• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Daniel Johnson

January 11, 2025

Meta, Amazon Roll Back DEI Programs Ahead Of Trump’s Inauguration

Meta and Amazon joined the ranks of McDonald's, Walmart, John Deere, Tractor Supply Co., and others in dropping or substantially altering its diversity, equity and inclusion programs

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Meta and Amazon have followed in the footsteps of McDonald’s, Walmart, John Deere, Tractor Supply Co., and other major companies by scaling back or significantly altering their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to multiple media reports, Meta’s decision, alongside other recent actions, is being viewed as an effort to align itself with the anticipated Trump administration.

According to CNN, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced in an internal memo that it would end “equity and inclusion programs and changing hiring and supplier diversity practices,” and Meta’s vice president of human resources Janelle Gale confirmed this to CNN in her own statement.

“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” Gale wrote. “The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI. It reaffirms longstanding principles that discrimination should not be tolerated or promoted on the basis of inherent characteristics.”

According to Gale, “DEI” has become “charged” due to the belief of some groups that it denotes “preferential treatment of some groups over others.”

In addition to this, per the memo, the company’s current chief diversity officer, Maxine Williams will have a new role which will focus on “accessibility and engagement,” this, according to Gale, is so the company doesn’t make hiring decisions based on “protected characteristics,” a philosophy pulled directly from the agitation of conservative activists like Robby Starbuck.

Meta, however, is not the only tech company pivoting away from prior commitments to DEI in the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020.

According to CNBC, Amazon has joined Meta in ending or changing its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Per a Dec. 16 note from Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology, the company was “winding down outdated programs and materials,” as part of a larger review of the company’s initiatives.

Castleberry continued, “Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes — and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture.”

Although Castleberry’s memo does not specify which of the company’s initiatives will be ended as a result of its year-end review, there have been changes to its “Our Positions” webpage, the page that is dedicated to Amazon’s official stances on a number of issues.

Per records of the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, that webpage previously contained separate sections regarding “Equity for Black people,” “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” and “LGBTQ+ rights.”

Currently, those separate sections have been condensed into a single paragraph indicating that Amazon believes in creating a diverse and inclusive company and affirms that the inequitable treatment of anyone is unacceptable.

According to Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel, “We update this page from time to time to ensure that it reflects updates we’ve made to various programs and positions.”

Per a report from The Washington Post, which Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns, employees responded to the Amazon internal memo with their own concerns, per screenshots obtained by the outlet.

“I’m a bit worried … if that will impact insurance coverage in the future,” one employee wrote in the comments section of the internal memo.

Another employee described the change as “a bit of a backward step” from Amazon’s previous position. Amazon, however, told The Washington Post that the company’s insurance benefit is still available for its employees.

RELATED CONTENT: Mark Zuckerberg Promotes Free Speech By Ending Fact-Checking On Meta Platforms Facebook And Instagram

• News

by Mary Spiller

January 11, 2025

Black Women Unemployment Rate Falls In December

The decline comes post a concerning uptick in November for the Black community.

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According to a new report from CNBC, the unemployment rate for Black women finally fell in December, after a consistent and alarming increase for the month of November.

For Black women, the unemployment rate for December dropped from 5.9% in November to 5.4% in December. November’s number preceded a jobless rate that rose almost an entire percentage point for the population.

The labor participation rate, which includes both those employed and those actively seeking work, rose to 62.4%.

Experts attribute the change to an unexpected increase in nonfarm payrolls. The payrolls grew during December and around the holiday season, rising to 256,000 in the month and quickly topping economists’ prediction for a gain of just 155,000. This caused the overall unemployment rate to fall to 4.1%, which indicates a resilient labor market and could have affected Black women as well.

As reported by UCA, the nonfarm payroll is a value that measures the number of workers in the United States, excluding only those who work in farming, private households, non-profits, and sole proprietorships or self-employment, as well as those who are certified active military service members. The value accounts for approximately 80% of the total workers who contribute to the gross domestic product of our country, which includes the majority of Black women.

For Black workers overall in the country, the unemployment rate was consistent with the trend of Black women, and also declined in December, falling to 6.1% from a rate of 6.4% in November and 5.7% before it in October.

Senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, Elise Gould, spoke on the concerning trend in November and the months prior. She said, “There were some concerns about the Black unemployment rate going up. It’s still significantly higher than for other groups — and that’s still a concern — but nothing in this report jumps out as particularly problematic.”

Aside from Black women, Black men also saw an improvement. Unemployment rates for Black men fell to 5.6% in December from 6% in November — although the labor force participation rate for the group declined to 68.2% at the end of the year from November’s 68.7%.

In comparison, highlighting the racial disparity in the workforce, for white workers the jobless rate fell even further from 3.8% to just 3.6% in December.

RELATED CONTENT: Unemployment Rate For Black Women Continues To Rise

• News

by Mary Spiller

January 11, 2025

Lee Daniels Mourns Loss Of Sister Lydia, Inspiration For Empire’s Cookie

Daniels described Lydia as his 'best friend' in a heartfelt Instagram post following her death.

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Producer and director Lee Daniels shared a heartfelt post on Instagram revealing the loss of his younger sister, Lydia Ruth Daniels-Rook. He wrote in the Jan. 10 post that Lydia was the one who inspired his writing of Taraji P. Henson‘s Empire character, Loretha “Cookie” Lyon.

In an emotional post on Instagram, Daniels shared a photo of them together, as well as words about how he was mourning Lydia’s passing. Daniels didn’t specify the cause of death for Lydia, who was 64 at the time.

Daniels shared, “As the fires are burning, so is my heart. My younger sister Lydia has passed. She was also my best friend. In Empire, the character of Cookie was based partly on her life. She’s left four beautiful children and five grandchildren behind. RIP Girly…I LOVE YOU FOREVER.”

The 65-year-old Oscar-nominated director created the 2015 hit Fox series Empire. In it, powerhouse actress Henson played Cookie — the bold wife of Lucious Lion, who returns from prison to reclaim her stake at Empire Entertainment after being locked up for drug dealing.

For the character that Daniels revealed was in some part created from Lydia’s life story, Henson was nominated for several Emmys for bringing Cookie to life.

In the initial post, Daniels received words of support and condolences from his fellow industry stars such as Holly Robinson Peete, Hym Whitley, Kelly Rowland, Patti Labelle, and Billy Porter.

The comments underneath The Deliverance director’s tribute for Lydia, including Halle Berry, who starred in Daniels 2001’s film production of Monster’s Ball.

Berry said, “Sending all my love to you and your family.”

Porter added, “So sorry for your loss. Sending you all the love and peace that’s possible.”

Daniels was one of five siblings raised in West Philadelphia, and Lydia is survived by four children of her own and five grandchildren.

RELATED CONTENT: Lee Daniels Had ‘Horrible’ Time Working On ‘Empire’ But Loves All The ‘Money, Money, Money’ He Made

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

Louisiana Supreme Court Rules To Clear Homeless Encampments In New Orleans

The Louisiana Supreme Court is in favor of police clearing the homeless encampments throughout New Orleans.

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The Louisiana Supreme Court has overturned an injunction, allowing police to resume clearing homeless encampments in New Orleans.

On Jan. 9, the court ruled in favor of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, lifting the injunction that had halted state-ordered encampment sweeps, Fox 8 Live reported. These actions were directed by Governor Jeff Landry after the city failed to meet its November deadline to address the issue.

New Orleans City Council officials argue that the “sweeps” interfere with the city’s efforts to transition the homeless into permanent housing. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the state’s actions are justified in the interest of public health and safety.

This development comes after Judge Ethel Julien’s December 2024 decision requiring Governor Landry’s office to provide a 24-hour written notice to the unhoused before clearing encampments. However, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jay B. McCallum later ruled that the preliminary injunction was unconstitutional.

“This truth should be self-evident in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2025. There is no absolute constitutional right to imperil public health and safety,” Judge McCallum said, citing public safety as cause for his ruling.

Landry has since responded to the ruling on social media.

“This afternoon, the Louisiana Supreme Court recognized the constitutional authority of the State Police and other State agencies to keep the city of New Orleans safe,” he tweeted. “This comes at a very important time given the events of last week, the upcoming Super Bowl, and Mardi Gras.”

“State Police has every legal right to clear the encampments. I appreciate the Louisiana Supreme Court for coming to a common-sense conclusion on this important public safety issue,” Murrill added in a separate tweet. “I’m proud of the hard work of my Solicitor General’s Office & Deputy Solicitor General Zach Faircloth.”

RELATED CONTENT: Homelessness Crisis Worsens: Black Americans Disproportionately Affected Amid Housing Affordability Decline

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

Nigerian Fashion Designer Sets Guinness World Record For Making World’s Largest Sandal In 72 Hours

A young Nigerian designer has set a new world record after crafting the world's largest sandal.

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A young fashion designer out of Nigeria just set a Guinness World Record by making the world’s largest sandal in 72 hours.

On Jan. 2, visionary designer Liz Sanya embarked on a bold challenge, and by Jan. 4, the Ibadan native had successfully created a massive pink clog measuring an impressive 4.8 meters (15 feet 9 inches) in length, News Central Africa reported. Sanya built the sandal in Lagos with the support of local celebrities and public figures including music artists Mayorkun, Pheelz, P.Priime, and Taves, as well as music entrepreneur Bizzle Osikoya, and filmmaker Korty.

“I’ll never be able to put into words what any of this means to me, I started designing shoes when I was 12 and by 14 I was selling them to fund a ‘habit’ I couldn’t afford,” Sanya said in a statement.

“None of this has been possible without the support and compassion of the people who see me and believe in my vision. Ibadan… where I was born. Lagos where I was inspired. It was only right to come back home and prove it. 1 world record to beat, within 72hrs…”

Sanya has now exceeded the previous record set by a team of artisans from Municipio De Sahauyo, Mexico, who crafted a traditional sandal measuring 10 feet 1.65 inches wide and 24 feet 5.31 inches long.

She documented her experience on Instagram in highlights that showed the accomplishment and all of the support she received from the local community.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SANYA (@lizsanyaa)

“Stomp the world,” one of her supporters wrote.

“I’m rooting for you,” added another.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SANYA (@lizsanyaa)

“Believing in me is free, doubting me will cost you,” she wrote after accomplishing the historical task.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SANYA (@lizsanyaa)

“Left your footprint in the world fr,” one fan wrote.

“There’s nothing u can’t do! 🗣️🗣️Big up you fr mannn 👏👏👏,” one user added.

RELATED CONTENT: UNESCO: Africa’s Fashion Industry Rising, Lacks Global Investment

• Sports

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

Puma Sues Tiger Woods Over Sun Day Red Logo

The sports retail giant claims that the Sun Day Red logo created by Woods closely resembles Puma’s signature emblem.

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Puma is going after Tiger Woods for what the legendary sports brand believes is a similarity between their two logos.

Puma, whose iconic logo has remained unchanged for 56 years, filed a notice of opposition against Woods’ brand on Jan. 2, Sports Illustrated reported. The sports retail giant claims that the Sun Day Red logo created by Woods closely resembles Puma’s signature emblem.

This move puts a stop to Sun Day Red’s efforts to trademark its logo of a leaping tiger, composed of 15 lines to symbolize Woods’s 15 major championship victories. Its red color comes from the red Woods always wears on Sundays.

“Due to the confusing similarity of the marks and the identical, legally identical, or closely related nature of the goods and services of the parties, consumer confusion is likely between the Challenged Marks and the Leaping Cat logo,” the filing says.

Woods continues to face legal challenges over his brand’s logo. Puma’s lawsuit comes after Tigeraire, a personal air product company, filed a notice of opposition three months ago, and is also currently in litigation in federal court.

Woods launched Sun Day Red with TaylorMade in February 2024, following the end of his 27-year partnership with Nike. Despite the opposition against the logo, TaylorMade told CNBC that they “feel very confident in our trademarks and logos.”

However, industry insiders believe Sun Day Red faces a “significant” challenge in trademarking its logo.

“This is a real fight,” said Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney at Gerben IP. “Any time you have open litigation you can lose. I think Puma has a legitimate case.”

The two parties may still reach a settlement before the case goes to trial, which is likely to occur in September 2026, Gerben predicts. He also noted that disputes over logos are less common than trademark conflicts involving names or slogans.

“Tiger certainly has a target on his back,” he said. “He’s big enough to move markets.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tiger Woods: Golfer or Inmate?

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

will.i.am Announces Jason Derulo As Ambassador And Intelligent Media Leader Of FYI.AI

'This deal with FYI builds on my existing passion for combining technology and creativity in new ways,' Derulo said.

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Jason Derulo will serve as the ambassador and intelligent media leader of will.i.am’s FYI.AI.

The Grammy-award-winning music artist and tech innovator revealed the news at a Jan. 8 late-night press event at CES to celebrate his new partnership with LG Electronics, according to Celebrity Access.

“Jason’s passion about AI, his enthusiasm and optimism about the intersection of technology and creativity, entrepreneurial skills, and community reach make him a fantastic addition to the FYI team to help shape our creative strategy going forward.” said will.i.am.

Derulo will collaborate with will.i.am and other FYI creative partners to explore and develop innovative ways for creators to use AI technology to engage with audiences and make money through their AI-driven creations. The “Talk Dirty” singer will also lead new initiatives aimed at supporting growth strategies, designing projects, and enhancing the STAiTiON reaction feature to shape a new framework for RAiDiO.FYI.

will.i.am will also put Derulo in charge of beta testing innovative tools and features, collaborating on select projects with the FYI community, and representing the company at events, among other responsibilities.

Derulo and will.i.am’s relationship dates back to 2009–2010, when Derulo toured with will.i.am’s group, the multi-platinum Black Eyed Peas, on its END World Tour.

In November 2024, Derulo visited the FYI Campus in Hollywood as a guest on the newly launched FYI “CONVOS” program, which features musicians, athletes, and personalities engaging in deep and thought-provoking conversations with various AI personas. While visiting the FYI Campus, Derulo was captivated and asked how he could get involved with the company.

What followed was will.i.am extending an offer to Derulo.

“I’ve been exploring the tech world for a while now, from investing in innovative platforms to experimenting with cutting-edge AI for my music and entertainment projects,” Derulo said. “This deal with FYI builds on my existing passion for combining technology and creativity in new ways. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and I’m excited for what we will achieve.”

Derulo’s partnership with will.i.am follows his 2021 investment in Glory, an app designed to help Christians strengthen their daily connection to God. He also joined forces with Brent Faiyaz, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk to contribute to an $87 million funding round in 2022 for Moonpay, a fintech company that enables users to easily buy and sell cryptocurrency.

RELATED CONTENT: Robert F. Smith And will.i.am To Help Top Underrepresented College Students Through AI

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 11, 2025

Claressa Shields Is Looking To Add Another Boxing Title To Her Mantle

The undefeated boxer will be fighting Danielle Perkins at the Dort Financial Center, on Feb. 2 for the heavyweight belt

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Claressa Shields, professional boxer and undisputed two-division champion, is preparing for her next match in an attempt to keep her undefeated record while adding another championship belt to her waist when she goes home to Michigan to face undefeated boxer, Danielle Perkins.

According to The Detroit News, the Flint fighter will fight Perkins at the Dort Financial Center on Feb. 2, which will air live on DAZN. Her record is an impressive 15-0. She is going up against Perkins, who took two years off but has won her last two fights via knockout, and her undefeated record is now 5-0.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lee William Mcallister (@leemcallister_boxer)

Shields, who calls herself the “G.W.O.A.T.,” a play off Muhammad Ali’s infamous “G.O.A.T.” proclamation when he declared himself the greatest of all time. She borrows the moniker but adds “woman,” making her the greatest woman of all time, according to her own admission. She has won two Olympic gold medals, and her last victory took place in July 2024 when she took the heavyweight title from Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in July 2024 by knocking her out in two rounds.

She is extremely confident, although she is facing a fighter several inches taller than her at 5′ 11″ as she stands at 5″8.”

“She is fighting against the best,” Shields said, “and if she comes in there and she don’t put her chin down, and she feels like she can just come out there and bully me and put her size and her weight on me and just punch me hard and that’s going to win her the fight, she’s in for a rude awakening.”

The Sporting News has reported that Shields won gold at super welterweight, middleweight, and super middleweight before she captured heavyweight gold in July. But she’s not fighting a shrinking violet in Perkins, who is a two-time World Championship medalist who played basketball at St. John’s.

“If it’s going to be a dogfight, then so far, there’s going to be two dogs, and you’re not going to know who’s who,” Perkins said.

Shields is keeping her options open before the fight even starts by challenging yet another boxer before stepping in the ring with Perkins.

According to USA Today, she wants to get in the ring with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

“People who are against that are just sexist and they don’t know boxing,” Shields stated. “It’s very strange to me that they think that a YouTuber can beat a woman boxer who has two Olympic gold medals, (multiple) world titles, and fought as a heavyweight.”

She has so much disdain for Paul that she says even her next opponent would beat Paul.

“Jake Paul showed that he has not gotten better with his skills,” she said. “He needs to train harder and better. And honestly, I think the girl that I’m getting ready to fight against, Danielle Perkins, can beat Jake Paul, too.”

RELATED CONTENT:

Claressa Shields Knocks Out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse To Win WBC And WBO Titles

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 10, 2025

Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang Makes History as Ghana’s First Female Vice President 

Ghana made history by swearing in Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the nation's first female vice president.

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The National Democratic Congress in Ghana made history on Jan. 7 after swearing in Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the nation’s first female vice president.

This historic moment follows John Dramani Mahama’s reclaiming the presidency with a decisive victory in the December elections, Modern Ghana reports. During the election, Mahama selected Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate—a bold and strategic step toward promoting competence and inclusivity in a nation that has traditionally adopted a conservative stance on gender representation in politics.

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo led the oath-taking ceremony, which took place at Independence Square in Accra. After seven years, Mahama returns to the presidency and will take over duties from Nana Akufo-Addo, who defeated him in 2017.

Opoku-Agyemang, a literature professor and former Minister of Education, was first nominated as Mahama’s running mate in 2020. Now, with her historic election, she and Mahama will focus on tackling the nation’s challenges, including youth unemployment, corruption, and other pressing issues from his previous presidency.

Her historic oath-taking ceremony marks a pivotal moment in Ghana’s political landscape, signaling a shift toward much-needed reform. This follows a 2022 survey revealing that 67% of Ghanaians support political equality for women, underscoring the significance of Opoku-Agyemang’s ascension to the vice presidency.

Beyond her academic achievements, where she served as Minister of Education from 2013 to 2017—leading efforts to build modern educational facilities, provide free textbooks and uniforms, and eliminate makeshift schools—Opoku-Agyemang also holds several prestigious roles. The fierce advocate for education and combatting gender-based violence against Ghanaian women also serves on the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is a member of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning, and sits on the editorial board of the Harriet Tubman Series on the African Diaspora.

Her extensive governance, education, and development knowledge complemented Mahama’s experience as a former president. Together, they cultivated a strong mutual respect, uniting their shared values to achieve a groundbreaking victory that promises to usher in visionary leadership for Ghana.

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