Micheal Jordan, Brightness In Black,storyCorp, Jordan Bran
by Daniel Johnson

September 19, 2023

Earliest Known Game Shoes Worn By NBA GOAT Michael Jordan Sell For $624,000

Michael Jordan’s autographed Air Ship shoes from his fifth NBA game have sold at auction for $624,000. Goldin Auctions sold the shoes for $525,000 before adding a buyer’s premium to cover costs related to the auction, according to Bleacher Report.

During Jordan’s rookie season in 1984, he wore Air Ships while Nike was still creating his now iconic Air Jordan brand. Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin used a process known as photo-matching to identify the shoes as the ones Jordan wore during a matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 1, 1984. Jordan may have worn the shoes as early as his NBA debut.

By contrast, a pair of Jordan’s game-worn shoes from Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Jordan’s final finals appearance, sold for $2.28 million at a Sotheby’s auction in April 2023. Jordan autographed those shoes as well before giving them to a ball boy after the game.

A former Nuggets ball boy, Lewis first sold the shoes at another auction for $1.47 million and revealed the story of how he got them.

He had asked Jordan during a shootaround if he could have the shoes following the game, but Jordan declined, telling Lewis that they were too expensive to part with. After the game, however, when His Airness saw Lewis, he not only gave him the shoes, he signed them as well. On one shoe, he addressed TJ personally, signing it “My Very Best To TJ Michael Jordan,” and on the other, Jordan signed his name. (Jordan’s stat line in that game was mediocre by his standards: only posting 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.) The significance of the shoes remains that they are the earliest known shoes that Jordan wore in his career. 

Jordan was named an NBA All-Star during his rookie campaign (to date, only 45 players in the history of the league have accomplished this feat) and won Rookie of the Year before giving the Boston Celtics an incredible 63 points in a playoff game. Jordan’s Hall of Fame career would eventually establish him as one of the greatest players in NBA history. 

(In that auction, run by Sotheby’s, a few other pieces were also sold, such as the shooting shirt Kobe Bryant wore before he torched the Toronto Raptors for 81 points. Also included was Tom Brady’s uniform from the 2004 NFL Championship and Pele’s jersey worn in his 1975 debut for the New York Cosmos.)

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Jordan Is Now The Richest NBA Player Ever After Selling Hornets Franchise

Two L.A. Models Found Dead In Less than a Week
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 19, 2023

Two L.A. Models Found Dead In Less than a Week

Nichole Coats‘ family last heard from her as she prepared for a date Friday, Sept. 8. The following morning, the Los Angeles-based model could not be reached by family or friends.

On Sunday, the 32-year-old model was found dead by her relatives in her downtown apartment. Coats was bloodied and her leg was in a kicking position, according to KTLA 5. 

“I couldn’t recognize her,” said Coats’ aunt, May Stevens. “I believe it was murder, I really do…That’s not somebody who just laid in their bed and died.”

Her family seeks answers as Coats was well-loved. They are frustrated by law enforcement’s lack of progress in the matter. “This is senseless, and I want some answers because my daughter is gone,” said Coats’ mother, Sharon Coats.

Police are also looking for a connection between her and another model’s death.

On Sept.12, model and real estate agent Maleesa Mooney was found dead in her apartment, less than three miles from Coats’ residence. The 31-year-old’s body was discovered after concerned relatives asked local police to perform a wellness check after family members couldn’t contact Mooney.

Coats’ cause of death is still being determined, but Mooney’s death was classified as a homicide. The women’s deaths are eerily similar, and friends and family of the women feel this may be the work of a serial killer.

“I don’t know who she went out with or what transpired there,” Sharon Coats told KTLA. “I have no idea but I’m going to find out. So if you’re out there, you’re going to get caught. You’re messing with the wrong person.”

Coats’ loved ones have started a GoFundMe to crowdsource funding for her funeral arrangements, with more than $15,000 raised so far, well above the $10,000 goal.

RELATED CONTENT: California Man Suspected of Being a Serial Killer Charged with Seven Counts of Murder

Cleveland Police Officers Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Stealing Over $14K During Traffic Stops
by Jaimee Ratliff

September 19, 2023

Cleveland Police Officers Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Stealing Over $14K During Traffic Stops

Two former East Cleveland police officers have been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of theft in office.

Willie Warner-Sims and his partner Alfonzo Cole were accused of stealing over $14,000 from drivers they pulled over during traffic stops. 32-year-old Sims and 35-year-old Cole took advantage of six civilians between July 2020 and July 2021. The officers were caught after a complaint was filed with the East Cleveland Police Department by a 21-year-old man who claimed the pair took $4,000 from him during a routine traffic stop at a local gas station on July 8, 2021. The money pocketed was intended to cover funeral services for the man’s recently deceased mother. It would later be discovered that Sims conducted another traffic stop on July 8 in which he forcibly removed a driver from his vehicle before ransacking it and stealing $781. Sims and Cole were arrested the day after the reported theft.

An investigation into the officers found that both Cole and Sims participated in several similar crimes and forgery of higher-ranked law enforcement over one year.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Russo criticized the former police officers during their sentencing. “The one person that the public should be able to have confidence in … would be your emergency services, your police officers, your firefighters, your EMTs.”

Russo continued, “You’ve shaken the confidence of the public in the criminal justice system and the trust they put in police officers.”

A department-wide investigation into the East Cleveland Police Department uncovered corruption, fraud, money laundering, and records-tampering leading up the chain of command to Police Chief Scott Gardner, proving that Cole and Sims are just one part of a larger law enforcement problem in the area.

“When a[n] individual who is a police officer has taken that oath, he, in essence, is in a criminal category of his own,” Russo continued. “He, in effect, is a traitor to the system. He’s far worse than your normal burglar or robber or criminal.”

In addition to his two-year sentence, Cole was ordered to pay a $40,000 fine.

RELATED CONTENT: TSA Agents Caught Allegedly Stealing From Passenger’s Luggage

HBCU, Universal music group, scholarship, medical, practitioner,
by Sharelle Burt

September 19, 2023

Universal Music Group Launches Scholarship Program At HBCU Medical Schools To Foster Opportunities For Black Practitioners

On September 14, Universal Music Group (UMG) launched an HBCU scholarship program for aspiring doctors through a new initiative called Task Force for Meaningful Change (TFMC).

Focusing on forming new opportunities that will widen the scope of Black practitioners, the program is slated to work with the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Meharry Medical College in Nashville, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in California.

According to Black Engineer, prolific national public health experts from numerous fields, including Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. and Dr. Camara Jones, sit on TFMC’s Public Health Advisory Board. They work together to target what they call a “Super Priority.” With the guidance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the board and TFMC identify how the issue impacts Black and underprivileged communities.

The SVP of UMG and executive director of TFMC, Dr. Menna Demessie, said their efforts are geared toward fighting racist practices in public health and making a positive change.

“Our efforts to direct our philanthropic efforts in a way that combats racial disparities in public health is directly informed by the insights of experts like Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Jones,” Demessie said. “Our TFMC members really understand our mission, and they understand the power of music – as well as our collective ability – to leverage our position as industry leaders to make positive social change.”

The scholarships will help ease the financial burden of over 50 students at each school, where some have already identified the type of student that qualifies.

Morehouse College will provide the funds to students who need financial assistance to help serve marginalized urban and rural communities, guaranteeing health equity for those who need it most.

The Meharry School of Medicine will reward students who excel academically, thrive in leadership service, and are dedicated to servicing underserved populations.

RELATED CONTENT: 4 HBCUs Awarded $1 Million Grant After Racist Bomb Threats Shut Down Campus

Henry G. Marsh, mayor, Saginaw, Michigan
by Lauren Nutall

September 19, 2023

The First Black Mayor Of Saginaw To Be Honored With A 1,050-Square-Foot Mural

The late Henry G. Marsh will be honored for his contributions as the first Black mayor of Saginaw, MI, with a 1,050-square-foot mural.

Though he passed away in Saginaw in 2011, almost 50 years after he was first elected as mayor in 1967, Marsh’s legacy as a World War II veteran and civil rights advocate will endure in the form of a painting. Local Frankenmuth artist Stephen Hargash has been tasked with creating the mural in Marsh’s likeness. The artwork will be located in what is now known as Henry Marsh Plaza. 

“He was a key figure in Saginaw, and to get the opportunity to honor him makes me feel good,” Hargash told M Live. Though Hargash never met Marsh, the artist interviewed several people to better understand the late politician’s character.

“I had to really delve into who he was and talk to people and read research to kind of formulate a picture of how I wanted to represent him,” he said. 

Descended from an enslaved grandfather, Marsh was born poor in Knoxville, TN. After being honorably discharged following a three-year service in the U.S. Army, Marsh graduated from Knoxville College. He later attended the University of Michigan’s law school until transferring to Wayne State University Law School to be near his wife, Ruth Eleanor Clayton. The couple had three children: Thomas, Walter, and Terésa. 

The former mayor broke boundaries throughout his term in Saginaw. Marsh was in office during the tumultuous 1960s, which saw a rise in racially motivated attacks and political unrest, so much so that he armed himself with a rifle after several threats of violence were made against him and his family. In 1961, the trailblazing politician was elected to the city council. In 1967, in response to escalating violence in the South, Marsh established a 200-member coalition. Ministers, business owners, activists, and people from all walks of life joined together to form the Committee of Civil Rights, a group Marsh considered one of his most outstanding achievements. He was elected to the mayor’s seat that same year and served as the city’s leader until 1969. 

This mural aims to capture Marsh in all his glory. Beyond his role as a passionate mayor, he was also a devoted family man and was defined by more than just where he came from.

In a 2009 interview with M Live, Marsh spoke about becoming one of the first Black leaders in Saginaw.

“I think I was a trailblazer, and I say it without vanity. I was nationally known. Not quite like the gentleman down in Washington, but I was pretty well publicized during that period of time,” he said. “Despite the fact that my whole background was black and Southern, I had self-assurance and confidence that enabled me to take a position and say things that others would not. As essentially the only black lawyer in Saginaw, I felt I was the spokesman for the black community.”

RELATED CONTENT: Independent Candidate Elected First Black Mayor of Colorado Springs

CAPITAL ONE ENGINEER NORBERT POWELL PRIOITIZES FINDING JOY IN AND OUT OF WORK
by Black Enterprise

September 19, 2023

CAPITAL ONE ENGINEER NORBERT POWELL PRIOITIZES FINDING JOY IN AND OUT OF WORK

by Stacy Jackson

September 19, 2023

Olympian Allyson Felix Hits Ground Running With New Felix Runner Performance Shoe

Allyson Felix knows a thing or two about quality performance footwear.

The Olympic track star and mom recently launched the Felix Runner shoe under her Saysh brand. It’s giving comfort and performance all in one, according to Shoppe Black.

Felix’s shoe is unlike others, which are often structured based on men’s feet. Shoppe Black noted that she engineered the shoe according to the proportions of a woman’s foot.

The brand-new shoe comes in three colors: avalanche, ebony, and fire. Sizes range from 5.5 to 13.

Felix, the co-founder and president of Saysh, said, “I’m so excited for women to experience the difference of The Felix Runner firsthand—the comfort, support, and stability it brings. It’s not just about the shoe; it’s about empowering every woman to conquer her path.”

The design process, Felix said, was “an inspiring journey. Over the last three years, we’ve poured our hearts into crafting The Felix Runner—a shoe that reflects the strength and determination of women.”

 

 

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The Felix Runner is a continuation of her commitment to changing the game in footwear for women. In 2022, Black Enterprise reported that Saysh had introduced the first-ever return policy for pregnant women. The company’s “Maternity Returns Policy” was based on the track star’s own experience of becoming a mother.

Felix started Saysh with her brother, Wes, after ending her partnership with Nike, which cut her pay by 70% when she got pregnant.

“I didn’t even realize that my feet could grow that much,” she said. “I was tired of begging brands to meet me where I was, as both an athlete and a mother, and I was tired of sacrificing comfort and style.”

RELATED CONTENT: Condoleezza Rice And Allyson Felix Talk Personal Wellness & Career Success

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 18, 2023

Teyana Taylor Confirms Split From Iman Shumpert After Infidelity Rumors Swirl

Teyana Taylor is shutting down rumors about her relationship status with Iman Shumpert by confirming her separation from the NBA star. The married couple of seven years have been separated for “a while,” as Taylor shared to her Instagram on Sept. 17.

In an amusing picture of the former couple wearing wigs, the A Thousand and One actress released a statement defending her estranged husband while also noting the change in their marital status.

“AHT AHT! Not too much on my bestie,” wrote the 32-year-old mother of two. “In all fairness, Iman and I are separated and have been for a while. To be 1000% clear, ‘infidelity’ ain’t one of the reasons for our departure. We are still the best of friends, great business partners and are one hell of a team when it comes to co-parenting our two beautiful children.”

She continued that although they are no longer romantically involved, their family remains their number one priority.

“Most importantly, we are FAMILY & in the ten years together, seven years married, we ain’t ever played with or about THAT. We just keep y’all asses out the group chat, lol, which is the reason we’ve been able to successfully & peacefully separate without all of the outside noise.”

Taylor noted that claims of infidelity led to her publicly addressing the matter, though she’d wished for her family to handle the change privately.

“The only reason I’m even sharing THIS part of the chat is because the narratives are getting a little out of hand & it’s unfair to all parties involved. I hope this provided some clarity for y’all. Okay, AunTey taking y’all back out the chat. Bye!”

Rumors began spreading after fans of the couple noticed they were no longer in each other’s latest posts, nor was Shumpert featured in her pictures of their youngest daughter Rue’s third birthday party earlier this month.

Before separating, the duo appeared in two reality shows, VH1’s Teyana and Iman and E! Network’s We Got Love: Teyana and Iman, showcasing their daily lives as a family.

Sabrina Elba, Idris Elba
by Stacy Jackson

September 18, 2023

Sabrina Elba Says Working With Famous Husband Posed ‘Big Learning Curve’

Sabrina Elba said working beside her famous bae posed a “big learning curve.”

On day one of Beautycon LA, Elba got candid about her experience working with her husband, Idris, on their S’ABLE Labs skincare line.

“It’s not a perfect tie-in, but we’ve definitely developed ways of working together,” she told People. The 35-year-old entrepreneur presented a clean spread for the S’ABLE brand and appeared on a panel during the event.

“We started a podcast to kind of see how other people were doing it, and we learned so much,” she revealed. “I think it’s having correct boundaries and understanding that, like, you know, finding work is not the same as finding a date night. There are appropriate avenues—work hours, for instance, that’s been a big learning curve for me.”

The Elbas’ skincare collection is an extension of their wellness brand, launched in 2021. Elba said she “can’t imagine doing it with anyone else.” The genderless skincare collection stemmed from a conversation between the couple who realized a disconnect in their community concerning well-being and self-care.

“Self-care is such an important thing in partnerships and relationships—when you’re feeling really good about yourself, you’re able to share that with other people, and it’s infectious,” she said. “I feel like we’ve forgotten about that because we’ve been so isolated. We want to remind people to share that good energy.”

The Elbas emphasize the power of partnerships and relationships through their “melanin inclusive” brand, which features products formulated with African botanicals and powered by contemporary science. S’ABLE products have been developed with “ubiquitous ingredients” that have maximum effect on the skin and minimal impact on the planet.

 

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Elba joined several A-list beauty, fashion, and entertainment icons for Beautycon LA’s return after a four-year hiatus from its Los Angeles roots.

Ghana, LGBTQ, queer, black-owned, fashion, design, brand
by Sharelle Burt

September 18, 2023

Anti-LGBTQ Bill In Ghana Could Jeopardize Safety Of Certain Citizens If Passed

A revived bill could jeopardize Ghanaian citizens’ well-being by encouraging people to out members of the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana.

“Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill” would force suspected members of the LGBTQ community to be reported, CNN reports. Introduced in 2021, the bill encourages Ghanaian citizens to report suspected LGBTQ community members to local police, a part of the bill that is concerning for many people in the country.

If someone suspects that a citizen or someone they are with is gay, that person risk being attacked, kidnapped, or even lynched.

The controversial legislature criminalizes LGBTQ relationships and LGBTQ rights supporters, including journalists, as the bill instructs they are “promoting” these issues. The bill is in its final stages after going through a second reading in July 2023. The bill will become law soon enough unless the president decides to veto the bill.

Advocates are fearful, as some remember when the country had no issue with LGBTQ citizens. “Now, everything is turned upside down,” executive director and co-founder of gender activist group One Love Sisters Ghana, Lariba, said. “It’s not safe anywhere.”

Four men were allegedly beaten in April 2023 in Kumasi, one of the country’s largest cities, because the attackers assumed the men were gay, according to Rightify Ghana. Another man was stabbed multiple times in July 2023 after being lured to a location over a dating app because of his sexual orientation.

According to RFI, several of Ghana’s Members of Parliament and religious and traditional leaders have already supported the bill.

Ghana is following in the footsteps of other African nations, including Kenya and Uganda, which have severe LGBTQ+ laws. In March 2023, Uganda approved a bill that outlaws homosexuality with penalties, including death and life sentences in prison. Gay sex is punishable by at least 10 years in jail in Kenya.

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