Detroit, wine, House of pure vin
Photo by Zak Chapman: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-clear-wine-glasses-2104568/
by Mary Spiller

December 14, 2024

Beloved Black-Owned Downtown Detroit Wine Shop Announces Closure After Nearly A Decade

The wine club and bar has been in business in Detroit for nine years.

The beloved downtown Detroit wine shop and bar, House of Pure Vin, will close indefinitely at the end of this month. The Black woman-owned business started by Regina Gaines gave no reason for its closure, but House of Pure Vin will end its nine-year run of business on Dec. 27.

According to a newsletter sent to customers on Dec. 10, House of Pure Vin informed customers of its decision to close early.

The newsletter reads, “After nine incredible years, it has been determined that House of Pure Vin will begin its soft closing, with our last day open to the public on Dec. 27, 2024. House of Pure Vin has been more than a wine shop. It has been a home for connection, culture, and celebration. Together, we’ve created unforgettable memories, and none of it would have been possible without your love and support.”

Gaines opened its doors in September 2015 with partners Terry Mullins and Andrea Dunbar. The group invested about $450,000 into the business to become one of the first of a trending wave of new businesses to open in downtown Detroit for a new awakening in the city. At the time, House of Pure Vin brought business downtown and operated and took on employees in a location with a growing office-worker community of about 40,000 people within the central business district.

The newsletter continued, “Regina wants to thank you for your support directly at a later date to reflect on this journey and your unwavering support. Thank you for being part of the House of Pure Vin story. Let’s make these final weeks together unforgettable.”

According to Craine’s Detroit Business, House of Pure Vin opened its doors to be a space for experienced wine lovers and curious newbies alike, initially only offering a wine club and themed tasting events. Later, once it gained more traction, the business opened up an outdoor patio, a full bar, and a full food menu.

Although Gaines didn’t give an explicit reason for the closure, in May 2022, she admitted that the House wine business had seen a 30% decline in retail sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gaines told the outlet, “Yeah, things may seem normal in the neighborhoods, but not downtown.”

She continued to explain, “People aren’t in their offices. Even restaurants aren’t opening until 4 o’clock. There are only a few places open for lunch. Normal to me is the person taking a casual walk at lunch and stopping in [at House of Pure Vin]. It’s companies buying cases (of wine) for work parties. I’m next to a WeWork and in front of Bamboo Detroit, where a lot of people meet, and they’re just not there.”

RELATED CONTENT: Cheers To Tabitha Brown: Social Media Star Debuts Affordable Wine Collection At Target

Melvin Edwards, Sculptor, Black Resistance, Dies
Photo by Numan Gilgil: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lighted-candle-in-close-up-photography-9299394/
by Mary Spiller

December 14, 2024

Artist And Activist Lorraine O’Grady Dies At 90, Leaves Legacy Of Advocacy For Black Women In Art

O’Grady had been active in the art world since 1965.

Avant-garde and conceptual artist Lorraine O’Grady, who advocated for Black women’s perspectives in art, passed away at 90. On Dec. 13, her death was confirmed by a trust in her name and followed with a heartfelt condolence from her representing gallery, Mariane Ibrahim.

The cause of O’Grady’s death hasn’t been revealed, but gallerist Mariane Ibrahim took to Instagram to express her admiration for all of O’Grady’s activist work through her art. She wrote, “Lorraine O’Grady was a force to be reckoned with. She refused to be labeled or limited, embracing the multiplicity of history that reflected her identity and life’s journey. Lorraine paved a path for artists and women artists of color, to forge critical and confident pathways between art and forms of writing.”

Ibrahim continued to reflect on O’Grady’s art legacy, “Our lives, though shaped by different histories, mirrored in ways that connected each other. Her legacy will live on, a force that continues to echo through everything she created, touching all who encounter her work with the same power and depth she embodied.”

O’Grady was born to Jamaican immigrant parents in Boston in 1934, where she gained a degree in economics and Spanish literature at Wellesley College. She worked government office jobs before she stepped into the creative art world in 1965 as a member of the Iowa Writers Workshop. Soon after, she met and married her husband, Chappelle Freeman Jr., and moved to Chicago with him.

In the late 1970s, after doing a lot of work as a teacher and critic, she decided to officially pursue her career as an artist.
One of her most well-known and moving pieces came early in her career with “Cutting Out the New York Times,” in 1977, where she transformed NYT newspaper clippings into critiques of contemporary society.

O’Grady’s career began to take shape and was most well defined by her constant commitment to challenging oppressive narratives around race, gender, and class and the intersection between the three. She expressed her activism across mediums, including photography, writing, performance, and collage. O’Grady leveraged art to make meaningful cultural criticism in unique ways.

According to Art News, she favored analysis of feminism, surrealism, and the representation of Black women in art pieces. O’Grady used her talent to critique harmful systems of power in America and fought for more widely accepted inclusion of Black artists in galleries.

In the years leading up to her passing, O’Grady’s work was published and featured by Duke University Press and the Brooklyn Museum in 2022. More recently, Ibrahim announced that O’Grady would have her work presented in a major exhibition in Chicago in April 2024, titled “The Knight, or Lancela Palm-and-Steel.”

O’Grady is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Guy David Jones and Annette Olbert Jones, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

RELATED CONTENT: Salaam Remi Curates MuseZeuM Grand Puba and MC Lyte Art Unveiling At Art Basel

Black judges, judges, Biden
(Jupiterimages, Creatas Images/Getty Images)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 14, 2024

President Biden Breaks Record For Appointing Most Judges Of Color

Biden has appointed 40 Black women to lifetime federal judgeships, surpassing any president in a single term.

President Joe Biden appointed 233 federal judges during his presidency, many of whom are people of color. This marks a historic milestone as the first president to nominate the highest number of judges of color.

NBC News reports that on Dec. 9, the Senate confirmed Tiffany Johnson, President Biden’s latest judicial nominee for the Northern District of Georgia. This marks the 40th Black woman he has appointed to lifetime federal judgeships, surpassing any president in a single term.

Data from the White House reveals that approximately 60% of President Biden’s 233 judicial appointees are people of color. On Dec. 12, the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to consider advancing two additional nominees for U.S. district judge, Benjamin Cheeks and Serena Raquel Murillo. According to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, if Cheeks is confirmed, Biden will have appointed 63 Black federal judges—the highest number by any president in U.S. history.

It’s an accomplishment Biden doesn’t take in vain and is “proud to have strengthened the judiciary by making it more representative of the country as a whole and that legacy will have an impact for decades to come,” White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt wrote in an email statement.

Upon taking office in 2020, President Biden was committed to addressing disparities in the judiciary and making the federal bench more representative of the nation’s diversity.

“Even before taking office, President Biden signaled to the Senate that he wanted to make sure that people who had been historically excluded from our judiciary” were included, said Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the Fair Courts program and an adviser at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Biden is tied with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton with 62 Black federal judge appointees but is set to surpass them after the next Senate Judiciary Committee meeting.

“The research shows that when you have more judges that have different perspectives because they’ve worked on different types of issues or they come from different communities, it improves the decision-making and it certainly improves the trust that communities might have in these institutions. So making sure we have fair-minded judges at all levels is really important.”

Senate Democrats pledged to confirm as many of President Biden’s nominees as possible before Republicans take control of the Senate in January and Trump’s administration begins.

“This Senate will keep working to confirm more of President Biden’s excellent judicial nominees,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tweeted last month.

RELATED CONTENT: Biden Names 2 Black Female Judges In 41st Round Of Judicial Nominees

vince carter, Buffalo Bills
photo credit: Danny Bollinger, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 14, 2024

Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady Become Minority Owners Of Buffalo Bills

The Hall of Fame players were teammates on the Toronto Raptors.

Two NBA Hall of Famers are now part of an NFL ownership group. According to the Buffalo Bills, former Toronto Raptors teammates Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are two of 10 limited partners approved to join the team’s ownership group.

Tracy McGrady released a statement on social media stating it was “a dream come true for me and my family” to become part of the Buffalo Bills ownership group.

“I’m excited to share that I’ve joined the Buffalo Bills organization as a minority owner—a dream come true for me and my family,” McGrady said. “Sports have been a lifelong passion, and the chance to contribute to such a top-tier organization is a true honor. After meeting the Pegulas, understanding their vision, embracing their values, and sharing their commitment to winning, this decision felt natural. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this journey.”

Carter also released a statement thanking the Pegula family (owners of the Bills) for the opportunity to be a part of the team.

“It’s a huge honor to join this historic Bills organization,” Carter said in a statement. “I’m truly thankful the Pegula family has given me the opportunity to help the franchise continue to grow and thrive in player growth, community service, and, of course, winning the Lombardi trophy. See you soon, Bills Mafia!!!!”

McGrady and Carter join Rob Palumbo, Sue McCollum, Theresia Gouw, Rob Ward, Mike Joo, Tom Burger, Jozy Altidore, and the private investment firm Arctos.

RELATED CONTENT: FORMER NBA PLAYER VINCE CARTER ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE VINCE CARTER SCHOLARSHIP AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Saxon|Ye, Kanye
Kanye "Ye" West in 2016 (Photo: Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic)
by Kandiss Edwards

December 14, 2024

Ye Loses Wrongful Termination Suit By Default Judgment

Isaiah Meadows said he was fired for bringing attention to issues plaguing the schools.

Superior Court Judge Christopher K. Lui has given Isaiah Meadows a default judgment in his wrongful termination lawsuit against Kanye “Ye” West’s Christian school, Donda Academy LLC., Complex reports.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lui reached the decision after Ye and the other defendants named in the suit—Yeezy Christian Academy, Donda Services LLC, and Strokes Canyon LLC—failed to appear for the hearing with licensed attorneys.

Meadows said he was terminated as retaliation for bringing awareness to the issues plaguing the school, including water soaking into the facility’s floors.

In 2020, Meadows relocated to Los Angeles to work for the academy. He was offered a $165,000 salary and payment for accommodations in the expensive Calabasas area.

Meadows’ claimed Ye paid for housing for 3 months before halting payment. The ex-employee said after he brought awareness to the school’s health concerns, he was demoted—and his pay was significantly decreased.

Ye’s attorneys filed a motion with the court denying allegations.

Since Ye did not appear or send counsel, all statements issued on Ye’s behalf in the case have been stricken from the legal record.

Ye’s legal woes continue. Multiple former educators at the private Christian school, including Trevor Phillips, filed suit against the hip-hop impresario on April 4, alleging Ye showed a pattern of discrimination against Black employees.

In the filing, Phillips alleges,” Ye compared himself to Hitler—“minus the gas chambers”—and appeared to simulate masturbation during a one-on-one meeting in a Southern California hotel room,” NBC reported.

Phillips also alleged Kanye was aggressive and hostile toward Black employees, but spoke to white employees with respect. The case is set to go to trial in April 2025.

RELATED CONTENT: Kanye West Sued For Discrimination Against Black Employees

Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown of the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team poses for a portrait on August 17, 2019 at The Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 14, 2024

Jaylen Brown Introduces Luxury Athleisure Line 741

'This collection represents the intersection of luxury and performance.'

Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown announces athleisure brand 741 after turning down $50 million in endorsement deals.

The self-funded brand includes menswear and womenswear, which includes a variety of items. In the 741 collection, you can find puffer coats, hoodies, sweatsuits, leggings, crop tops, t-shirts, gloves, hats, backpacks, and more.

“This collection represents the intersection of luxury and performance,” said Jaylen Brown in a written statement. “It’s not just about looking good—it’s about feeling great and performing at your best. 741 is a reflection of who I am, both as an athlete and as someone who’s passionate about pushing boundaries, and I’m set to do this in both sports and fashion.”

Brown designed the 741 Performance collection, with each item made from premium fabrics offering superior comfort, flexibility, and durability. It was made for those who enjoy stylish designs, live an active, fast-paced lifestyle, and want to feel confident and comfortable during athletic activities or just out on the streets.

In discussions with Entrepreneur and Sports Illustrated, Brown admitted that the late Kobe Bryant inspired him to create his line.

“Honestly, I got the idea from Kobe [Bryant], rest in peace. Before he passed away, he was planning to launch his own shoe brand, sign athletes, and give them better deals and percentages. I remember reading an article about that, and I thought it was dope. I’ve gone through my own experiences dealing with major corporations and how they value your creativity and how they value you. I met with every brand, and none of them stood out. They all kind of approach things the same. I was looking for the brand of the future, not the brand of the past. And I couldn’t find it, so I had to start it.”

The collection will be available through select pop-up events and exclusive retail partnerships in the future.

You can find the 741 Performance collection at www.741performance.com.

RELATED CONTENT: JAYLEN BROWN’S 7UICE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO BRIDGE GAPS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH

Corey Lowery, Texas Southern University, protests, Seton Hall University,
(Photo: Markus Spiske/Pexels)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 13, 2024

Players Health Insurance Startup For Young Athletes Raises $60M In Series C Funding

Tyree Burks' Players Health insurance raised an additional $60 million in Series C funding.

A Black-owned insurance startup catering to young athletes has secured an additional $60 million in funding, bringing its total investment to $100 million.

Minneapolis-based Players Health secured its Series C funding with a lead investment from New York-based Bluestone Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in sports, media, and entertainment.

Additional backing came from Mosaic General Partners, RPM Ventures, SiriusPoint, and TriplePoint Capital, the St. Paul Business Journal reports.

Founder and CEO Tyree Burks shared that the funding will be used to enhance the company’s AI-powered products, pursue additional mergers and acquisitions, expand the team, and broaden Players Health’s presence across the nation.

Founded in 2015, Players Health began as a platform to track injuries and allergies for youth sports athletes before expanding into insurance services for sports leagues. Over its nine years in operation, the company has onboarded over 5.5 million young athletes and boasts a client list that includes boutique fitness franchise Orangetheory, the American Youth Soccer Organization, and USA Softball, the national governing body for over 150,000 softball teams nationwide. Players Health also offers insurance coverage for kindergarten through 12th-grade school athletes.

Raised by a single mother on the south side of Chicago, Burks credits sports with transforming his life, leading him to Winona State and, eventually, the Canadian Football League. However, a series of injuries disrupted his athletic career, which inspired him to explore ways to improve youth sports.

In 2012, Burks launched a sports communication app before transitioning to focus on player safety. To grow his company, he relocated from Chicago to Minneapolis to join an accelerator program hosted by Minnesota-based sports tech company SportsEngine.

“I didn’t have a business model. I had an idea, and I refused to give up,” Burks told Twin Cities Business in 2022.

His current success came with initial setbacks and hurdles, including hiring a developer who didn’t deliver, raising money too early, and downplaying his mission in the early days.

“I was timid in the beginning—I didn’t want to be perceived as a heart-led leader who didn’t understand economics. Fundraising got easier when I went all in on the mission.”

As part of the investment, Walker Brumskine and Jake Harris from Bluestone Equity Partners will join the Players Health board of directors.

RELATED CONTENT: How Olympic Gold Medallist Sanya Richards-Ross Is Helping Black Moms Through Mommi Nation

ludacris, Rock the country, MAGA, Kid Rock
(Photo: Derek White/Getty Images)
by Kandiss Edwards

December 13, 2024

Ludacris Mistakenly Thought He Was ‘Incognegro’ At Jury Duty

Ludacris really believed a fellow Atlanta resident didn’t recognize him!

On Dec. 11, Christoper “Ludacris” Bridges attempted to go incognito at jury duty in Fulton County, Georgia, and he failed.

The Fast and Furious star posted a video on his Instagram account of him walking with another jury member. Ludicrous explained to his followers that he had been dismissed from service. While his face was not visible, as it was covered in a mask, his voice was apparent. The rapper-turned-actor lamented that if he had been chosen, he would have “showed up” taking his civic responsibilities seriously.

He said, ”We didn’t get chosen for jury duty, but if we did, we would have. We would’ve shown up and showed out.”

The Area Codes rapper believed the juror had no knowledge of his identity. It is safe to say he was wrong as she quickly named the famous artist.

“Don’t nobody know who I am,” he declared.

The juror quickly responded, “You Ludacris.”

The rapper and Atlanta resident continued to deny his identity and banter about his uncanny appearance to himself. He even joked about joining a “look-alike” contest to win a few bucks.

The unnamed woman went along with Bridges’s proclamation but didn’t seem fully convinced, stating, “Yeah, sure,” at the rapper’s continued denial.

Social media users found Ludacris’s belief in anonymity humorous. The actor has an over two-decade-long career. He released his first rap album, “Word Of Mouf,” in 2003. The megastar has lived in and boisterously claimed Atlanta as his home since his debut. The rapper’s distinct voice and face have been a staple in eight Fast and Furious films, a franchise that has grossed over $7 billion at the box office.

Recently, Bridges received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, highlighting his lengthy career and many accomplishments.

His presence in Hollywood is solidified. He was honored with speeches from his famous peers, Vin Diesel, LL Cool J, and his daughter, Karma Bridges.

Ludacris expressed his heartfelt thanks to his fans, letting them know that their support is why his career thrives.

RELATED CONTENT: Ludacris Hosts ‘Welcome To Atlanta’ Summer Sendoff, Allowing Guests To Rent Out His Mansion

Don Lemon|
Don Lemon attends "The 15th Annual CNN Heroes: All-Star Tribute" at the American Museum of Natural History on December 12|2021 in New York City. (Photo: Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 13, 2024

Don Lemon Asks Time Magazine ‘What Are You Doing?’ Naming Donald Trump ‘Person Of The Year’

We hear you, Don!

Former CNN host Don Lemon isn’t feeling Time Magazine selecting President-elect Donald Trump as “Person of the Year,” The Hill reports.

The host of “The Don Lemon Show” feels Trump shouldn’t have been given the recognition for the second time — the first being in 2016 — and asked the publication, “What are you doing?” “If they wanted to make someone person of the year, I don’t know, they could have done it to anyone. They could’ve done it to someone who actually stood for democracy, who stands for democracy in the country,” he said. 

“Now you think about what encompasses person of the year; just because you are elected President of the United States does not mean you should be a person of the year. What, Time Magazine, what are you doing?” 

The magazine dropped on Dec. 12 after Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. According to Fox News, the publication wrote that Trump completely restructured the “course of politics.” “Since he began running for President in 2015, perhaps no single individual has played a larger role in changing the course of politics and history than Trump,” the publication wrote. 

“Trump is once again at the center of the world, and in as strong a position as he has ever been.”

However, after months of criminal investigations, including attempts to overturn the 2020 election and badgering Vice President Kamala Harris, a Time finalist, Lemon ripped into the publication over its decision. “You have someone who inspired an insurrection. You have someone who — without a doubt, the evidence is there — tried to overturn a free and fair election. You have someone who had multiple criminal counts and was found guilty on multiple criminal counts. And you name them Person of the Year,” he said.

“Is this a joke? Did we get something wrong? Did someone scam us? Are we sure about this, producers? There is a convicted felon on the cover of Time Magazine as the Person of the Year. Maybe we’re being scammed. Did someone put out a fake tweet or something about this? I don’t know.” 

The profile even touched on the 2020 election results, highlighting how Trump’s “first term ended in disgrace, with his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results culminating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol,” but labeled his political path to the presidency as “unparalleled in American history.”

Other controversial Time finalists include 2021 Person of the Year billionaire Elon Musk, podcaster Joe Rogan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Trump and Lemon have been long-time critics of each other. In 2023, the indicted businessman cheered CNN’s decision to fire Lemon, but that didn’t stop the media personality from rebuking Trump’s rhetoric during the 2024 election cycle.

RELATED CONTENT: Don Lemon Calls Out Elon Musk For Fraud And Breach Of Contract In $1.5M Lawsuit

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