by Jaimee Ratliff

September 15, 2023

Brittney Griner Rightfully Named Associated Press’ Comeback Player Of The Year

WNBA player Brittney Griner has been named the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year in her first season with the Phoenix Mercury following her detainment in a Russian prison.

According to Bleacher Report, Griner received the coveted honor on Sept. 12 alongside Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, capping off an impressive season. Though the Phoenix Mercury were ranked 6th in the West at the end of her comeback season, Griner’s supreme athleticism remained on full display.

The eight-time All-Star player averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, while shooting 56.2% from the field for the Mercury. Phoenix made Griner the No.1 draft pick in 2013 and has fully reaped the benefit of having 10 straight off-seasons with the center leading the way alongside Skylar Diggins-Smith, Diana Taurasi, and Sophie Cunningham.

This season is the first since drafting Griner in which the Mercury failed to reach the playoffs; however, the city of Phoenix spent the year celebrating their leader.

As previously reported, over 14,000 fans poured into the Footprint Center to watch the 32-year-old player’s return to basketball earlier this year. Griner—who spent more than two years away from the game due to her unlawful detainment in a Russian prison for nearly 10 months—struggled to contain her emotions that night. “Part of the process of healing is letting it out. I got choked up a little bit, and I tried to hide it,” she said at the time. Concerns about whether she’d be able to play at “game speed” were quickly dimmed as Griner notched 27 points on the night.

The WNBA started announcing its own highest honors for the season on Wednesday, Sept. 13, concluding with the coveted season MVP award on Sept. 26. For now, Griner is joined by 2023 first overall pick Aliyah Boston as well as Las Vegas Aces player Alysha Clark on the list of athletes honored by the AP. In a surprising move, the Associated Press named the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart its Player of The Year, overlooking the Aces’ A’ja Wilson for the second time in consecutive seasons. Wilson was, however, named the AP Defensive Player of the Year.

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 15, 2023

$27M Reparations To Be Paid To Descendants Of Enslaved People Sold To Fund Georgetown University

Georgetown University and the Jesuits have pledged $27 million in money and land donations to the descendants of 19th-century enslaved people who were sold to fund the highly prestigious institution.

According to CNN, the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation confirmed the gifts of $10 million from Georgetown and an additional $17 million from the Jesuits in the form of financial retribution and plantation land.

“These contributions from Georgetown University and the Jesuits are a clear indication of the role Jesuits and other institutions of higher education can play in supporting our mission to heal the wounds of racism in the United States, as well as a call to action for all of the Catholic Church to take meaningful steps to address the harm done through centuries of slaveholding,” Monique Trusclair Maddox, CEO of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation and chair of its board of directors, said.

The donations hope to be a crucial step in rectifying the injustice enacted upon 272 enslaved men, women, and children sold from Jesuit plantations to settle Georgetown’s debts in 1838.

The long-term plan of Georgetown is to pledge over $1 billion through the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. According to CNN, the Jesuits made a $100 million commitment to the efforts in 2021. The foundation will use the funds to invest in the lifelong education of descendants, endow programs invested in anti-racism advocacy, and provide support to elderly descendants throughout their lives.

“It is an honor for our University to have the opportunity to contribute to their efforts. The difficult truths of our past guide us in the urgent work of seeking and supporting reconciliation in our present and future,” Georgetown President John J. DeGioia said.

In recent years, the university and the Jesuits have issued public apologies for the atrocities enacted upon the enslaved by the institution’s founding body.

by Lauren Nutall

September 15, 2023

Records Reveal Regina Hill, Orlando’s Black City Commissioner Was Arrested in 2022

Records reveal that Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill was arrested last summer on misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and disturbing the peace.

The city council member was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, on June 19, 2022. She posted a $800 bond shortly after. Hill spoke to the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week, sharing that the charges had been dropped. “It was an unfortunate incident, which I’ve been exonerated from, and all charges have been cleared. There’s no need to go any further into that,” she said.

Controversy has followed Hill throughout her time in office. She was first elected to Orlando’s city council in 2014 to represent District 5. Earlier that same year, Beverly Burgess, an Orange County resident, filed an elections fraud complaint against Hill, accusing the candidate of bullying.

The alleged incident occurred after Burgess commented on Facebook, questioning Hill’s leadership capabilities. “My comment simply was if you can’t lead, get out of the way and make way for someone who can lead in the Parramore community,” Burgess told WESH 2 News.

Burgess claims that Hill, whom she has known for years, then accosted her at her home. “She said that I don’t have a right to give an opinion, that I need to sit down and shut up,” she said. Burgess also claimed that Hill told her that if she did not receive Burgess’ vote, she would make her and her family’s lives miserable and threatened to cast absentee ballots on their behalf. Hill vehemently denied the accusations and said that she would be willing to address the situation through the proper channels.

In 2017, Click Orlando reported that a complaint had been leveled against Hill, alleging that she resided in a low-income Florida apartment building despite making more than $60,000 as councilwoman. The situation arose after a political opponent’s family member uncovered documents listing Hill’s home address as Timberleaf Boulevard inside Landing at Timberleaf Apartment. To qualify for living in the complex, a resident must make a maximum salary of $39,000 a year for a four-bedroom unit.

The lease that Hill submitted when completing the necessary election paperwork showed her salary as almost $650 a month. However, her name is noticeably absent from the actual lease. Rather, a notarized letter along with the lease showed that Hill had been residing in the unit with an unnamed woman since December 2015 following her daughter’s death. Though Hill provided a year’s worth of electric bills in her name, the inquiry sparked curiosity regarding her living situation.

In response to the complaint, Hill dismissed the claims as a “smear campaign” ahead of the fast-approaching election day. “I am working for the residents of Orlando, and that’s all I have to say about this,” she told Click Orlando.

by Sharelle Burt

September 15, 2023

Lawsuit Claims Kanye West Wanted Windows And Electricity Removed From Malibu Home

Another day, another lawsuit for Ye.

The rapper, formally known as Kanye West, is being sued by an ex-employee over some outrageous home repairs, NBC News reports.

Tony Saxon, Ye’s former security guard and property caretaker, filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Sept. 13. He claims the artist fired him when he refused to remove all of the windows and electricity in his Malibu, California, home.

When Saxon refused to install large generators in the Tadao Ando-designed beach house, Ye allegedly demanded he “get the hell out” and told him he would be “considered an enemy if he did not comply.” According to the suit, Ye also threatened the status of their friendship if he didn’t do what was asked.

“When the Plaintiff refused to engage in unlawful conduct or to engage in activity that would further cause him physical injury, Mr. Ye responded: ‘If you don’t do what I say, you’re not going to work for me, I’m not gonna be your friend anymore and you’ll just see me on TV,’” the suit said.

Saxon was let go on Nov. 5, 2021, after working for the Grammy-winning artist for almost two months. The suit claims Ye promised to pay him $20,000 per week, but that he only made two payments: one covering Saxon’s weekly salary and another for the project’s budget. Saxon described the events leading up to his firing as “trying to stop a friend from drunk driving”

“I always had his best interest in mind as a friend,” Saxon said. “They get really mad at you that you overstepped your boundaries, but still, they could have gotten really hurt.”

Saxon is suing his former boss for labor code violations, unpaid wages, and damages, TMZ.com reports. He says he “expressed concerns about the extreme danger of such actions,” including the generators potentially leading to a fire hazard.

In a statement, Saxon’s lawyer, Ron Zambrano, said Ye showed a “reckless disregard toward his employees.”

“He continues his pattern of not paying his bills while treating workers terribly,” Zambrano said. “No employee should have to suffer through the sort of working conditions Mr. Saxon was forced to endure, yet Ye showed no concern and merely wanted the work done, despite the hazardous and unsafe, not to mention illegal, actions he was trying to force the plaintiff to undertake.”

Ye may have something against electricity and windows. Another lawsuit was filed in summer 2023 by the former assistant principal of Donda Academy after she said the school opened in August 2021 with no electricity or glass in its windows.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 15, 2023

Sza, Quincy Jones And Family Model Tommy Hilfiger’s 2023 Fall Campaign

Quincy Jones doesn’t get all dressed up for just anybody. But Tommy Hilfiger managed to tap the music legend and his whole family for its latest campaign.

Tommy Hilfiger tapped a few famous faces in music to unveil its 2023 Fall Campaign and stay true to the brand’s legacy of aligning with music stars to showcase its fashion. Among the new ambassadors are legendary songwriter/producer Quincy Jones, Grammy award-winning singer Sza, and the K-pop group Stray Kids.

For Jones’ campaign shoot, the decorated composure brought his family along for the ride. Photos show the “Off The Wall” producer posing with his six children and handful of grandchildren. Rashida and Kidada Jones were front and center along with their siblings Kenya Kinski-Jones, Quincy Jones III, Jolie Jones Levine, and Martina Jones.

https://twitter.com/sleep2dream/status/1702469801140949329?s=46&t=qmzb_I2N1DzN_GymACe90A

It was likely a full circle moment for Kidada and Quincy as Kidada was part of the Tommy Jeans launch in the 1990s back when she styled Aaliyah’s infamous bandeau top fit for Hilfiger in Vibe magazine (which Quincy founded back in 1997, as noted by Hot New Hip Hop.

For Sza’s campaign, she sported some signature Hilfiger threads with nods to the 90s. The “Snooze” singer smiled in a denim overall set with a Tommy Hilfiger tube top similar to how the late Aaliyah used to style her Hilfiger in the 90s.

SZA for Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2023 pic.twitter.com/e9FdTbMyXb

— CTRL FACTOR (@CtrlFactor) September 9, 2023

“I’m so inspired by the creative icons that have come before me and the foundation that they’ve laid,” SZA said of the campaign.

“I’m excited and honored to build my legacy as a creative alongside a brand as established and influential as Tommy Hilfiger. It’s been a great experience with the brand and so special to share with my close family and friends.”

The brand proudly announced Sza as its new “Tommy Girl,” in a series of photos showing her modeling a leather jacket with a two-piece short set.

Kicking off the fashion season with our newest Tommy Girl @SZA #TommyHilfiger #TommyFamily #NYFW pic.twitter.com/wB2JsfKOzJ

— Tommy Hilfiger (@TommyHilfiger) September 11, 2023

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 15, 2023

The Lox Respond To South Bronx Mural In Their Honor: ‘People F**K With Us’

The Bronx is professing its love for the respected rap trio The Lox by unveiling a new mural made in their honor.

Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P shared a post on The Lox Instagram page on Thursday, September that revealed the dope spray-painted mural of their group alongside a building in the South Bronx, New York.

“We appreciate you,” the group wrote in the caption.

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A post shared by The LOX (@thelox)

The mural showcases portraits of the three group members on a back backdrop that includes a highlighted outline of New York City. It comes amid hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in a borough known as the birthplace of hip-hop.

The Lox are natives of Yonkers, New York, a community that’s located very close to the Bronx. Since their hip-hop inception as part of Bad Boy Records in the mid-90s, The Lox has built a solid and loyal fanbase while also finding success as solo artists.

With hits like “Money, Power & Respect,” “Wild Out,” and “Ride or Die,” The Lox has taken the industry by storm and continue to showcase their dominance as gifted lyricists. Since beating Cam’ron’s Dipset crew at a Verzuz battle in 2021, the trio has continued to perform at key industry events including SXSW, Roc The Mic Live, and Hot 97’s Summer Jam.

The Lox has remained a trio for nearly 30 years and has no plans of ever parting ways.

“As far as this trio goes, I feel like we’re special because we managed to stand the test of time,” Styles P told Hip Hop DX in 2020.

“And they were only able to do that through the love they received from their family, friends, and fans through the years. “Young people fuck with us, our peer groups fuck with us, the elders fuck with us, and we fuck with the elders, our peer group, and the youngins” Styles adds.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 15, 2023

Black Author Releases New Book That Reveals 100 Hidden Narratives Of Black History

Gabriel Scott has released a new book entitled “100 Unsung Black History Facts” which presents readers with 100 remarkable facts that have been overshadowed, obscured, or concealed from mainstream discourse. Black history has been consistently whitewashed throughout history, reflecting a systemic effort to distort, downplay, or omit the significant contributions and experiences of Black individuals and communities. Moreover, media, education, and cultural representations have often failed to accurately depict the full scope of Black history, reinforcing stereotypes and promoting a limited, sanitized version of events.

For example, it covers the truth about Ludwig Van Beethoven’s identity, how Black history is connected to St. Patrick’s Day, and the story of Margaret & Matilda Peters, two African-American sisters who were very successful in tennis almost 100 years before Venus & Serena Williams.

It is a treasure trove of hidden narratives, presenting readers with 100 remarkable facts that have been overshadowed, obscured, or concealed from mainstream discourse.“What sets this book apart is its dedication to unearthing truths that have been marginalized or overlooked,” says Scott. “These are not merely forgotten stories; they are powerful testimonies that deserve to be celebrated and remembered.”

Targeted at high school students and beyond, 100 Unsung Black History Facts caters to those with a passion for history, knowledge, and engaging with authentic narratives. It is a resource for educators, students, history enthusiasts, and all individuals seeking a deeper understanding of Black history.

Scott’s commitment to unveiling history does not stop with 100 Unsung Black History Facts. With more books on the horizon, he remains dedicated to uncovering suppressed narratives and sparking conversations that challenge societal norms.

For more information on Scott’s enlightening work and the compelling stories shared in his book please visit GabrielScott.net. Social media enthusiasts can connect with him via the handles provided on the website.

100 Unsung Black History Facts is available in both paperback and ebook formats through Barnes & Noble.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 15, 2023

The ‘Book Of Hov’ Extended At Brooklyn Public Library To End Of 2023

A piece of hip-hop history has been added to The Book Of HOV exhibit currently featured at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York City.

Roc Nation has announced that the off-white Lexus prominently featured in Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents II” video, released in 1996, will be added to the popular exhibit. The 1993 Lexus GS 300 vehicle will be on display at Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Location. Jay-Z also included the car in the lyrics of “Can I Live” off the “Reasonable Doubt” album as well as on his No.1 hit record with Alicia Keys, “Empire State Of Mind” from “The Blueprint 3” LP.

“We’re excited to partner with Lexus to bring JAY-Z’s iconic “Off-White Lexus” to The Book of HOV. The new installation adds another element of JAY-Z’s career to the exhibit that visitors can enjoy, said Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation, in a written statement.

“The response to The Book Of HOV has been overwhelming, so we’re excited to extend the exhibit to December to ensure new and returning attendees can have enough opportunities to fully immerse themselves into the experience.”

The overwhelming popularity of the exhibit has factored into the decision to keep it going until the end of the year.

Since the library started the exhibition on July 14th, the library has had over 255,000 people access the building. With the limited edition of the Jay-Z library cards, Brooklyn Public Library has doubled up in new accounts, creating over 21,000 new ones since the card’s inception.

“In further celebration of the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop, we are thrilled to partner with Roc Nation in this special tribute to JAY-Z’s musical legacy,” says Mia Phillips, senior manager of Lexus Advertising & Media.

“The vehicle display is recognition of the mutual respect and admiration between Lexus and JAY-Z, whose brilliance and contributions to culture extend far beyond hip-hop.”

With all the hoopla over The Book of HOV, Jay-Z can rightfully claim the title of “King of New York.”

by Jeffrey McKinney

September 15, 2023

Game-Changing Triumph: Black-Led Wicked Saints Video Game Studio Secures $3.5 Million For Expansion

Black female-led video game studio Wicked Saints has raised $3.5 million in a fresh seed round to help the firm expand.

Co-led by Riot Games and Oregon Venture Fund, the financing included a collective of angel investors as well as funds with creativity and deep gaming expertise.

Now armed with funding of $4.6 million, CEO and co-founder Jess Murrey joins a small group of Black women in her industry to raise over $1 million.

According to a news release, the money will be used to launch Wicked Saints’ first title, World Reborn, to market and start a new genre of mobile games that bridges in-game mastery to real-world self-efficacy so Gen Z players can change themselves and their world.

The business reports the new game approach and its connection to Gen Z has sparked interest from both global nonprofits and top brands.

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A post shared by WORLD REBORN (@worldreborngame)

Wicked Saints is a video game studio that employs behavioral technology to empower Gen Z to build real-life skills. In 2021, Pokemon Go maker Niantic rolled out its Black Developers Initiative; Wicked Saints was the first of many teams to join that effort.

Based in Medford, Oregon, Wicked Saints’ founders are both women. The firm reports its C-suite is 75% female, 50% Black, and 75% Queer. It was started in 2019 by Murrey, an Emmy Award-winning storyteller and international peacebuilder turned game designer. The other co-founder is COO Alicia Clifton, a behavior change researcher whose work includes programs with Search for Common Ground.

“Wicked Saints empowers players to believe in and hone their own abilities through immersive storytelling, gameplay, and community,” Murrey said.

Raising the funds was not an easy task. Murrey told TechCrunch the gaming industry is only 2% Black.

“It made raising that much harder as well, because investors tend to invest in what they know,” she said. “I didn’t look anything like the game founders that they’re used to seeing. Not only did I have to overcome preconceived notions of what a game is and what a game can do, but I had to first jump the hurdle of preconceived notions of myself and what I would be able to accomplish with my background.”

Women of color founders receive much less financing than others. Startups founded by women raised 1.9% of venture capital funds last year, down from 2021, TechCrunch reported. And the numbers were measly as well for Black founders overall, who raised only 1% of VC funds.

Wicked Saints is now building World Reborn, an interactive story game with real-life quests facilitated by augmented reality. The game was offered for limited testing in Canada, with plans to offer a teaser next year in the United States. A full launch is planned in 2025.

“We are very encouraged by our small group of super fans from our Canadian pilot. They love the game and feel like we designed it for them…and we did,” said Clifton.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 15, 2023

Ciara Finds Question About Co-Parenting With Future Hilarious

Ciara and Future‘s co-parenting relationship is apparently a laughing matter to the happily married and pregnant mother of three.

The multifaceted singer recently sat down with The Shade Room to share the latest on her personal life and career.When she was asked about her and Future co-parenting their 9-year-old son, Future Zahir, CiCi couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Her awkward, but comical, response to the question seemingly said everything without saying anything at all, and fans agreed.

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A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

“The fact the laugh just kept going on 😂 she said a lot without saying it,” one fan wrote.

“The most classy way to say, “HE ain’t sh*t” 💁🏾‍♀️💕,” another user quipped.

Someone else credited the moment as an example that “Even rich people got babydaddy problems 😂.”

Ciara and Future haven’t had much of a relationship since their split in December 2014. The former couple ended their short-lived engagement just three months after welcoming Future Zahir that May.

The two music stars spent the next few years battling over custody of Future Zahir. Ciara lost her fight for sole custody and was ordered to joint custody in 2017, TMZ reports. Ciara married NFL player Russell Wilson in July 2016. The couple has a daughter Sienna, 5, and a son Win, 1.

In August, Ciara announced she was having a third child with Wilson. The NFL star is often praised for the fatherly role he plays to Future Zahir, who is rarely seen with his biological dad.

“Every day I come home from work and it’s late at night, it’s after film and practice and all that, and me and Ciara are together, and we just smile from ear-to-ear in the kitchen because we realize that our family is a beautiful blended family but it’s also, you know, our family,” Wilson told GQ in 2021.

Meanwhile, Future continues to take jabs at Wilson on his rap songs. In July he appeared on Quavo’s “Turn Yo Clic Up” and rapped, “I got it out the field/F*** Russell.”