Black Couple Acquires A 120-Room Full-Service Hotel In Louisiana After Raising $2.8M
This is the second property Norland and Dr. Amina James acquired in the south.
Norland and Dr. Amina James, the Black couple who made history by purchasing the Quality Inn in Memphis Northeast, just secured another property in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
AsBLACK ENTERPRISEpreviously reported, in 2022, the two acquired the 70-room Memphis property for $3.85 million with the help of a cohort of first-time African American hotel investors. They then raised $2.8 million to purchase Wyndham Lake Charles – a 120-room full-service hotel.
According to Development Wyndham, less than 2% of hotel owners nationwide identify as Black.
While the hotel is currently open for reservations, renovations are underway to transform the property into an upscale Wyndham resort with a restaurant, bar, and meeting space by 2025.
“We’re creating a space that is for everyone,” Dr. Amina says. “It will be the perfect choice of accommodations for vacations, family reunions, and business trips alike.”
Black Business reports that the hotel project is backed by a majority of Black investors and managed by the Black-owned management company Synergy Hospitality Group.
Inside the hotel, guests will immediately notice what the owners call “affordable luxury.” The hotel features a two-story lobby with charming black-and-white tiled flooring, abundant natural light, and the newly branded hotel restaurant Renaissance Bar & Grill, which will offer southern comfort food with a Creole flair.
Located three hours from Louisiana’s bustling city, New Orleans, Lake Charles is considered the state’s playground, with a beautiful blend of Cajun, Creole, and Native American influences.
There’s no shortage of fun in Lake Charles. The city hosts approximately 70 festivals, attracting thousands of visitors annually.
“Lake Charles is such a great place to visit with family and friends,” Norland said in a statement. “There’s so much to do from the casinos to sports and festivals. It’s ideal for a long weekend or quiet getaway.”
It’s Been 60 Years Since Fannie Lou Hamer’s ‘Is This America’ Speech At The DNC
The 2024 Democratic National Convention comes 60 years after Fannie Lou Hamer's famed "Is this America" speech at the 1964 DNC.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention is seeing the country unite to nominate someone who could become the first Black woman president. The historical event comes 60 years after Fannie Lou Hamer’s famed “Is this America” speech, where she called out the seating of Mississippi’s all-white delegation.
It was during the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, that Fannie Lou Hamer sat before the credentials committee to give testimony about her experience as a sharecropper in Mississippi who was fired from her plantation job in retaliation for trying to register to vote.
Hamer described the abuse she sustained while in jail for encouraging other Black people to exercise their right to vote, AP News reports.
“It wasn’t too long before three white men came to my cell. One of these men was a state highway patrolman,” Hamer told the crowd. “He said, ‘We going to make you wish you was dead.”
She recounted the arbitrary tests imposed by white authorities to block Black people from voting, along with other unconstitutional tactics used to keep white elites in power throughout the segregated South.
“All of this is on account of we want to register to become first-class citizens,” Hamer told the committee.
Hamer went to the DNC as part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which helped organize Freedom Summer, a campaign to educate and register Black voters. In response to Mississippi holding whites-only primaries, activists like Hamer formed the racially integrated Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to confront leading Democrats on a national stage.
President Lyndon B. Johnson attempted to distract the public from Hamer’s speech by calling a news conference during her testimony. However, networks later showed her speech on television, giving the masses a chance to hear her impassioned plea.
“If the Freedom Democratic Party is not seated now, I question America,” Hamer told the credentials committee. “Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, where we have to sleep with our telephones off of the hooks because our lives be threatened daily, because we want to live as decent human beings in America?”
Her work and voice continue to resonate within the modern Democratic Party with figures like U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who will speak Wednesday at the 2024 Democratic National Convention who first registered to vote after Hamer urged him to while he was a college student in Mississippi.
“Our challenge as Americans is to make sure that this experiment called democracy is not just for the landed gentry or the wealthy, but it is for everybody,” Thompson said.
Crossword Puzzles Get Black Culture Spin In New Book Release
The book will offer pages of puzzles with clues that reference Black culture.
For diverse crossword lovers, this new book release will provide clues primarily from Black culture.
Its inception was sparked by a Black woman who frequently found herself unable to relate to other crossword themes. Juliana Pache’s desire to play a game that spoke to her cultural norms and phrases led her to create blackcrossword.com in January 2023.
The platform allows fellow Black crossword enthusiasts to play with familiar clues. The site’s motto even includes “If you know, you know.”
She told ABC News that the site boasts around 2,200 daily visitors. However, her new book, “Black Crossword: 100 Mini Puzzles Celebrating the African Diaspora,” takes the games up a notch. Released on Aug. 20, the book contains multitudes of puzzles that once drove Black people to her original website.
While “making it with Black people in mind,” the puzzles contain abundant Black cultural references. However, they also remain “challenging” like the comparable The New York Times version.
“I also want to make it challenging, not just for people who might be interested in Black culture, but people within Black culture who might be interested in other regions,” said Pache. “Part of my mission with this is to highlight Black people from all over, Black culture from all over. And I think … that keeps us learning about each other.”
She added, “And then, if anyone else enjoys it, they learn things from it; that’s a bonus, but it’s not my focus.”
Pache is not the only one who has called out the Times’ not-so-inclusive crossword. The criticism even pushed the platform to boost representation for its fan-favorite game. In the meantime, however, Pache is putting the power into her own hands, becoming the game master where Black history and culture are the standard.
Democratic Candidate Angela Alsobrooks Fights To Solidify Historic Win In Bid For Maryland Senate Seat
The Democratic candidate is fighting to become the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the senate and to change policy in Congress.
Prince George’s County executive Angela Alsobrooks, who addressed the nation on Tuesday night from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, is looking toward a historic win in November if she is elected to represent the state of Maryland in the Senate.
As she fights to become the first Black woman senator of Maryland, Alsobrooks faces Republican candidate and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. According to NBC News, the race predicts a possible reshaping of the Senate, which comprises a thin majority of Democrats. Polling data has reflected the edge Alsobrooks has in the race, even though it’s not as much as the typical leading Democratic candidate.
“People like me, stories like mine, don’t usually make it to the United States Senate,” the Democrat said on Tuesday as she told the DNC crowd she’s the legacy of her grandmother whose dream was to work in government. Alsobrooks shared that her inspiration stems from women like her grandmother and those like Vice President Kamala Harris, who envision a better future and make it a reality.
Not only does Alsobrooks look forward to potentially making history, but she’s also committed to using her platform to shape policy in Congress with plans to endorse a $15-per-hour minimum wage, healthcare for all, gun manufacturer accountability, and abortion access. “We are looking at a time that is like a time we’ve never seen before,” she said. “This election will help us decide the kind of future we want for our children and grandchildren and what kind of state and country we will build for them.”
As Alsobrooks and Hogan go head-to-head, their campaigns have presented opposing visions for the state. “Larry Hogan continues to mislead and misrepresent,” the Alsobrooks campaign stated in response to a July statement from Hogan.
She isthe first woman and youngest elected state’s attorney in Prince George’s County, boasting a drop in crime under her tenure and the establishment of a first-of-its-kind investigation and prosecution unit to hold police and officials accountable for misconduct. The core of her work has included improving employment and economic opportunities, youth investment and education, healthcare access, and mental health and addiction treatment. Throughout her campaign for Maryland’s senate seat, she has addressed rally crowds on a range of issues, including the protection of the environment and women’s reproductive rights.
Alsobrooks has received support from VP Harris, who endorsed her, and President Joe Biden, who has previously referred to the 53-year-old Democrat as a “soon-to-be senator.” Additionally, Alsobrooks’s campaign has seen a $2.6 million investment from Women Vote, the PAC, and Higher Heights for America PAC support.
EEOC Cancels One-Day Furlough, Will Use Savings To Stay Open
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission called off its one-day furlough thanks to company savings.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has called off its one-day furlough thanks to company savings that will help keep the agency open.
On Aug. 20, the EEOC announced that the company had saved enough money to avoid having to furlough employees for one day, Federal News Network reports. The change comes a few weeks after a July 30 announcement informed staffers that a furlough was possible due to budget constraints.
A flat budget for fiscal 2024, combined with a 5.2% pay raise and increased overall operating costs, was said to have caused the agency’s financial bind. But after making some changes and adjustments, through a combination of “aggressive financial management, limiting travel, rent credits and a hiring freeze,” the agency now says it was able to make up the difference.
“Through the combined efforts of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, EEOC’s senior leaders, and EEOC employees, the agency has accrued sufficient savings to eliminate the need for a furlough on Aug. 30,” Charlotte Burrows, chairwoman of the EEOC, said in a statement. “I am grateful to EEOC employees for their patience during this process and their continued dedication to protecting the civil rights of America’s workers.”
The canceled furlough follows the $455 million the EEOC received from Congress for the 2024 fiscal year after requesting $481 million. The agency warned it wouldn’t have enough to cover its payroll costs, which total around $1.3 million daily. Concerns were that the agency wouldn’t have enough money to make it through 2024.
EEOC workers are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, which blamed Congress for the budget constraints.
“EEOC has been underfunded and understaffed for decades –- and now, with Congress freezing the agency’s budget at last year’s level, we are seeing the unfortunate result,” Council 216 President Rachel Shonfield wrote last month after the furlough was announced.
Government cutbacks were at the center of the issue. The EEOC requested $488.2 million for 2025, but House lawmakers reduced the budget to $420 million, $35 million less than the 2024 budget and $68 million below the requested budget. The Senate approved the White House’s request of $488 million for the EEOC’s 2025 budget.
The EEOC says that if it had been forced to furlough for one day, the move would have affected 2,300 employees.
Russell Simmons Wants Black People To Remember What He Has Done For The Community
The DefJam founder also reiterates that moving to Bali had nothing to do with avoiding prosecution.
DefJam Founder and legendary manager Russell Simmons recently took to social media to remind Black people of his contributions to the Black community. He feels he has been “demonized,” and it’s unfair to do so when he has been involved in movements to help people throughout the years. Simmons also doesn’t want the people who visit him to be criticized when they see him posting photos with them on social media.
Simmons made a video that was captured by the Instagram account livebitez, speaking to Black people and letting them know how he has been an advocate for others. He brought attention to his efforts to get thousands of Black men out of jail, along with helping the factory farming industry. He brings up being involved with not only women’s rights but gay rights as well.
“Black people, did you forget that I got 10,000 Black men out of jail? And that I changed the factory farming industry forever. And that I registered more of you to vote than probably anybody you know. And I worked for Black Lives Matter and every movement that’s helped our people, all the women’s rights and even gay rights. Movements that I did so much work for to let them demonize me in such a way that my friends cannot visit me without you attacking them.”
He then had words for people supporting former President Donald Trump, who is again running for the highest office this election season.
“But yet you stand by Donald Trump. Knock it off.”
In a second clip, he discusses the accusations against him and notes that he has not been arrested or spoken to by law enforcement. This is in response to people who feel he moved to Bali to avoid alleged criminal charges.
“Still, to date, I have never spoken to a policeman about anything. I have never spoken to a judge, civil or criminal, about anything. From what I can tell Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and President Trump all have more credible claims against them than I do.”
Judge Gives Mayor Cantrell Extended Deadline To Respond To Lawsuit
U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown granted Cantrell's motion for an extension of the deadline to respond to the civil rights lawsuit filed by Anne Breaud in July
As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is facing a civil rights lawsuit brought by a woman who claims her personal information and photo were made public by Cantrell and her campaign members.
According to Fox 8, U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown granted Cantrell’s motion for an extension of the deadline to respond to the lawsuit filed by Anne Breaud in July. As a result of the extension, the named parties in the lawsuit, Cantrell, Clifton Davis, her Chief of Staff, the City of New Orleans, and New Orleans Police Department officers Leslie Guzman, Victor Gant, and Ryan St. Martin have until Sept. 10 to respond.
According to Axios New Orleans, Cantrell has been increasingly tight-lipped since becoming a target of a federal investigation. Her office has been careful to keep city employees from speaking to the press unsupervised. They have even gone as far as chaperoning any media phone interviews, regardless of whether or not the mayor is a subject of the interviews.
This silence has also extended to Cantrell’s current lawsuit. The only official statement regarding the allegations against Cantrell and the others has come from the City of New Orleans, which said its official response would come in response to Breaud’s lawsuit.
“The City of New Orleans will withhold any comment at this time due to the ongoing nature of this litigation. Our position will be communicated in our answer to the petition.”
Although Cantrell was not named in a federal lawsuit involving her former bodyguard and alleged lover, Jeffery Vappie, she was mentioned several times in his indictment; according to NOLA.com, she was identified as Public Official 1.
Rafael Goyeneche, the president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, believes that the mayor’s mention in Vappie’s case could portend a forthcoming indictment of Cantrell.
“My belief is when they went to (the) indictment of Jeffrey Vappie, they had a whole strategy planned out for additional indictments,” he said of prosecutors. “I don’t believe for a second that it was an accident or a coincidence that they identified the mayor in that indictment.”
Goyeneche continued, “These are veteran prosecutors that don’t need to be reminded of prescriptive statutes. I’m sure they are much more cognizant of the actual prescriptive dates than anyone who is speculating that those dates are rapidly approaching.”
Angel Reese Makes Her Mark With Allen Iverson Reebok Sneaker Collaboration
Reese first inked a multiyear contract with Reebok in October 2023.
Angel Reese is the latest basketball player with a sneaker on her roster. The WNBA rookie has partnered with Allen Iverson’s Reebok collaboration for her limited edition shoe.
The Angel Reese x Reebok capsule launches Aug. 23, according to Sneaker News. While three of the shoes in the rollout featured her signature Always Blue and Icy Silver colorway, the fourth one showcased a special pair reminiscent of the NBA legend. The outlet posted the special pair to Instagram.
Reese first inked a multiyear contract with Reebok in October 2023. The deal made the 22-year-old one of the biggest athletes representing the brand. The company also showed behind-the-scenes footage of Reese at her photoshoot for the new collection.
Part of the Angel Reese x Rebook Answer III, the collector’s item boasts Allen Iverson’s third signature shoe in a two-toned silver and blue colorway. As a further nod to the Chicago Sky player, the logo of ” Unapologetically Angel” appears throughout the shoe’s design, including as a hang tag.
However, those looking to cop a pair are out of luck. The shoe will be only bestowed to the Friends & Family of Angel and Reebok. Despite this, Reese will have other clothing and footwear available for fans and players alike. The other sneakers in the collection can be rocked on the court or out and about. Moreover, the options range from $100 to $120.
Furthermore, the WNBA star keeps copping new deals and endorsements to add to her celebrity. She recently announced a partnership with Reese’s Pieces, where one can display themselves as “Reese’s Angel” through t-shirts, hoodies, and other accessories.
USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. Is Supporting Kamala Harris
USVI Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. is supporting Kamala Harris for president. He is one of two Black governors in the country.
United States Virgin Islands’ Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr., was in the middle of the excitement at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where some moments from day two have become viral on social media. Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s speeches, DJ Cassidy’s set highlighting music from each state during the ceremonial delegate roll call, and the surprise performance from Lil’ Jon to assist Georgia’s performance assisted in the vibes during Georgia’s state roll call are just some of the highlights.
“It was like a party,” Albert Bryan, Jr. tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “There’s so much energy, and it almost feels like she’s unbeatable with the amount of energy in the room.”
Byran was first elected governor of USVI—a U.S. territory where over 90% of the population identifies as Black—in 2018. He is currently only one of two Black governors in the country. The 13 delegates representing the USVI all back Vice President Kamala Harris for the top spot on the party’s ticket as president and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as vice president.
As a U.S. territory, this is the only official part of the voting process the USVI will have. Residents of USVI and other U.S. territories are not entitled to electoral votes for president, so they can’t vote in the presidential election but can vote in the primaries.
Bryan spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE about the energy at the DNC, priorities he hopes the next president will consider in the USVI, and what it’s like being one of two Black governors in the U.S.
BLACK ENTERPRISE: Can you describe the excitement at the DNC?
BRYAN: You know how I know people are excited? I passed [notable] people in the hall, like Spike Lee, U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, and Gregory Meeks, and no one was paying attention to them because everyone was there for one single purpose: to support Vice President Harris.
There are a lot of young voters and voters who weren’t engaged before excited about Harris’s run. There are a lot of people of color in the room that had me asking, ‘Did the demographics in America change?’ because [it’s clear] African Americans are coming out to vote for Vice President Harris. It’s inspiring to see.
BE: This is your first DNC. Can you talk more about the excitement you’re noticing in the USVI? Is it similar to 2008 when former President Barack Obama ran?
BRYAN: It matches that energy from 2008. because people are excited that she’s a woman, an African American woman, and just a good person; she’s young, vibrant, and caring, so people are excited about that aspect.
BE: What are the top priorities for the USVI with the next person elected president?
BRYAN: At the top of the list is a continuation of the recovery. We just went through a tropical storm that only had winds of 65 miles an hour, yet we had people without power for a week. We want to finish that recovery and give energy independence to individual homes, so if the power lines go down or the power goes out for any reason, they can get power.
In 2017, we had Hurricanes Irma and Maria. To complete that recovery, we need a $1.5 billion match, and our budget is only $1.2 billion a year. By having people in the administration listen to our cause, we were able to reduce that to a number that we could digest and come up with.
Healthcare is paramount. The baby boomers are getting older and living longer, and being able to take care of that generation will put extreme stress on us. We only have one hospital on each island. We’ve had universal healthcare before anybody. We will take care of you no matter what’s wrong with you. It’s going to be an extreme burden on the general fund budget. Right now, we’re pushing to make people healthier.
Inflation is another significant priority. An affordable home in the USVI is half a million dollars, and it will get worse because we’re doing so much construction. We’re growing so fast that it’s putting much pressure on people. We already have a 33% poverty rate.
BE: What is your reaction to being one of two Black governors nationwide?
BRYAN: It’s lonely. We need more than me and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Moore is a dynamic guy with a bright future […], but we need more.
BE: You are a Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. member. Can you talk about the excitement within the Greek community?
BRYAN: We are all excited. We have a nationwide [campaign] to register 1911 voters for each chapter. We’re calling our friends within the states to make sure they register to vote.
He transitioned after being a self-described hustler and growing up in South Florida. The shift came after Cyrus started buying land in 2016 in Fair Park, an urban Dallas neighborhood. He shared his remarkable journey with BLACK ENTERPRISE in August during National Black Business Month.
The president and CEO of Purpose Builder & Developments, Cyrus, between 2017 and 2019, focused on building 10 homes a year priced $250,00 to $350,000 to meet his revenue goals.
Shifting Business Model To Luxury-Homes Market
But then COVID-19 struck. The worst pandemic in U.S. history caused home prices in the Dallas area to double around 2021. That major market impact caused Cyrus to change his business model and center on building higher-priced luxury homes.
After restructuring his business, Cyrus elevated to building homes valued at over $500,000. He says the move made him the first Black homebuilder in his locality to do so.
He added it helped create new opportunities for building generational wealth and paving the way for other Black builders in the community to potentially prosper as well.
Strong Faith In God Making A Difference
Tapping into God as his guide, Cyrus says he was shown that he could build around only six to seven luxury homes and still generate his desired revenue. He carved a niche building custom homes with a rising demand from people who can afford them.
In fact, he learned high-end buyers often are not as deterred by such factors as surging mortgage rates as people in the overall housing market are. “It’s not such a big deal for more affluent buyers to come up with a $1 million or $500,000 down payment on a multi-million-dollar house.”
An entrepreneur, investor and author, Cyrus calls his business a Christian-based, design-build development firm. It offers largely single-family homes that typically run from $1.5 million to $3 million that are sold in Dallas suburbs. Cyrus declares his company now has six projects underway, including three homes expected to sell for $2 million or more.
Cyrus got acquainted with construction by watching his grandfather work in the trade.
“It takes a strong Black man to help build character and work ethic, which I learned from my grandfather I want to instill what my grandfather gave me to the next generation of Black homebuilders and developers.”
Background In Insurance And Investing Own Capital Key Factors
He previously worked in life insurance starting in 2015 for highly regarded brands like Fidelity Investments, Northwestern Mutual, and Mass Mutual, among others.
In those roles, Cyrus says he gained invaluable skills in banking, understanding various financial products, and how to effectively communicate with underwriters. “These experiences were crucial in helping me run my own company and dealing with hard money lenders and big box banks.”
Still, launching his own company was no cinch.
“I invested $75,000 of my own funds and utilized $50,000 of personal credit I had at the time to start Purpose Builder & Developments.”
Simultaneously, establishing his company into a stable, thriving business came with some obstacles. Much like other new Black entrepreneurs, gaining initial capital to grow was difficult. But setting up connections helped Cyrus conquer that hurdle. “Financing my business is no longer a battle as I have secured strategic partnerships with banks and lenders.”
Overcoming Challenges And Setting High Ambitions For Revenue Growth
Still, there are some barriers remaining. One of his biggest challenges as a Black entrepreneur is dealing with systemic oppressive processes. For example, he says the city can be biased against people of color. “I’ve had to learn to navigate these challenges by building alliances and gaining support in high places, often with the favor of God.”
Revenue-wise, Cyrus expects his company this year to achieve $12 million to $15 million. He says that range represents a 50% increase over the past two years.
Cyrus says God inspired him to name his firm Purpose Builder and Developments after he prayed on on it. He says he knows that’s true because everything like revenue, brand recognition. and connections have steadily flowed in. “A good idea isn’t a God idea, but every God idea is a good idea.”
To help scale up, he plans by early September to launch the Cyrus Collection, a high-end home brand featuring homes priced from $1.5 million to $3 million. This product line will help take our company to the next level because it will offer products for the high-end consumer.”
And Cyrus has ambitions goals, hoping to see revenues reach $35 million to $40 million within the next five years. He says he hopes to accomplish that by forming strategic alliances and partnerships with high-performing Black developers.
