Former NBA Player-Turned-Multimillionaire Businessman Junior Bridgeman Reportedly Buying Stake In Milwaukee Bucks
The former Milwaukee Bucks player is set to purchase 15% of the team.
In a full circle moment, former Milwaukee Bucks swingman Junior Bridgeman is reportedly close to purchasing a 15% stake in the franchise he played for during much of his NBA career.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, the 70-year-old Bridgeman, whose number two jersey was retired by the Bucks, will be receiving a preferred limited-partner discount, which entitles him to a 15% stake in the organization.
According to CNBC, Bridgeman currently owns Jet and Ebony magazines. The deal indicates that the Milwaukee Bucks, a small market NBA franchise, are worth $4 billion. According to their sources, the NBA was expected to notify owners of the sale in a memo on Sept.12.
Bridgeman has created a net worth of over $600 million, mostly through his success with various businesses including fast-food restaurants and operating a Coca-Cola bottling distributor. Neither the Milwaukee Bucks nor Bridgeman himself offered any comment on the sale to CNBC.
Although the team finished third in the Eastern Conference last season, the team operated at a loss because it had to dip into the luxury tax and pay $52 million. According to Sports Illustrated, that figure is the fourth-highest luxury tax payment in the NBA.
The Bucks are expected to face similar luxury tax challenges in the 2024-2025 NBA season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton earning $48 million, $45 million, and $31 million respectively. The team’s last ownership change occurred in April 2023 when Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam purchased a 25% stake from former co-owner Marc Lasry. At that time, before the NBA’s new TV deal, the Bucks were valued at $3.2 billion.
12-Year-Old Daughter Of Slain Marine Files Lawsuit Against Savannah Businesses
The 12-year-old, named Serenity, hopes to hold the local businesses owners of Congress Street corridor responsible.
The daughter of a Marine killed in Downtown Savannah, Georgia, has filed a lawsuit against the surrounding businesses where the death occurred.
The 12-year-old, named Serenity, hopes to hold the local business owners of the Congress Street corridor responsible. Her father, Tristen Manigault, died during a gunfire exchange in the area on Aug. 30. According to WSAV, he was fatally struck by a bullet while trying to break up a fight. The police have yet to find his killer.
Serenity wants the bars and businesses to take accountability for not ensuring the safety of their patrons. The establishments named in the lawsuit included multiple nightlife lounges and stores, including Flock of the Wok, Octane Bar and Lounge, Smoke and Vape Market, and the Peacock Lounge.
“Time and time again when businesses put their own bottom line over the safety of their customers,” explained Mark Tate, the attorney for Manigault’s daughter. “They lose in the end. And it’s a shame that it had to come to the murder of this man, too. To finally hold them accountable.”
According to Tate, the owners were aware of the “heightened criminal activity” in the area, especially at night. However, he claims the lack of proper safety precautions led to the Marine’s preventable death.
“To go out one night on his girlfriend’s birthday and he winds up getting shot because of the ridiculous shenanigans going on downtown because of these late-night drinking establishments and eateries,” continued the lawyer. “If there had been a notion that this place is watched…a notion that this is a, you know, no goofing around zone, then yes, certainly this this Marine would be alive today.”
According to her mother, Heather Delgado, Serenity continues to reel from the sudden loss of her father. However, her legal action aims to bring better protection and security to the area.
“She wants everybody held responsible,” said Delgado. “And the people that were there they need to come forward and tell your side of the story. Whether you were underage drinking, if you were there. I need you to just come forward so she can get the justice that she deserves, even though that’s not going to bring her daddy back.”
One of the businesses listed, Octane Bar and Lounge, had its liquor license suspended in light of the tragedy. As for Manigault’s killer, the Savannah police continue to investigate the matter.
Black Activists Convicted Of Conspiracy, Cleared Of Russian Agent Charges
According to prosecutors, the quartet was accused of partnering with the Kremlin to help Russia create political discord and influence United States elections.
Four Black activists associated with the African People’s Socialist Party and Uhuru Movement were convicted on Sept. 12 in a Florida federal court of conspiring to act as unregistered Russian agents.
According to the Associated Press, 82-year-old Omali Yeshitela, chairman of the U.S.-based African People’s Socialist Party, which advocates for Black empowerment and reparations, along with 78-year-old Penny Hess, 34-year-old Jesse Nevel—leaders of the group’s white ally branches—and 38-year-old Augustus C. Romain Jr., a former Uhuru member who later founded Atlanta-based Black Hammer, face up to five years in prison after being found guilty.
The former three were also charged with a more serious crime, acting as agents of a foreign government, but a jury of their peers found them not guilty on that charge. Originally, the trial was set to last a month but was sped up after an entire week of testimony. According to prosecutors, the quartet was accused of partnering with the Kremlin to help Russia create political discord and influence United States elections.
The defense, meanwhile, argued that Aleksandr Ionov hid the nature of his relationship with Russia from the group of defendants and also claimed that the case had dangerous implications for First Amendment rights, saying that the government was attempting to silence them because of their affiliations with activist groups.
Prosecutors also alleged that the defendants were acting under Russian influence when they staged protests asserting that Black people had been the victims of genocide in 2016. They alleged that the members also took positions that were beneficial to the Russian state, such as opposing United States foreign policy concerning the war in Ukraine.
The defense team countered these allegations by asserting that the actions taken by the members of the organizations were consistent with positions they have held for over 50 years, in particular, Yeshitela, who founded the African People’s Socialist Party in 1972 as a Black anti-colonialist empowerment group.
According to a United States Department of Justice press release, between May 2015 and July 2022, Yeshitela, Hess, and Nevel agreed to act on behalf of the Russian government on U.S. soil. In May 2015, Ionov invited Yeshitela on an all-expenses paid trip to “communicate on future cooperation.”
Ahead of this trip, Hess ensured that Ionov could get Yeshitela a meeting with an “official representative of the Russian government.” Subsequent emails revealed that it was “clear” to all parties involved that Ionov was some instrument of the Russian government, and Yeshitela explained that Ionov presented “a method by which the Russian government is engaging the U.S. and Europe in serious struggle” to use “forces inside of the U.S. to s[o]w division inside the U.S.” Yeshitela later explained in a meeting that Ionov was looking only to give resources to actions supporting Russian efforts to “undermin[e] the U.S.”
Although the four have been convicted in federal court, a sentencing date has not been set. The FBI is still investigating the case, and the press release lists Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Risha Asokan for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section as the prosecution lawyers.
Pharrell Pushes Back Something In The Water Music Festival To 2025
Pharrell announced the Virginia Beach event will now take place in April 2025.
Pharrell Williams has canceled this year’s Something In the Water Festival. He announced the Virginia Beach event will now take place in April 2025.
The two-day music and cultural experience was scheduled to start Oct. 12. However, the mega-producer shared the news of its delay to Instagram. In the post, he declared the reason as not being “ready yet” for its thousands of expected attendees.
“Virginia doesn’t deserve better, Virginia deserves THE BEST,” he wrote. “So SOMETHING IN THE WATER has to match that. It just isn’t ready yet. That’s why we as a team have decided we must postpone this year’s SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival that was due to take place in October.”
The “Happy” singer emphasized that the event is to celebrate the people and culture of Virginia. The inaugural event began in 2019 with headliners such as Travis Scott, Virginia native Missy Elliot, and rap group Migos.
He added, “This is not a Pharrell festival, this is the state of Virginia’s festival so it has to be the best. Virginia made me, and I want to honor it with as much love as it’s shown me my entire life. And you know me, everywhere I go it’s VA.”
This year’s lineup remained unknown before a ticket sale for “locals only” on Sept. 13. Despite tickets sold to numerous Virginia residents, Pharrell later announced the festival’s postponement that same day.
Moreover, the festival has hurdled prior issues before. Williams moved its location to Washington, D.C. in 2022 after a Virginia Beach police officer killed his cousin Donovan Lynch. Following a settlement for Lynch’s family, the festival returned to its original home the following year. However, it also had to cancel its third day of festivities due to bad weather.
While the festival has struggled to regain its footing, Williams remains adamant about keeping the party going for Virginia residents and music lovers alike. Those who bought tickets will receive refunds with first access to repurchase for the new dates.
Study Reveals New Jersey Doctors Are Performing Unneeded C-Sections On Black Mothers
The study found that Black women were more likely to undergo a C-section than their white counterparts.
A new study has revealed that doctors in New Jersey are performing unnecessary C-sections on expecting Black mothers.
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shared their findings in August. It investigated data of almost 1 million births in the state from 2008 to 2017. They looked closely at the cesarean sections performed, which deliver babies through surgical incisions made in the abdomen and uterus. They found that Black women were more likely to undergo the surgery than their white counterparts.
“Black mothers with unscheduled deliveries are 25 percent more likely to deliver by C-section than non-Hispanic white mothers,” detailed the study. “The gap is highest for mothers with the lowest risk and is reduced by only four percentage points when controlling for observed medical risk factors, sociodemographic characteristics, hospital, and doctor or medical practice group.”
While a C-section is a commonly used birthing alternative, the procedure does hold its own risks. Unplanned surgeries typically have a higher risk of infection, bleeding, and injury to the baby. Moreover, the NBER found the difference “remarkably” reduced if higher costs of the unexpected procedure are a factor.
The study added, “Remarkably, the gap disappears when the costs of ordering an unscheduled C-section are higher due to the unscheduled delivery occurring at the same time as a scheduled C-section.”
The findings are not surprising to many in the state. According to the Georgetown Institute for Women Peace and Security, New Jersey has the fourth-highest maternal mortality rate in the country. Black women residents are also four times more likely to die during childbirth than white women.
“The driving force behind these disparities is clear: systemic racism. Medical racism has long been embedded within the healthcare system, resulting in the undervaluing of Black women’s lives, health, and autonomy,” wrote Nastassia Harris, the founder of the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative, to Patch. ” From mismanagement during labor to the overuse of surgical interventions like C-sections, Black women’s bodies are too often treated as if they don’t matter.”
Houston’s Kindred Stories Bookstore Now Hot Spot For Black Authors And Readers
Located in the Houston's Third Ward, the small but mighty bookshop is a growing staple in the community.
Houston’s Kindred Stories bookstore has emerged as a go-to stop for high-profile Black authors to speak on their works for a diverse readership.
Located in the city’s Third Ward, the small but mighty bookshop is a growing staple in the community. Readers can stop by to peruse the Black-owned business’ latest offerings and catch Black celebrities hosting readings and engagements about their literary ventures.
According to Chron, Kindred Stories’ owner, Terri Hamm, opened its storefront in September 2021. She expanded its online platform thanks to the Project Row Houses’ Incubation Program, which helped Hamm scale her business in its early stages by providing a space to do so.
As for its growth in events and marketing, the store’s management attests to strategic pitching.
“A lot of times, we pitch these events to their publishers for their books, because it’s always centered around their work, right? We’re not just booking random celebrities. It’s about the literature that they’re making,” explained the store’s manager, Chaneka Williams.
The bookshop has already hosted Insecure actor Jay Ellis, who recently released his memoir “Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?: Adventures in Boyhood.” Next on Kindred Stories’ schedule are media personality Rickey Smiley and multi-faceted entertainer 50 Cent, both featuring their memoirs and crime novels, respectively.
However, it takes a village to bring these events to fruition. Luckily, Kindred Stories has developed relationships with local and bigger establishments in Houston to host these celebrity authors.
Williams added, “When we’re thinking about location, we’re obviously thinking about what type of audience that they’re gonna draw. But I think what’s at the forefront of our minds are the community partnerships that we have.”
Kindred Stories is not the only Black-owned and Black-centered bookstore in the city. Other stops in the area serve different clientele, from comic book lovers to Texas Southern University students. However, Hamm doesn’t see the other businesses as competition but as a sign that diverse stores are growing and thriving.
Additionally, the bookshop does not only host celebrity authors. It plans to bring other novelists, poets, and speakers to its spaces as it continues to serve the community.
Hamm emphasized, “We all serve different customers because Black folks are not a monolith, and Kindred Stories is not for everyone, right? And we don’t carry everything. So, it’s so great that people have options. And I think Black folks deserve all the options.”
Black-Owned Coffee Chain In Oakland Files For Bankruptcy Amid Multiple Lawsuits
Red Bay Coffee Roasters is known throughout the Bay Area for its social advocacy and support of the Black and Brown community.
Red Bay Coffee Roasters has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Black-owned coffee chain in Oakland will begin this process as multiple lawsuits against the company wage on.
San Francisco Business Timesreported that Red Bay filed in late August. The notable franchise, which boasts five stores across the Bay Area, stated that COVID-19’s impact and the ongoing lawsuits played the biggest roles. Specifically, the paperwork noted “spiraling costs and related uncertainties” surrounding the lawsuits as a push toward Chapter 11 protections.
The owner and current debtor-in-possession, Keba Konte, founded Red Bay in his garage in 2014. In his declaration for first-day motions filed on Sept. 5, Konte released his asset valuation at $251,000. He also listed his liabilities at $3.3 million, with two loans valued at $550,000 each. On the other hand, the company had a net loss of more than $850,000 in a six-month period starting January 2024.
Through its expansion, Konte appointed the space as unapologetically welcoming to Black and Brown people, hosting panels and workshops to uplift its local community. Red Bay has also featured exclusive coffee blends that shed light on social causes, one most recently dedicated to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict as well as sickle cell disease awareness. However, lawsuits accusing employees of sexual harassment and wage theft have stunted the company.
In 2018, a former employee sued Red Bay, alleging that several coworkers engaged in sexual harassment against them. The employee further claims that they were demoted and then fired for retaliation. Moreover, they accused the business of not paying the full wages owed.
A former landlord also filed another lawsuit against Red Bay. The filing stated the franchise breached a contract surrounding one of its now-defunct locations in Southern California. To add to its legal woes, the filing also claimed the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) launched an investigation into its business practices based on claims made by a former employee. The EEOC has yet to confirm the investigation, given federal policies.
New Lawsuit Alleges Mississippi County Discriminates Against Black Voters
A federal lawsuit alleges that among the five districts drawn to elect officials in Mississippi’s DeSoto County, all of them are discriminatory against Black Mississippians.
A federal lawsuit alleges that all five districts drawn to elect officials in Mississippi’s DeSoto County discriminate against Black Mississippians. The Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the ACLU of Mississippi, and Harvard Election Law are all plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed on behalf of two county voters and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. The lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Mississippi on Sept. 12.
According to Mississippi Today, although 32% of residents in DeSoto County are Black, none of that county’s 25 elected officials are Black. These positions include county supervisors, justice court judges, constables, school board members, and election commissioners.
As Amir Badat, the Voting Special Counsel for the LDF, said in the press release, “Black voters in DeSoto County deserve to fully and fairly participate in the democratic process to ensure their interests are represented and their communities are accounted for,” Badat said.
Badat continued, “DeSoto County’s racially discriminatory redistricting plan denies Black DeSoto residents their fundamental right to elect representatives invested in their unique needs. This dangerously impacts the quality of life for Black DeSoto residents…We will work to protect the rights of Black DeSoto residents to fairly participate in this democracy and elect the governing bodies who best represent their community’s interests.”
Daniel Hessel, an attorney and clinical instructor at Harvard Election Law Clinic, agreed with Badat’s assessment, saying in the press release that “DeSoto County’s districting map splinters the County’s Black community, denying Black voters an opportunity to have [a] voice in their government. Black voters in DeSoto County have a right to fair maps to ensure their needs and interests are reflected in the five offices elected under these district lines.”
According to Jarvis Dortch, executive director of the Mississippi branch of the ACLU, the fastest-growing county in Mississippi deserves fair representation. “DeSoto County is the fastest-growing county in Mississippi. The individuals and families that move to our State deserve fair and just representation in their local government,” Dortch said.
Dortch continued, “Unfortunately, the current Supervisor district lines are drawn to favor white voters and harm voters of color. A community will only thrive when all voices can be heard, and some votes don’t count more than others.”
The lawsuit’s opening introduction immediately makes mention of the fact that despite the significant Black population in DeSoto County, no Black person had been elected in over two decades. It also says that the county’s previous plans splintered the Black community, diluting the political power of the Black citizens of DeSoto County.
“Despite DeSoto County’s significant Black population, no Black person has been elected to a County Office in at least the last two decades, and candidates of choice of the Black community have rarely been elected.”
The lawsuit suggests that it is possible and preferable to redraw the maps so that Black and white citizens of the county can share power.
“It is possible to draw a redistricting map that conforms to traditional redistricting principles and that includes a reasonably configured district in which Black residents are a majority of the population. Such a map would afford Black voters an opportunity to elect their preferred candidate as one of the five officeholders in each of the five County Offices currently governed by the 2022 Plan.”
According to Charles Taylor, executive director of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP, “Addressing DeSoto County’s history of injustices begins with fair electoral mapping and access to the ballot box,” Taylor said.
He concluded, “Participation and representation are the fundamental rights afforded by a democracy, yet the Black citizens of the county have long been denied their rights by those holding office.”
Carnival Cruise Ship Has ‘Titanic Moment’ After Colliding With An Iceberg In Alaska
Despite this, guests still enjoyed a seven-day cruise.
A Carnival Cruise reportedly had a full-on “Titanic moment” after striking an iceberg while sailing in Alaska on Sept. 12.
The cruise ship company confirmed that the Carnival Spirit departed from Seattle on Sept. 11 and struck “an errant piece of drifting ice” in Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord, Fox 13 Seattle reports. However, no Titanic-like damage was caused, with Carnival verifying that the cruise ship was assessed and no damage to the hull was discovered.
The Carnival Spirit still went as planned, with guests enjoying a seven-day cruise that arrived back in Seattle on Tuesday. While the crew confirmed the iceberg collision did not impact operations, guests shared the incident on social media, calling it a “Titanic moment.”
One person captioned a TikTok video of the collision: “9/5/24 Carnival Spirit hit an iceberg. It didn’t do any damage that caused us to use any emergency procedures. The crew did an amazing job at accessing the damage and keep all of its crew and passengers safe and informed!”
Viewers noted how small the iceberg was compared to the one colliding with the Titanic ship in 1912.
“That’s a eight the size of the berg that sank the titanic,” one TikTok user wrote.
“Titanic Moment ? Lol 😂 not very big,” added someone else.
On Twitter, Meteorologist James Spann shared a testimonial from one cruise ship guest who shared photos from the accident.
“From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord!” he tweeted. “Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!”
From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord! Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!” pic.twitter.com/KIUkrlLtx9
One person who witnessed the collision claimed people were being “over dramatic” about the small run-in.
“Over dramatic! I just got back from the same area we were surrounded by them. We also hit a few no need to panic everyone it happens all the time,” they tweeted.
The Carnival Cruise iceberg collision comes two years after the Norwegian Sun from Norwegian Cruise Line struck an iceberg while sailing in Alaska, causing damage to its starboard bow. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Alaska is a popular cruise destination, but in recent years, locals have reportedly raised concerns about overcrowded waterways in the region.
“That ice is hard and can damage the hull or propellers,” Captain John Herring said in 2022. “Strong winds and currents make navigating icy waters even harder.”
However, cruise expert Chris Gray Faust, executive editor of Cruise Critic, claims, “We very rarely—if ever—see any issues related to sailings in icy waters.”
“Today’s cruise ships are specifically built to sail a number of different waters,” Gray Faust said. “Those that sail in Alaska are not only able to withstand icy waters, they have experienced captains who are familiar with the landscape, which is why the incident being reported caused no issue to the ship or the sailing.”
NYC Lawmakers Approve Bill To Study Reparations, Now Headed To Mayor’s Desk For Approval
Mayor Eric Adams has signaled his support for the bill.
New York City legislation that would allow for the study of the city’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and the consideration of reparations is heading to Mayor Eric Adams’s desk for final approval after the New York City Council approved the legislation on Sept. 12.
According to the Associated Press, Council Member Farah Louis, a Democrat who sponsored one of the bills approved by the council, told the New York City Council that opponents often see reparations as merely a call for compensation, but the effects of the conditions that created a need for reparations continue to affect Black Americans today.
In her remarks, Louis cited redlining, environmental racism, and services in predominantly Black neighborhoods being consistently underfunded as examples of things that are still working against Black people in 2024.
As reported by The Gothamist, Louis said ahead of the vote that the bill she sponsored was supposed to have been put to a vote months ago but stalled due to political infighting.
“Even within our own ranks, there were those –- particularly among Black and brown legislators –- who were reluctant to engage with this sensitive issue, fearing the potential consequences,” Louis said.
Mayor Adams’ office signaled his support for the bill through a statement released by City Hall that characterized the legislation package as “another crucial step towards addressing systemic inequities, fostering reconciliation, and creating a more just and equitable future for all New Yorkers.”
According to The Gothamist, Adams said at a press conference in December 2023 that the creation of wealth can be traced back to slavery. Presumably, Adams was referring to the wealth of certain institutions or companies like New York Life Insurance, which insured enslavers and charged premiums based on the appraised cost of enslaved persons.
“We never really dealt with or reckoned with slavery, and there are some institutions that wealth is directly connected to slavery. It’s not like it’s a mystery,” Adams said.
Across the country, there have been mixed results with the various pushes from cities and states to address reparations in lieu of the federal government’s long inaction on the issue. As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, California’s efforts ended up with two critical pieces of their legislative body’s ambitious proposals left on the cutting floor, allegedly over concerns that Gov. Gavin Newsom would have vetoed them.
In February, after the city initially approved reparations, San Francisco cut its reparations package. San Francisco Mayor London Breed, a Black woman, reasoned that in addition to the budget crunch faced by the city, she did not believe that reparations should be addressed at the local level but at the federal level.
Evanston, Illinois, became the first city in America to officially make payments to its Black citizens for reparations, making some payments of $25,000 to residents in 2023. That city’s successful, if limited, program has effectively opened the doors for other cities, like New York, to consider making payments to its citizens for historic and targeted discrimination against Black people.
In August, Tulsa, Oklahoma, the site of the infamous destruction of Black Wall Street in 1921, voted to create a commission similar to the one that New York City created in 2021 thanks to then-Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s racial justice initiative, which contained a recommendation that the city track the cost of living and commit to addressing “past and continuing harms.”
Ahead of the council’s vote, Linda Tigani, the Racial Equity Commission executive director (CORE), said at a press conference, “Your call and your ancestors’ call for reparations had not gone unheard.” According to a financial impact analysis of the bills, the cost to complete the studies will cost approximately $2.5 million.
