland House at @breadoflifehtx, which will provide housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. Projects like this are why our community is becoming a national leader in reducing homelessness. pic.twitter.com/jaVfCMOkaE
— Office of Judge Lina Hidalgo (@HarrisCoJudge) September 22, 2023
“We’re going to do a bigger initiative and launch of this later in September around the time we know Beyoncé is going to be in town for her concerts,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo had said in October, after Harris County approved the then-$7 million project.
Big day for everyone involved in the Knowles-Rowland House. I was proud to help secure a $7.2 million commitment to support this project, which will provide 31 permanent supportive housing units.
Thanks to all who made today possible. pic.twitter.com/0gy8OEujJr
— Rodney Ellis (@RodneyEllis) September 22, 2023
Knowles told the crowd gathered as Beyoncé watched from the stage, “I just want to say that this is home and I always feel, I mean I cry the whole time I’m here, whether I’m going to Frenchy’s or whatever, I just get emotional. Thank you so much for the support of the city and everyone here.”
Rasmus, meanwhile, thanked the City of Houston and Judge Hidalgo’s office for her support, saying, “There is a critical need to provide stable housing to many underserved Houstonians. We are grateful for the support of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the commissioners. The resources they provide are critical to helping everyone in the community thrive.”
In addition to the church’s Bread of Life nonprofit, the 31,000-foot-center is being developed in conjunction with the Temenos Community Development Corporation.
Monique Williams, the director of partnerships and development for Bread of Life told Houston Public Media, gave a nod to Beyoncé’s dedication to the project by saying, “That was exciting for all of us. She’s a busy lady. She’s doing a couple of other things this weekend. For her to pause and just kind of return home and to be in this space with us and to hear again what more will be done and to see her legacy, I think it was wonderful for everyone to be in that space and share that with her.”
Tina Knowles, joined by her daughter Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, speaking about @DrRudyRasmus & @Pastor_Juanita at the dedication and groundbreaking for the Knowles-Rowland House. pic.twitter.com/Da4CBIPAii
— Shea Jordan Smith (@shea_jordan) September 22, 2023
Williams also said that the center is expected to open before the end of 2024.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said of the project, “This project will move Harris County closer to realizing its vision for a vibrant, inclusive region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and a place to call home.”
Ellis continued, “Access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right and a need that cannot be addressed without increasing and preserving our affordable housing stock.”
RELATED CONTENT: Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland Say ‘No, No, No’ To Homelessness In H-Town With $8.4M Housing Project
September 23, 2023
Ahead of her Renaissance Tour stop in Houston, Beyoncé made an appearance at the Knowles-Rowland House alongside her mother, Tina Knowles. The pair were on hand to celebrate the unveiling of an $8 million rebuilding project of the complex for unhoused people.
The building was originally constructed in 1999 with funding from the Knowles family and Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland.
As KHOU reported, the complex is expected to be rebuilt in 2024 following an increase in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Pastor Rudy Rasmus‘ Bread of Life nonprofit is leading the project. The relationship between the Knowles family and Rasmus goes back to when Rasmus pastored St. John’s Downtown Church when Beyoncé was a child.
Today, Judge Hidalgo’s team joined the unveiling of the Knowles Rowland House at @breadoflifehtx, which will provide housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. Projects like this are why our community is becoming a national leader in reducing homelessness. pic.twitter.com/jaVfCMOkaE
— Office of Judge Lina Hidalgo (@HarrisCoJudge) September 22, 2023
“We’re going to do a bigger initiative and launch of this later in September around the time we know Beyoncé is going to be in town for her concerts,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo had said after Harris County approved $7 million in funding project.
Big day for everyone involved in the Knowles-Rowland House. I was proud to help secure a $7.2 million commitment to support this project, which will provide 31 permanent supportive housing units.
Thanks to all who made today possible. pic.twitter.com/0gy8OEujJr
— Rodney Ellis (@RodneyEllis) September 22, 2023
“I just want to say that this is home and I always feel, I mean I cry the whole time I’m here, whether I’m going to Frenchy’s or whatever, I just get emotional,” Tina Knowles told the crowd. “Thank you so much for the support of the city and everyone here.”
Rasmus, meanwhile, thanked the City of Houston and Judge Hidalgo’s office for her support, saying, “There is a critical need to provide stable housing to many underserved Houstonians. We are grateful for the support of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the commissioners. The resources they provide are critical to helping everyone in the community thrive.”
In addition to the church’s Bread of Life nonprofit, the center is being developed in conjunction with the Temenos Community Development Corporation.
Monique Williams, the director of partnerships and development for Bread of Life, gave a nod to Beyoncé’s dedication to the project, telling Houston Public Media, “That was exciting for all of us. She’s a busy lady. She’s doing a couple of other things this weekend. For her to pause and just kind of return home and to be in this space with us and to hear again what more will be done and to see her legacy, I think it was wonderful for everyone to be in that space and share that with her.”
Tina Knowles, joined by her daughter Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, speaking about @DrRudyRasmus & @Pastor_Juanita at the dedication and groundbreaking for the Knowles-Rowland House. pic.twitter.com/Da4CBIPAii
— Shea Jordan Smith (@shea_jordan) September 22, 2023
Williams also said that the center is expected to open before the end of 2024.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said of the project, “This project will move Harris County closer to realizing its vision for a vibrant, inclusive region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and a place to call home.”
Ellis continued, “Access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right and a need that cannot be addressed without increasing and preserving our affordable housing stock.”
RELATED CONTENT: Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland Say ‘No, No, No’ To Homelessness In H-Town With $8.4M Housing Project
September 23, 2023
Vice President Kamala Harris shared some good news at a recent press conference at Hampton University on Thursday, September 14. She said that the Biden administration has begun the process of removing medical bills from people’s credit scores. The move will create the opportunity to improve millions of ratings across America.
Harris listed drastic improvements that would come with the removal. It would make it easier for people who previously couldn’t obtain home mortgages and auto loans. Vice President Harris announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has already begun the rulemaking process to make the change official.
“Access to health care should be a right and not a privilege,” Harris expressed. “These measures will improve the credit scores of millions of Americans so that they will better be able to invest in their future.”
According to the Associated Press, the announcement has been long-awaited since the Biden administration promised to minimize medical debt’s impact on creditworthiness scores. Last March, CFPB director Rohit Chopra said the credit reporting companies such as Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian would stop reporting “some but not all medical bills on an individual’s credit report.”
An estimated 20% of people report having significant medical debt.
“Research shows that medical bills have little predictive value in credit decisions, yet tens of millions of American households are dealing with medical debt on their credit reports,” Director Chopra said. “When someone gets sick, they should be able to focus on getting better, rather than fighting debt collectors trying to extort them into paying bills they may not even owe.”
The inclusion of medical debt can be problematic in practice as well because “mistakes and inaccuracies in medical billing are common.”
The proposal not only removes medical bills from credit reporting, but it also prohibits creditors from using medical bill information when judging loans and discourages coercive collection practices related to medical debt.
RELATED CONTENT: Black Americans Among Many Who Could Gain Relief As Medical Debt Discharged From Credit Reports
