by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 9, 2024

As More Workers Take More Sick Days, Calling Off Comes At A Cost

Mounting job insecurity is bringing an unexpected weight to the sick day.

In a post-pandemic world, sick days are used more than ever. However, as job insecurities loom, this new work environment could also lean away from prioritizing health.

According to Business Insider, Gen-Z’s emphasis on a work-life balance makes employees more willing to take advantage of sick days offered. In addition to the shift toward hybrid and remote working, this mindset has more workers prioritizing their health and wellness than perceived productivity.

Their mentality differs from previous generations, whose members thought work often could overcome the common cold. However, Gen-Z’s growing mark on the workforce has led others to take time to recuperate. Moreover, with the added adoption of mental health days by some companies, many of this age group consider sick days a worker’s right rather than a privilege of advanced careers.

“Gen Z has a different way of thinking and communicating,” explained Rue Dooley, HR knowledge advisor at the Society for Human Resource Management. “Younger workers are behaving in such a way that it is an entitlement: ‘I should get time off when I need it without having to get special permission or feeling judged or condemned.'”

However, the fragile job market could thwart this relatively new mentality. Employees may be less willing to call in sick in order to stay off the chopping block.

Hybrid or remote workers may face more pressure to stay working no matter how they feel, especially when at home and not spreading the illness. The rise of “presenteeism,” where one is physically present but mentally clocked out, also spells trouble for an employee’s long-term wellness.

The flexibility of hybrid work may encourage looser boundaries of what qualifies as too sick to log on. This can spell lesser productivity overall, an issue which, despite taking more sick days, U.S. workers have not slacked in. A 2023 survey conducted by Pew Research showed that less than half of U.S. employees cashed in on all their Paid Time Off (PTO).

Furthermore, management should always take note of when their employees are feeling burned-out and may need a day to recover.

“True leaders grasp that in terms of productivity, it’s better in the long term to allow people that time for their well-being over short-term productivity,” said Dooley.

While Gen-Z made sick days more acceptable, proving that they won’t be to a worker’s detriment is a new challenge in a hybrid workforce.

Master P, super bow, New Orleans, entertainment ambassador

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 9, 2024

Master P Reacts To Announcement Of Kendrick Lamar Being Named Super Bowl Halftime Performer

Master P feels Lil Wayne should have been given that honor since the Super Bowl is in New Orleans in 2025.

2024 has been full of surprises, but the year is not over! In an unexpected move, Compton-bred recording artist Kendrick Lamar announced via social media that he will be the featured act for the upcoming Super Bowl, which will take place in New Orleans in 2025. With the expectation that the prime-time spot would go to one of New Orleans’ most famous people, Lil Wayne, the announcement caused some New Orleans residents to make their opinions known that Weezy (one of Lil Wayne’s nicknames) should have been selected.

Master P was one such critic who spoke out about the decision made by the NFL and Apple Music.

The announcement video woke up the hip-hop world.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar)

In response to the post by the “Not Like Us” lyricist, Master P took to Instagram to express why Lil Wayne should have been performing in the spot slated for Lamar.

The legendary businessman first gave Lamar props and acknowledged that the Compton rapper was having a good year and deserved the recognition.

“Salute to @kendricklamar for performing at the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX. Well deserved; he’s one of the hottest music artists in the world and has one of the biggest songs right now.”

He went into detail about why Weezy, whom he considers a legend, should get those “flowers,” especially in the city where he comes from.

“As Ambassador of Entertainment in the City of New Orleans, I have to agree with the fans that @liltunechi #LilWayne should be a part of this celebration as well. He’s one of the greatest Hip Hop artists alive, still relevant, and he’s a New Orleans native. Let’s not miss this cultural moment in the South. Life is too short! We have to give our legends their flowers while they are here. @masterpmasterclass #Godisgood Change starts with us. @nfl @jayz @mayorcantrell“

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A post shared by Master P (@masterp)

Master P took the diplomatic way to express his disappointment with the decision. But Fabian Marasciullo, who manages Lil Wayne, responded with a more directed approach that eludes to the possibility that Wayne may have been in the conversation, but negotiations may not have gone how they wanted them to. The Neighborhood Talk captured a screenshot of Marasciullo’s reaction to the announcement. In the post, the manager placed a picture of Wayne and Lamar.

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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

“Will never again be in a position or have the [goat emoticon] in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions,” Fabian stated.

RELATED CONTENT: Snoop Dogg And Master P Sue Walmart For Allegedly Keeping Snoop Cereal In Stockrooms

by Mitti Hicks

September 9, 2024

GoFundMe For Student Killed In Apalachee High School Raises More Than $200K

A GoFundMe for Mason Schermerhorn, one of the two students killed at Apalachee High School, has raised over $200,000.

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A GoFundMe for Mason Schermerhorn, one of the two students killed at Apalachee High School, has raised over $200,000 as of Monday, Sept. 9.

Artisea Bethea is organizing the fundraiser for Breanna Schermerhorn, the victim’s older sister.

“Please consider donating to help support my dear friend and her family as they are going through this difficult loss of her baby brother Mason,” the GoFundMe reads. “He was the sweetest, most loving soul with the biggest smile and will be missed dearly. Anything you can give is appreciated. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers and help out if you can.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” one person who donated to the campaign wrote. “I can’t even imagine the pain your family is facing. Prayers for your whole family as you navigate through this tragic loss.”

“May God shine down on your entire family,” another person who supported the fund stated. “This is truly tragic. You have lots of prayers and support coming to you from us Canadians.”

Families Trying To Put The Pieces Together To Why This Happened

The families of the four victims killed, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, are trying to figure out what led 14-year-old Colt Gray to wreak havoc on the Winder, Georgia, school.

Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie and 14-year-old student Christian Angulo were also killed in the shooting. According to CNN, at least eight others were injured.

“He was a very good kid, very sweet, and so caring,” his older sister Lisette Angulo wrote on a GoFundMe Page. His loved ones are also trying to raise money for his funeral services. The campaign has already raised almost $190,000 at the time of this report. “He was so loved by many. His loss was so sudden and unexpected. We are truly heartbroken.”

Gray and his dad, Colin Gray, 54, have both been arrested and charged with murder.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 9, 2024

Gary Payton Hired As College Of Alameda Men’s Basketball Coach

"The opportunity for our players to learn from one of the all-time NBA greats and Olympic gold medalists is one that we knew we could not afford to pass up," Athletic Director Ramaundo Vaughn said.

Gary Payton, a former NBA player, has been announced as the new head coach of the College of Alameda men’s basketball team.

ESPN reported that the former Seattle SuperSonics guard, known as “The Glove” during his professional playing days, will lead the College of Alameda men’s basketball team after being the head coach at Lincoln University in Oakland, California, for the past three seasons.

Former NBA star Gary Payton, Sr., is the new head men’s basketball coach at College of Alameda, sources told @espn @andscape. The @Hoophall member was a head coach at NAIA Lincoln University in Oakland, California the past 3 seasons before taking over at the nearby junior college

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 7, 2024

“Gary Payton is the right choice for the College Of Alameda for a number of reasons,” Athletic Director Ramaundo Vaughn said in a written statement. “Gary has always been a leader and winner. We know that Coach Payton will hold our athletes accountable on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.”

Vaughn stated that Payton would also work with the community while guiding the students.

“The opportunity for our players to learn from one of the all-time NBA greats and Olympic gold medalists is one that we knew we could not afford to pass up.”

As a coach, Payton has been very active over the past few years while also coaching in Ice Cube’s Big3 league. He has been coaching since the league started in 2017, and this past season, he led his team to the title and was named the Big3 Coach of the Year.

His work is cut out for him with the College of Alameda men’s basketball team. The college is a junior college that plays in the Bay Valley Conference, and the team went 7-21 last season.

Payton won one NBA championship while playing with the Miami Heat in 2006. The 56-year-old played in the NBA for 17 seasons with the Seattle Sonics, the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Boston Celtics. When he was picked as NBA Defensive Player of the Year in the 1995-96 season, he was the first point guard to win the award.

Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Georgia, Black voters

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 9, 2024

Harris And Trump Fight For Georgia’s Black Voters Before Debate As Poll Numbers Show Them Tied

One opinion poll shows the candidates are neck-and-neck.

A new poll shows that presidential nominees Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are tied among Black voters in battleground states like Georgia, Reuters reports.

Results from the opinion poll show that the candidates are neck-and-neck — a big switch from polls in early July 2024, where Trump was leading President Joe Biden, then the Democratic presidential nominee, by 6%. The stakes are now high to see who will come out on top in Georgia, with a higher focus on Black voters, whose population is one-third Black. However, the strategy to engage with Black voters is different from Harris compared to Trump’s.

The four-time indicted businessman has used controversially racist tactics to loop in undecided Black voters. In early August 2024, just a few weeks after the Vice President took over the campaign trail, Trump made an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention (NABJ), where he attacked Harris’ race, claiming he didn’t know she identified as “Black.” “I did not know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black,” Trump said when asked why Black voters should trust him.

His past remarks regarding Black people and support of Republican-backed voting restrictions have made it harder for Black residents to vote. On the other hand, Harris has had historic support from Black voters in the Peach State. Close to 10,000 Atlanta residents gathered to hear Harris at a rally on July 30, her largest event yet. But Vivian Childs, a National Black Americans for Trump Coalition member, claims the excitement for Harris is fading. “We have got to stop dividing our country based on how we look,” Childs said.

“I’m telling people to talk to Black people the same way they talk to white people: Look at President Trump’s resume, his policies, what he’s done for all Americans.”

According to The Guardian, a national poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College shows Trump is up one point, 48% to 47%, just days before the nominees meet face-to-face for their first presidential debate on Sept. 10 since Harris took over as the Democratic candidate. The poll also identifies Harris’ performance as a crucial moment for her campaign, allowing her to give more details on her policies.

In a statement, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’s re-election campaign chair, said the Vice President knows her place in the race and is prepared to fight until the end. “As Vice-President Harris has said since day one, we are the underdogs in this race,” O’Malley Dillon said.

“We have a lot of work to do to make sure we win this November, and that will require us to continue aggressively raising money.”

In Georgia, the eyes of Black voters in different counties are focused on an array of topics, ranging from student loan forgiveness to immigration to inflation. In Cobb County, the change from Harris’ campaign is apparent. Once a predominantly white and Republican county, the demographics show 30% Black, 14% Hispanic, and 6% Asian. It is also highlighted as a key county that helped President Joe Biden secure the White House in 2020. “It’s a reflection in the mirror for a lot of us,” said Cobb County Democratic Chair Essence Johnson.

But there are a few Black constituents in the county still supporting Trump’s conservative viewpoints. Embassy Church Senior Pastor B. Dwayne Hardin feels America is heading toward the idea of socialism and doesn’t want Black people to just vote for the candidate that “looks like them.”

“Do not worship the idol of skin color,” he told his congregation.

While Hardin hasn’t told people who to vote for, he labels Trump as being on the right side of issues such as individual liberty, school choice, and economic empowerment.

judge, racism remarks, recordings, Michigan, RICO, charges, Karmelo Anthony, Judge Joe Brown, food stamps,Talia C. Teneyuque

by Daniel Johnson

September 9, 2024

‘I’m a New Racist’: Michigan Judge Suspended After Homophobic And Racist Remarks Surface

Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan's damning statements were revealed in secretly recorded phone calls.

Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan was initially removed from her Aug. 27 docket for undisclosed reasons, but after a whistleblower revealed allegations of racist and homophobic remarks made during phone calls with Ryan, the reasons were brought to light.

According to The Guardian, Edward Hutton, an administrator for the court, secretly recorded calls that he had with Ryan, calls on which he heard her calling Black people lazy and using an anti-gay slur toward David Coulter, the county’s highest elected official, who is a gay man. In Michigan, it is legal to record private phone conversations if at least one party consents, and Hutton consented.

Hutton told WYXZ-TV that although Ryan has harassed him for years, the whistleblowing is not about him; he wants to protect those who enter the courtroom from her. He also told the outlet that he feels it’s a David and Goliath situation where the judge maintains all the power and leverage.

“I just felt like it wasn’t going to change,” Hutton told the outlet. “Nothing’s manipulated and it’s conversations that I was a part of. It’s something that I anticipate at some point I’ll probably have to testify to under oath, and I’m absolutely willing to testify to the authenticity of every single one of them [the recordings].”

Hutton continued, “I didn’t want to lose my job and I didn’t want to be in her crosshairs. It’s such a David and Goliath situation. I don’t have the power. I’m not elected. I could get fired tomorrow. I just want to make it right. I haven’t filed a lawsuit. I’m not looking for a payday. I want to keep my job and do it in peace. And I want the people in Oakland County that come to court to get a fair shake, to have their day in court, to have an unbiased trier of fact.”

When Hutton sent the recordings to the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Oakland County Executive Coulter, other public officials, and reporters at WYXZ-TV, he included a message to those officials in an email that Ryan “has vocalized her hate and contempt for various protected groups…I have attached recordings of statements made by Judge Kathleen A. Ryan that make her hate and bias plainly evident. I don’t want to lose my job, I just want to do the right thing.”

Ryan was relieved from overseeing cases on her docket after the recordings were shared with officials, and she has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation.

Coulter released a statement indicating he expects Ryan to be thoroughly investigated by the agencies whose job it is to review the conduct of judges and that there is no place for harassment, racism, or hateful speech by anyone employed by Oakland County.

“There is absolutely no place for harassment of any kind or for racist or homophobic language by anyone at Oakland County, especially by someone the public must be confident will act fairly and impartially. The alleged conduct and abhorrent comments made by Judge Ryan merited her removal from the Probate Court docket pending further investigation. I have confidence that the agencies reviewing this matter will treat it with the seriousness it deserves and will take further action if warranted,” Coulter said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also released a statement after the news outlet’s story aired, indicating that the allegations about Judge Ryan’s conduct represent a grave failure to exercise judicial values.

“The story, as reported, is very disturbing,” Nessel said. “Fairness, a sense of impartial justice, and prudent judgment are essential values our state’s judges must exercise, and these allegations portray a grave failing of those values from a probate court bench. This case dramatically underscores the need for critical guardianship reform now –- including requiring probate judges to provide reasoning for when they bypass family members in favor of professional guardians.”

by Daniel Johnson

September 9, 2024

Daylight Savings Time 2024 Will End On Nov. 3

According to several sleep expert groups, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Sleep Research Society, and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, the potential harmful effects of DST necessitate a move to permanent standard time.

Except for Arizona and Hawaii, the only two states that do not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST), the rest of the country’s clocks will be going back one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Nov. 3.

According to Tododisca, on Nov. 3, days will become shorter. The modern concept of Daylight Saving Time is credited to New Zealand entomologist George Hudson, who proposed in 1895 that there be a two-hour time shift so he could catch more bugs after his work shift ended. Not long after this, in 1900, a British activist, William Willett, brought a similar idea to the British Parliament. In 1916, after their resources became harder to obtain, Germany instituted the world’s first Daylight Saving Time during World War I. America soon followed suit, beginning the practice two years later.

According to Statista, the practice is currently observed in most of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Peru, Paraguay, New Zealand, the southwestern provinces of Australia, and Egypt, in addition to America.

Quite a few countries or continents have switched to a year-round standard time, including Mexico, South America (excluding the previously mentioned countries observing Daylight Saving Time), Europe (excluding the English countries), Russia, Asia, and India. (except for two provinces in Northeastern India, which have never practiced DST).

According to the Sleep Foundation, although approximately 60% of the world has moved away from DST, there is little momentum in the American political arena to join those countries. The Sunshine Protection Act, a bill introduced in the Senate by Florida’s Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and in the House by Florida’s Rep. Vern Buchanan, proposed a change to the federal law that prohibits DST from becoming permanent. That bill stalled in 2023 and has not been re-introduced for 2024.

According to several sleep expert groups, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Sleep Research Society, and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, the potentially harmful effects of DST necessitate a move to permanent standard time.

Phyllis C. Zee, a sleep medicine specialist and chief of Sleep Medicine in the Department of Neurology at Northwestern Medicine, told Northwestern University that scientific evidence shows DST is associated with harmful effects.

“There has always been a debate in regards to daylight saving time,” Zee told the university. “The science has evolved over the last decade to show the transition between standard time, and DST is associated with adverse health consequences. The big question on the table right now is, should it be permanent standard time or permanent DST?”

Zee, a proponent of switching to permanent standard time, continued, “If we adopt permanent standard time, our internal clocks will more likely be in sync with the rotation of the Earth, seasonal changes, and the sun clock. We know that sleep deprivation is bad for your physical and cognitive health.”

Absent a switch to permanent standard time, Northwestern Medicine recommends the following to help curb some of the effects of DST: following a sleep routine, chasing the morning light, eliminating sleep disturbances, and exercising in the morning, all of which are steps to protect your natural circadian rhythm.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 9, 2024

Beyoncé Receives ZERO Nominations For Country Music Association Awards Despite No. 1 Country Album

'Texas Hold ‘Em' held the top spot for 10 weeks on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.

The Country Music Association Awards has announced its list of nominees for this year’s award, and the biggest news was that Beyoncé and her country album, “Cowboy Carter,” were not included.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, despite Beyonce becoming the first Black woman to have a country record on top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, she received zero nominations from the voting bloc. The popular songstress also held the top position on the same chart for 10 weeks, and it helped her gain nothing from the people who routinely vote on the artists and records for the awards.

Despite having one of the year’s biggest country albums and one of the top songs with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” she was shut out as Morgan Wallen garnered seven nominations. Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson received five each for their respective works. Post Malone and Lainey Wilson were close behind with four nominations each.

Users across social media, a fan of Queen Bey or not, sounded off about the snub.

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Since Mrs. Carter released her first country single, there has been backlash from country radio stations about the song, although fans flooded the airwaves with requests. Some stations relented and started to add her music to their playlists when angry fans voiced their displeasure with the gatekeeping tactics.

Earlier this year, Beyoncé told The Hollywood Reporter that with this project, she was happy her fans trusted her judgment in recording the album. However, she was also aware that the gatekeepers of the genre would not be happy or support the effort she put into putting out a country album.

“I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m so thrilled that my fans trusted me. The music industry gatekeepers are not happy about the idea of bending genres, especially coming from a Black artist and definitely not a woman,” Beyoncé said.

She can be proud that seven of her country songs made it to the Top 10. “Cowboys Carter” also reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 and 200 album charts.

by Mitti Hicks

September 9, 2024

Federal Trial For 3 Former Memphis Police Officers Charged With Tyre Nichols Death To Begin

Tyre Nichols’ death sparked nationwide protests after his arrest and a fatal beating caught on police cameras.

Jury selection for the federal trial of three former Memphis police officers charged with violating the civil rights of Tyre Nichols begins on Sept. 9. Nichols’ death sparked nationwide protests after his arrest led to a fatal beating caught on police cameras.

The three officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, have pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to the use of excessive force, failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering, NBC reports.

Officers from Memphis Police pulled Tyre Nichols over on Jan. 7, 2023, claiming he was driving recklessly. Police video shows just minutes after the traffic stop, he was yanked out of his vehicle before he ran from police. Police video shows officers catching up with him in a Memphis neighborhood steps away from the home where he lived with his mother. Disturbing video shows police officers beating Nichols with a police baton, kicking and punching him. He died in the hospital on Jan. 10, 2023.

An autopsy report revealed Nichols died after sustaining blows to the head. His death was ruled a homicide.

Per NBC, jurors will be selected from a pool of approximately 200 people. Once the trial begins, it’s expected to last three to four weeks.

The three officers facing federal trial are among the five officers fired after Tyre Nichols’ death. Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. were also fired for violating the police department’s policies.

A federal grand jury indicted all five officers in September 2023, where Mills and Martin pleaded guilty and could reportedly testify in the federal trial against their three former colleagues. If the officers are convicted, charges carry lengthy sentences, as Black Enterprise previously reported. Counts one and two of the indictment carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Counts three and four each have a maximum penalty of 20 years.

All five officers were charged with second-degree murder in state court, where they pleaded not guilty.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 9, 2024

Black Caucus Releases New DEI Guidelines, Calls On Corporations To Continue Efforts Despite Backlash

CBC Chair Rep. Steven Horsford stressed companies are falling victim to 'far-right actors who are attempting to bully corporate America.'

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has released a new diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) report aimed at guiding corporations in improving workplace policies and urging them to reaffirm their commitment to racial justice, according to the Associated Press.

The report, “What Good Looks Like: A Corporate Accountability Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” was released on Sept. 9. It asserts that workplace DEI policies remain legal despite the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action in college admissions. The report advocates for expanding these policies to foster economic prosperity and address racial wealth disparities.

“In the wake of the death of George Floyd, corporations pledged $50 billion to racial equity and strengthening DEI policies,” Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in the report.

“DEI is now under attack, but the response from corporate America has been overwhelming.”

The guidelines come after the caucus reached out to various Fortune 500 companies, academics, and business analysts to determine ways for them to promote DEI and Black economic mobility during 2024’s shaky political and legal environment. In the report, the caucus cited corporations that have faced backlash from conservative activists and lawmakers for implementing such policies, such as farm supply corporation Tractor Supply Co.

In June 2024, Tractor Supply announced it was cutting all diversity, equity, and inclusion roles, eliminating sponsorships of “non-business activities” like Pride festivals, and goals to diminish carbon emissions. The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) and critics called out the company and its leader, Hal Lawton, for the decision.

“I was appalled by the decision,” NBFA’s President and Founder, John Boyd Jr., said in a statement at the time.

“I see this as rolling back the clock with race relations—because the country is so divided on race, especially in rural America.”

According to U.S. News & World Report, the CBC study outlines 12 categories where corporations can zone in on expanding DEI efforts and help close the gap within racial wealth. Guidance for workplace culture, data disaggregation, talent opportunities, retention rates, pay equity, and procurement policies are just some of the issues identified in the study.

Corporations were invited to “collaborate legislatively” to develop laws that “create perpetual accountability for corporate America, help close this massive gap of inequality, and support the values of our caucus,” Horsford pointed out, adding that the high court’s historic ruling does not correlate with corporate DEI policies. Hence, the policies should still be in place.

He said corporations shouldn’t fall victim to “far-right actors who are attempting to bully corporate America.”

Fifty CEOs met directly with the CBC, while other companies responded with letters and questionnaires from lawmakers.

“There is nothing under the law that is illegal or unconstitutional about corporations advancing DEI policies. I commend the corporations that answered our call,” Horsford stressed. “We are now giving the roadmap for what good looks like.”