Stephen A. Smith Reveals Relationship With Former Co-Host Skip Bayless Has
'We’ve only spoken once over the last year, a year and a half or so,' Smith said. We don't speak much anymore.'
ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith and former FS1 personality Skip Bayless (Undisputed) haven’t been the same since Bayless and current First Take co-host and former Undisputed co-host Shannon Sharpe bumped heads.
The former football player was disrespected by Bayless on-air during an episode of Undisputed, and Smith reached out to Bayless to tell him he was wrong for treating Sharpe in that manner. Smith confirmed that Bayless never responded.
The. media personality reiterated that point in a recent episode of Fully Loaded hosted by former NFL player Cris Carter. The popular sports analyst stated that the last time the two men spoke was in 2022 over a misunderstanding. He stated the last conversation they had was due to something that was said while appearing on a podcast that current Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick had, The Old Man and the Three.
“We’ve only spoken once over the last year, a year and a half or so,” Stephen A. Smith recalled. “We don’t speak much anymore. He got upset over something he thought I said to J.J. Redick, and he went on his podcast and attacked me for about 45 minutes. And then I flew to California and approached him face-to-face, and we resolved that issue.”
Smith declared that he would never “speak against him per se,” but his relationship with Bayless has not been the same since that encounter.
Yet, Stephen A. Smith said he reached back out to Bayless after the on-air disrespect that Bayless showed toward Sharpe, which led to the NFL Hall of Famer leaving Undisputed and connecting with Smith on First Take.
“I thought he was wrong about Shannon,” Smith said. “I thought what he did to Shannon was flagrantly wrong. And I called him, and he never reached back out. So, I stopped reaching out.”
Magic Johnson Joins Ownership Group Of National Women’s Soccer League Team
'Partnering with a visionary like Michele Kang and her team to advance the growth of the Washington Spirit and the NWSL is an incredible opportunity.'
Sports legend and successful businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson has joined the ownership group of the Washington Spirit, a member of the National Women’s Soccer League.
The team announced the move on Thursday.
Johnson joins Michele Kang, the first woman of color to hold a majority stake in an NWSL team, who became the Spirit’s principal owner in early 2022 after buying the team for $35 million. At the time of her purchase, Kang set an NWSL record, paying nearly ten times the valuation of another franchise sold just two years earlier, according to ESPN.
“I’m excited to join the Washington Spirit’s investor group at such a pivotal time in the club’s history,” Johnson said in a statement. “Partnering with a visionary like Michele Kang and her team to advance the growth of the Washington Spirit and the NWSL is an incredible opportunity. I’m excited to join the team and play my part to help elevate this organization.”
In a statement, Kang said Johnson “knows how to win, and we are delighted to count on his expertise as part of our fantastic investor group.”
Johnson, 65, is the chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, which also holds partial ownership in the Washington Commanders (NFL), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), LAFC (MLS), and the eSports franchise Team Liquid.
“His commitment not only reflects the strength of our club, players, fans, and brand but also sends a powerful message about the growth and impact of women’s sports globally,” Kang said. “Together, we look forward to taking the Washington Spirit to new heights and inspiring the next generation of young women and girls worldwide.”
The NBA Hall of Famer appeared on CBS Mornings with Kang to share his plans for helping to grow the sport of women’s soccer. He also shared his inspiration for taking ownership of the “first-class organization” and aligning with Kang’s global work in women’s soccer.
“Michelle has a first-class organization,” Johnson says of Kang and the Spirit. “What she’s done for women’s soccer all over the world, not just here in the NWSL, it’s important that owners love to not only win on the field, like Michele does, but also in the community.”
The Lakers champion noted how “excited” he is to partner with Kang and showcase a diverse ownership group.
“When you look at us, two minorities who try to climb the ladder first, and my sport is basketball, and then transition to business, I want to be an example for others to follow,” Johnson explained.
Since Kang took over, the Spirit has grown from averaging just over 4,000 fans per game in 2021 to nearly 14,000 per game this year. Kang has since acquired controlling stakes in the eight-time European women’s champions Lyon and the English second-division team London City Lionesses. She intends to acquire additional clubs across various continents, aiming to build a global network to scale resources.
Kamala Harris Inspires 175% Increase In Voter Registration Among Young Black Women
A new study reveals an uptick in voter registration among Black women as Kamala Harris campaigns for the presidency.
As Vice President Kamala Harris heads to the November election, she continues to leave a lasting impact on the young Black women.
The Atlanta Voicereports that the Harris campaign may be responsible for the recent surge in voter registration among young Black women. According to data shared by TargetSmart, the voter registration rate for young Black women across 13 of the nation’s “key battleground states” has soared to 175%.
This is almost triple the rate reported during the last presidential election between President Joe Biden and Donald J. Trump in 2020. In general, the registration rate for Black women has increased by 98%, and the Black voter rate overall has jumped to 85%.
In less than 24 hours after it was announced that Harris would replace Biden on the November 2024 ballot, Black women raised $1.3 million for her campaign.
“We’re together. We’re beautiful, we’re strong, we’re capable. We’re ready. We have incredible power in this group,” said Aimee Allison, a regular attendee of the #WinWithBlackWomen network weekly calls in recent years. “People just were so hungry for that community and for that feeling of hope.”
I accept your nomination to be the President of the United States of America. pic.twitter.com/iKklb8tW6C
It is important to note Black students’ interest in civic engagement and activities has risen since Harris took an oath to serve the nation as Madame Vice President in 2021.
In 2022, Child Trends reported that Black students were more likely to express interest in civic engagement and activities than their peers; experiences with racism had a significant impact on the data. Moreover, the study revealed that Black children are also more likely to use platforms like social media to promote political awareness and participation among their peers. They also use this avenue to engage in activism.
“As these young girls and women continue to assert their political power, their influence could extend into shaping educational policies, like more civic education in the classroom, that will benefit predominantly Black schools and communities,” said education doctoral student Hilary Wilson, who is currently studying in the state of Louisiana.
On January 20, 2021, Harris made history as the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected to this position and could very well do the same if she comes out victorious during the 2024 Presidential Election, opposite Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Fox News Host Jesse Watters Under Fire For Comparing The Way Fani Willis And Kamala Harris Speak
They really think all Black people are the same...
Fox News host Jesse Watters is facing backlash after comparing the way Vice President Kamala Harris and Georgia County District Attorney Fani Willis speak, HuffPost reports.
During a segment of Jesse Watters Primetime on Sept. 2, the host accused Harris of “code-switching” or using a different accent before showing an edited compilation of the Vice President delivering speeches in Detroit and Pittsburgh over the 2024 Labor Day weekend.
In an incomplete narrative of Harris’ upbringing, Watters highlighted how the Democratic presidential nominee was raised by her Indian mother in Canada and then compared her dialect to that of Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis.
“Kamala was raised by an Indian mother in Canada,” he said. “But now she sounds like Fani Willis.”
Watters: Kamala was raised by an Indian mother in Canada but now she sounds like Fani Willis pic.twitter.com/4mRtl8cg3L
In her 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold, Harris wrote that she was born in Oakland, California, to her Indian mother and Jamaican father. Her family then moved to Montreal when she was 12 after her mother accepted a job working for the city.
As social media caught wind of Watters’ remarks, users slammed him for promoting racist attacks about tones and Black culture by way of mocking and comparing the way Harris and Willis, who brought an indictment against former president Donald Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential vote in Georgia.
“They can’t attack her on her education, her career, or her record, so they’re going with straight-up racism,” @sarahbcalif wrote.
They can’t attack her on her education, her career, or her record so they’re going with straight up racism.
Former White House aide to the Bill Clinton administration, Keith Boykin, said Watters’ remarks just point out the ignorance of the network.
“I grew up next to a cornfield in a mostly white community in Missouri but spent weekends and summers with my Black cousins in the city of St. Louis,” he wrote on X. “Fox News continues to display its ignorance about the bifurcated reality of life for many Black people in America.”
I grew up next to a cornfield in a mostly white community in Missouri but spent weekends and summers with my Black cousins in the city of St. Louis. Fox News continues to display its ignorance about the bifurcated reality of life for many Black people in America. https://t.co/qZreZRGiyS
The comments came just one day before White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre checked fellow Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy after he questioned Harris’s alleged Southern accent, claiming the VP sounded different during the rallies.
Both Harris and Willis have been the target of attacks from opposing critics and conservative networks. In February 2024, Watters called the DA a “liar” and pressed her disqualification from the case after claiming the attorney lied about her relationship with special counsel Nathan Wade, according to Fox News.
The purchase actually took place in March 2024 to assist researchers, students, and visitors who want to take a deep dive into how Black travelers navigated through a segregated America under Jim Crow.
Victor Hugo Green’s The Negro Motorist Green Book pointed people in the direction of businesses where they would be accepted—and safe—regardless of their skin color. The first international edition lists a range of hair salons, pharmacies, restaurants, and other businesses across the United States, Bermuda, Mexico, and Canada.
Close to 100 businesses were located in Massachusetts, home to Harvard, where three are still open in Boston.
Candacy Taylor, cultural documentarian and author of Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America, said Green, a postal worker from Harlem, New York, originally published the guide in 1936. He used it as a way to navigate through his own struggles as a Black man who enjoyed traveling. With a sole focus on the Manhattan borough, the book soon became popular, making an appearance in every state east of the Mississippi River by 1940.
According to theuniversity, Harvard acquired a 1949 international version that included Canada and Mexico. Houghton’s Gore Vidal Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts, Leslie Morris, explained the purchase was part of an effort to diversify the library collections. When the library was inaugurated in 1942, a Black travel guide was not considered a collectible item.
“While Harvard may be the largest university in the world, it collected certain things to support teaching and research, but this was not something that anyone thought was important,” Morris said.
“But in the context of the 20th and 21st century, when we’re trying to document more deeply the Black experience, this is really an important document for our library. One of our priorities has been to diversify the collection and try to remediate some oversights that our predecessors made.”
The library purchased the 80-page guide from a Manhattan-based auctioneer for $50,000 with the assistance of Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr.
However, other historians like Byron Rushing, a former state representative, look at the acquisition as problematic. As the original Green Book price was $0.75, Rushing thinks its rightful place is somewhere more accessible to Black people, like the Museum of African American History in Boston.
“They [Harvard] didn’t think Negroes were important in the 1930s and ‘40s,” Rushing said. “It never dawned on them that they should collect anything that was being published by Negroes right then.”
While Taylor understands Rushing’s thoughts, she says the library has been instrumental in Black and African history studies and highlights the resources Harvard has for the book’s delicate upkeep. “I’m thankful that an institution as significant as Harvard has it to elevate its purpose and its meaning in the cultural zeitgeist,” Taylor said.
Visitors can register and request a time to read the book as it sits in a protective case on cold and humidity-controlled stacks.
Pillar To Post Franchise in Brooklyn Now A Family Affair
Jacqueline Gathers has brought her son Tim into her Pillar to Post franchise. She has no regrets.
Jacqueline Gathers, a resilient Brooklyn-based entrepreneur, has breathed new life into her Pillar To Post franchise by welcoming her son, Tim Gathers, into the family business. This strategic move marks a significant milestone six years after the heartfelt story featured in BLACK ENTERPRISE’s 2018 profile, “Pillar To Post Franchisee Carries On Legacy After Losing Her Husband.”
Initially, Jacqueline and her late husband had envisioned establishing a thriving Pillar To Post franchise in the heart of Brooklyn, NY. Their plans were tragically derailed by unforeseen personal loss, but Jacqueline’s unwavering determination kept the dream alive. Now, partnering with her son Tim, she is poised to transform their shared vision into reality
BE caught up with Gathers to learn more about how that decision was made and impacted the business.
BLACK ENTERPRISE:In our previous interview, you discussed the plan to run your Pillar to Post franchise with your husband, who passed unexpectedly. When and why did you decide to bring your son into the business?
Jacqueline Gathers: It just made sense. Tim witnessed me getting the business up and running, and when he decided he was unsure of his career path, I invited him to get his license and join the company while he figured out what he wanted to do. He discovered he enjoyed conducting home inspections, and his client reviews were extremely positive! He also found that he liked working with his hands, which made bringing him into the business the perfect decision for him and the company.
How has running the business with your son been different, and what advice do you give to parents trying to decide if bringing children in is right?
My son is in the Gen Z bracket, and their mindset is quite different from a baby boomer. He has initiated specific changes in the business that I didn’t agree with at first, but they seem to make a big difference. His use and implementation of technology has been beneficial for us. Tim is very bright and is already helping shape the business for the future. He now takes the initiative to start conversations about ideas and technology he feels we should implement in our industry. Before that, he just took instructions for me and let me lead the way. Seeing his growth within the business is a joy, but I’m also proud of my son.
When considering having a child work in the business, it should be a choice, not a directive. A career choice should be something they enjoy, not an obligation.
We talk a lot about family legacy and generational wealth. Are there things you’re doing or steps you’re taking to ensure your business is around for generations to come? If so, what are those things?
We spent a lot of time training inspectors so they perform inspections at a high standard, which is expected from Pillar To Post. Eventually, when Tim steps away from conducting inspections, we will have reliable people to meet the demands of the business. Tim is starting to learn the franchise’s business side so that when the time comes, he can take a front seat in managing and continuing to grow the business.
As a Black woman in a predominantly white male industry, what challenges have you encountered, and how have you dealt with them? Do you find clients more receptive to your son?
It wasn’t easy. Most inspectors did not look like me. I had difficulty convincing folks that I knew what I was doing. But I was good at it, so I maintained consistency. Eventually, I started to build trust with the Realtors in the neighborhood, and I saw them repeat with me for different properties. Then, those repeats began recommending my services to other Realtors, and my clients also started to recommend me. I’ve grown my territory further than I previously could have, and each step of the way, I’ve continued to build relationships in the community and help not only lead quality inspections but also help educate the community on homeownership and building wealth in the Black community.
I am a member of the Brooklyn chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) and currently the 2nd Vice President of the Bedford Stuyvesant Real Estate Board, Brooklyn chapter. NAREB’s platform is to increase Black homeownership across the U.S. I assist by educating first-time home buyers on the importance of the home inspection component when purchasing a home. Especially those coming out of the pandemic and in my son’s age bracket who might not know whether they can even buy a home. I also mentor individuals interested in becoming a home inspector.
When my son shows up for an inspection, they do not bat an eye. It appears they seem more welcoming toward him and began asking him questions and approaching him instead of just following me around and observing me. There’s room for me to continue shifting people’s perspectives. However, it hasn’t stopped me before. I’m happy my son is respected as he’s grown in the business, but there’s still more for me to fight for as a Black woman in home inspection.
Do you think you could have built such a successful business as an independent? In other words, what about franchising has led to your success?
In my opinion, franchising is a no-brainer. I didn’t have to create a logo, figure out colors, build a website, create marketing materials, etc. All I had to do was focus on inspecting and targeting my clients. In addition, I have an entire management team to go to for advice and guidance for any unique situation inspections may bring. I still speak with my regional director once a month about any issues I may have. He’s always available if I need to call him aside for my monthly call if I have any concerns or issues. That alone is priceless!
Critics Speak Out Against Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s Black National Anthem Performance
Conservative NFL fans are upset (again) about the inclusion of the Black National Anthem.
Not everybody was happy about Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s performance of “Life Every Voice and Sing” before Thursday’s NFL season debut, a nail-biter between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
The grief started Sept. 3, when it was announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Grammy-award-winning gospel singer was performing the Black National Anthem at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Grammy Award winner, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, will perform Lift Every Voice at this Thursday's home opener. pic.twitter.com/06GwtppPTq
“Anti-American and divisive,” one critic wrote. “Stop making up things to divide everyone. What a stain on our great history.”
“Play whatever song you want; just don’t ask everyone to stand for it. That is reserved for the National Anthem,” added another.
The backlash has become expected since the National Football League started incorporating the song in its pre-game performances in the wake of the civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd. “Life Every Voice and Sing” has been performed at every Super Bowl since. But not without fierce criticism from conservative NFL fans who believe the song is divisive.
“There is ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM. This is so divisive and racist,” a critic tweeted in response to Cobbs Leonard’s performance.
Cobbs Leonard ignored the naysayers and took to her Instagram to encourage her fans to tune into her performance as “we celebrate unity, culture, and the thrill of the game.”
“I’m beyond excited to kick off the NFL season with a powerful live performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at the Chiefs vs. Ravens game in Kansas City!” she wrote. “This will be a night to remember—football, music, and an electric atmosphere.”
Affordable High-End Housing Coming To Harlem, Residents To Be Selected Through Lottery
The lowest monthly rent starts at $788 for a studio apartment.
A new building in Harlem will accept a certain number of residents to pay lower market rent costs.
The building will offer an array of options, starting with studio and one-bedroom rentals for well under $1,000, through a lottery, am New York reports.
There will be 117 affordable units available at a price lower than the average rent in the area. The lowest monthly rent will start at $788 for a studio apartment. There will be 30 units available which max out at $1,486 monthly.
Forty-three will be one-bedrooms starting at $993 and going no higher than $1,867 monthly. The remaining 44 two-bedroom apartments range from $1,184 to $2,232 a month.
The complex, named after the late political leader Marcus Garvey, is located at 224 W 124th St.
Applicants who want to live in the apartments must meet a household threshold of earning between 40 and 70 percent of the area’s median income. According to the NYC Housing Connect website, the minimum annual salary is $29,555, depending on the number of people living in the unit, to a maximum of 5 tenants at $117,390.
The apartments will have amenities like dishwashers in-unit, high-end kitchen appliances and finishes, air conditioning, and smart controls for heating/cooling. Some units will have access to an outdoor terrace and shared laundry in the building. The building is equipped with a security guard, security cameras, elevator access, and bike storage.
The tenants are responsible for paying rent and the electric bill.
Applicants cannot submit multiple applications. They can either apply online or submit a paper application. If more than one application is received, that person will automatically be disqualified. People can apply until Sept. 30, 2024.
You can apply online at this link or request an application by sending a self-addressed envelope to:
FBI Raids Homes Of NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Top Cabinet Members, NYPD Police Commissioner
Let's hope things clear up soon....
The FBI raided the homes of top aides to New York City Mayor Eric Adams as well as seized the cellphone of the New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner as part of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Politico reports.
Authorities arrived at the Manhattan home of the city’s First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and her partner, Schools Chancellor David Banks, in early September 2024, as well as the home of the deputy mayor for public safety, and David’s brother, Philip Banks in Queens. The homes of Commissioner Edward Caban and Tim Pearson, senior adviser to Adams, were also raided, along with having to give up their cellphones due to a subpoena.
Close to seven other members of the police department had their phones subpoenaed.
While it is unclear the sole reasoning behind the FBI zoning in on Adams and his team, federal investigators have been looking into the mayor’s ties to Turkey as well as a separate investigation into his aide, Winnie Greco. The Turkey probe is targeting alleged involvement in the mayor’s 2021 campaign and collusion with foreign interests, including the Turkish government. The homes of at least two other aides to Adams were raided in November 2023 by the FBI in correlation to the Turkish probe. However, it is unknown if the investigations are tied together.
In a statement, Adams’ Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg said officials haven’t done anything wrong. “Investigators have not indicated to us the mayor or his staff are targets of any investigation,” Zornberg said.
“As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made clear that all members of the team need to follow the law.”
While a person close to Wright said she is confident she has done nothing wrong, David Banks declined to comment when reporters approached him during an appearance in Queens for the first day of school, saying, “Today’s all about the kids.” The NYPD commissioner canceled an appearance that was scheduled for Sept. 5.
According to CBS News, Adams spoke with correspondent Marcia Kramer, insisting his staff would follow the law and cooperate with investigations. “You know, Marcia, I say over and over again, as a former member of law enforcement, I’m very clear. We follow the rules. We make sure that we cooperate and turn over any information that is needed, and it just really would be inappropriate to get in the way of the review while it’s taking place,” Adams said.
“I am not aware of any misdoings, and I’m going to, again, follow the rules, and I will continue to tell the team to do that. And that’s what they have been doing, to my knowledge.”
When Kramer asked the mayor why he thinks they keep targeting him, Adams said he can’t answer that. “Those are questions I can’t answer. I’m going to … I know what I’m going to do, and that is information that’s needed to show that I have always followed the law; we’re going to give that information,” Adams said.
The Democratic mayor and former NYPD police officer is up for reelection in 2025 after serving his first term.
Nebraska’s Largest Black-Owned Business Is Among U.S.’ Top 100 Small Businesses
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and CO selected North End Teleservices as a top 100 small business out of more than 14,000 applicants.
Nebraska’s largest African-American-owned business is one of America’s top small businesses. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and CO, a digital platform for small businesses, selected North End Teleservices out of more than 14,000 applicants.
The list of 100 reflects a diverse pool of small businesses of all sizes and industries from across 31 states and Washington, D.C.
“This achievement furthers the complete joy that I feel knowing we are accomplishing our mission of Creating Jobs and Changing Lives,” Carmen Tapio, founder and CEO of North End Teleservices, released in a press release statement. “It’s not just $377MM in economic impact. It’s the lives that have been changed for the better. It’s first graduations, first homes, and first careers that is changing individuals, families, and communities.”
Located in Northeast Omaha, North End Teleservices is a global provider outsourcing center that provides contact center services to the government and commercial sectors. It is a certified woman- and minority-owned business.
The businesses listed on CO-100 honorees will receive a one-year paid membership to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, access to experts and thought leaders, national brand exposure, and exclusive community-building and networking opportunities.
These businesses that made the cut, including North End Teleservices, will be celebrated at a special event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s historic headquarters in Washington, D.C., on October 8. Ten businesses will be recognized for outstanding achievement across ten categories and receive $2,000 each. According to a news release, one overall CO-100 Top Business will receive $25,000.
“As the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes and industries, we understand what makes a business great,” Jeanette Mulvey, Vice President, and Editor-in-Chief of CO— by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. “The CO-100 founders, owners, entrepreneurs, and employees showcase the exceptional talent and innovation within the American business community.”
