New Jersey Black Women’s Collective To Graduate Leadership Institute’s Inaugural Class
March 16 to June 8, participants engaged in 14 sessions that included a leadership assessment, presentations, workshop, and lectures.
The New Jersey Black Women’s Collective (NJBWC) and Mercer County Community College are set to celebrate the inaugural graduating cohort of its groundbreaking Leadership Institute on June 8.
Launched in March, the leadership program was meticulously designed to equip emerging leaders with the essential skills and strategies required to confront real-time issues and thrive across various sectors. From March 16 to June 8, participants engaged in 14 sessions led by Melody M. Fogarty, Managing Partner and Chief Business Strategist of Dakota Gray, LLC. The comprehensive curriculum encompassed high-level course instruction from Mercer County Community College, including a leadership assessment, presentations, networking lunches, workshops, lectures, and panel discussions on topics spanning leadership, organizational culture, and personal development. Additional sessions explored wellness, incorporating sound baths, Tai Chi, and other holistic practices.
Notably, the program featured Black women executives, senior leaders, and guest speakers who were presenters and experts in diverse fields, including entertainment, business and finance, education, law, politics, science, and technology.
“The level of energy and enthusiasm in each session exceeded my wildest expectations,” Tennille McCoy, co-founder of NJBWC, said, according to ROI–NJ. “Our ultimate goal was not only for these women to achieve success and meet expectations but also to leave the program with authentic relationships and practical strategies to navigate real-world challenges. We wanted to ignite a fire within them that would continue to burn long after the program’s conclusion.”
The Leadership Institute’s inaugural cohort includes Brianna Armstead, Latonya Ashford Ligon, Charise Breeden-Balaam, Risikat Busari, Latoya Cargeor, Rachel Dortch, Gabriel Douglas, Shamara Gatling-Davila, Jacqueline Heads, Sherida Hinckson, Candice Jackson Long, Danielle M. Jones, Darcell Q. Medley-Stokes, Donna Maywar, Shatiera Porte’e and Stefanie Williams Carthan.
The graduation day festivities will commence with a capstone presentation at 9:30 a.m. and a brunch and ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Trenton Country Club in West Trenton. The event is open to the public.
The Leadership Institute costs $1,000, and sponsorship opportunities are available.
LeBron James Congratulates First College Grad From His I Promise School
The LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with Kent State to offer the first class of I Promise School students free tuition.
LeBron James is expressing his congratulations to the first student from his I Promise School to graduate from college. Anthony Claytor made history for the athlete’s school in Akron.
LeBron took to X to share his excitement for the young man’s profound achievement.
CONGRATULATIONS ANTHONY!!!! SO PROUD OF YOU YOUNG 🤴🏾!!!!!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🫡 https://t.co/eHFlIVwOXZ
“Congratulations, Anthony,” shared the father of three. “So proud of you, young [king].”
Claytor took part in a program at Kent State where the first class of I Promise students would receive free tuition to its university, alongside a year of room and board. Regarding his accomplishments, the LeBron James Family Foundation also released a video that spoke to Claytor’s success.
“I was honestly very surprised…I never thought that I would be able to go to Kent State,” expressed the 21-year-old, who graduated early. “The promise I made to myself when I accepted this scholarship was to become a better individual, to finish college so that I can live a better lifestyle. SO far, I believe I kept this promise.”
The I Promise School’s mission is to “positively affect the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational initiatives,” as detailed on its website. The school provides “wraparound support” to its students while providing family resources and promoting character-building as part of the learning environment. Students also receive free meals, tuition, uniforms, a bicycle, and transportation within two miles of the school’s campus.
The school opened in 2018 to help school-age children from underserved backgrounds in James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio. Parents of accepted and attending students also gain support from job placement services to obtain their GEDs.
While Claytor is the first in this legacy of college graduates from I Promise, he hopes others follow suit. With his new degree in criminology and justice studies, he aspires to become a Secret Service agent.
Critics Say the ‘White Fortresses’ of Georgia And Louisiana Perpetuate Modern-Day Segregation
A deeper look is being taken into the rising number of "white fortresses" in Louisiana and Georgia.
Following the Louisiana Supreme Court’s allowing for a new predominantly white city to be built outside East Baton Rouge Parish, a deeper look is being taken into the rising number of “white fortresses” in the Bayou State and Georgia.
Last month, clearance was put in place for the new city of St. George, Louisiana, which would take 100,000 people from East Baton Rouge Parish to form the new wealthier and whiter city with a Black population of just 12%, Bloomberg reports. Considering East Baton Rouge Parish’s 47.2% Black population, the formation of St. George presents itself as a secession of sorts that highlights a form of modern-day segregation.
It’s estimated that the new city of St. George will divert $48.3 million in annual tax revenue from East Baton Rouge Parish, accounting for nearly 8% of the parish’s total tax revenue.
The findings highlight how seceded cities can take resources from the predominantly Black communities they leave behind, in a process known as “white fortressing.” These white fortresses are often able to further their pre-existing advantages by constraining resources to the left-behind underrepresented areas in the form of public school funding, access to local revenue, and zoning control.
Those in support of St. George’s formation say it’s a long time coming for residents who reportedly have yet to get a return on the taxes they contributed to East Baton Rouge Parish.
“St. George’s taxpayers provide two-thirds of the revenue to the East Baton Rouge Parish government with only one-third of that government’s expense in return. Incorporating a city would reverse this unjust circumstance to an extent,” St. George’s website states.
In Georgia, 11 new predominantly affluent white communities have been formed around Metro Atlanta since 2005, moves that appear to be in response to the city’s majority-Black/nonwhite counties. Last month, voting was done to approve the formation of Mulberry, a wealthy, majority-white community in Gwinnett County located in the northern suburbs just above Atlanta.
When these white fortresses are created, the underrepresented communities they break away from tend to have little to no say. In the new cities formed in both Louisiana and Georgia, only citizens within the proposed new city get to vote by referendum, despite the taxes that would be taken away from the surrounding community.
The white fortressing points to modern-day forms of white flight that have shaped American cities for decades as a result of desegregation in a racist post-slavery America. The consequences of these practices typically impact underserved communities by negatively impacting the health and wealth-building opportunities for generations.
Meanwhile, St George acknowledges the loss in funding East Baton Rouge Parish would receive as a result of the new city’s formation. Opponents of white fortressing advocate for greater transparency regarding the revenue it diverts from disenfranchised communities. They argue that this form of opportunity hoarding worsens modern-day segregation, further establishing existing racial and socioeconomic inequities.
When it comes to Juneteenth, what colors should we rock?
Certain holidays are often celebrated by donning signature colors: red at Valentine’s, orange and black for Halloween, and red, white, and blue for those celebrating the fourth of July.
So, when it comes to Juneteenth, what colors should we rock?
The history and significance of Juneteenth’s colors includes dual perspectives that coincide with two different Juneteenth flags, says Laquan Austion, founder and CEO of The Juneteenth Foundation.
“There are two flags which most folks know: red, white and blue, designed to take after the traditional American flag,” Austion told BLACK ENTERPRISE, and “the traditional Pan-African flag, which is red, black, and green. The community wanted to make sure we were tapping into our African ancestral roots and the importance of red, representing blood; black, representing soil; and green, representing prosperity of our native roots in Africa.”
Red, White, and Blue To Honor American Tradition
The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), which includes hundreds of local organizations, was instrumental in the passage of Juneteenth Independence Day legislation. Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth recognizes the emancipation of America’s enslaved community. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
NJOF shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE a 2020 CNN article that describes the original Juneteenth flag as a “banner with a bursting star in the middle,” which is “a symbolic representation of the end of slavery in the United States.” The flag was conceptualized in the late 1990s by activist Ben Haith, with the help of collaborators, and Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf, who brought their vision to life.
In the article, Haith said the red, white, and blue colors represent the American flag: “a reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.” Yet, as African Americans daily continue the fight for justice and equality, Haith added, “those colors symbolize the continuous commitment of people in the United States to do better — and to live up to the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.”
Additionally, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinelarticle reports that “the blue is above the red” on the original Juneteenth flag “because the red represents the ground soaked with blood from all those who came before us and fought for freedom.”
Red, Black and Green To Honor African Roots
Austion said he tips his hat to NJOF leaders, who have been in the fight for Juneteenth “before it was relevant and before it was popular in the nation,” as they’ve focused on the policy aspect of making Juneteenth the nation’s most recent federally-legislated holiday. “A very special shoutout to Ms. Opal Lee, the grandmother of Juneteenth.”
Simultaneously, his organization, The National Juneteenth Foundation, is focused on the future of Juneteenth and how folks and communities can engage now. The organization does this in three ways: focusing on the need for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, including an annual hybrid career fair; supporting HBCU students through scholarships; and lastly, ensuring Black Americans celebrate Juneteenth in our own ways, including the Foundation’s 3rd Annual Freedom Festival on June 14 in Washington, D.C.
“On St. Patty’s, the community is out wearing traditional Irish colors: green and white. We should represent our community the same way on Juneteenth – wear that black, red, and green,” Austion said. “Paint those nails, do that hair. I’m gonna have on a fresh shirt and fly shoes. Make sure that we represent our colors to remind the community when you’re out and about, that today is Juneteenth and it’s a representation of our community and our special day.”
Juneteenth: A Colorful History To Be Celebrated
No matter which colors you rock or which flags you fly, Austion encourages all to do it with style and with pride.
“I encourage folks to use both flags. They both have significant prominence in communities,” he said. “The Pan-African flag obviously has a lot of historical roots to Africa, and the red, white, and blue flag that takes after the American flag is also really significant as well, because folks were brought here and freed here in our nation to purse their American dream.”
Black Workers Claim Racists Ran General Mills Plant In Lawsuit
The lawsuit mentions two white managers who are responsible for creating 'an organization of white employees in management and human resources called the Good Ole Boys.'
The lawsuit contains several allegations, including favoritism of white employees over Black employees, disproportionately disciplining Black employees, and the maintenance of a racist mural inspired by leaders of the Confederacy.
As CNN reports, the lawsuit mentions two white managers who are responsible for creating “an organization of white employees in management and human resources called the ‘Good Ole Boys.’” In addition, the lawsuit claims that “The ‘Good Ole Boys’ believe that history and symbols that have been co-opted or misappropriated by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist hate groups are useful to keep Black people ‘in their place’ and discourage Black people from speaking or taking action against the disparate treatment of Black employees at the Covington facility.”
Eight Black employees sued General Mills, accusing it of discrimination at a Georgia plant led by white managers. A complaint filed on June 2 said managers at the Covington plant favor whites for promotions over more qualified Blacks https://t.co/KdG5IvHbs0pic.twitter.com/SzsiyijV8h
Other incidents include a Black employee, plaintiff Keith McClinton, claiming that “KKK,” shorthand for Ku Klux Klan, had been etched into his lunchbox. When McClinton brought that to the managers’ attention, he was subjected to a handwriting test to prove he didn’t write it himself.
According to the lawsuit, “egregious incidents of racism have gone ignored by local and corporate HR” since the 1980s, and the lawsuit alleges that employees in human resources would reveal the identities of employees who made anonymous allegations of misconduct, which resulted in workplace retaliation from the managers.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking compensatory and punitive damages for themselves and hundreds of Black employees who have worked at the plant and would like a trial by jury to settle the matter.
According to General Mills’ website, the company expressly forbids discrimination and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The company released a statement to CNN that it “has a long-standing and ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
Recently, as One Green Planet reported, General Mills was the subject of calls from Consumer Reports to eliminate plastic chemicals from its food products, culminating in a petition signed by 30,000 people being delivered to its Golden Valley, Minnesota, headquarters.
In February, Consumer Reports sent a letter to Jeffrey R. Harmening, chairman and CEO of General Mills, warning about the levels of plasticizers in its products.
The Meaning Of Juneteenth – A Blast From The Past That Somehow Escaped Us
Originally Published June 10, 2023
June 19th commemorates the day that all enslaved Black Americans in a Texas town learned that they were free. BLACK ENTERPRISE honors this day by remembering the heroism of those who came before us and the story of how this day came to be.The history leading to Juneteenth is long and fraught with tragedy that cannot be unwritten. But, as racism and prejudice exist today, it is important to commemorate the legacy and resilience of those who endured oppression and evolved a history into a fully developed holiday that celebrates freedom and Black liberation.
Enslaved Black Americans awaited a future free of bondage for themselves and their descendants, envisioning a life filled with promise and opportunities rather than pain and suffering. On January 1, 1863, these dreams came to fruition with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, an official decree that all enslaved people were free. Black Americans rejoiced, traveling to announce the news. However, this was not everyone’s story.
The Proclamation was limited in its scope. It only applied to states that seceded from the United States, leaving border states unaffected. It also failed to impact Southern secessionist states already under Northern control. The Emancipation Proclamation was, at its core, a war measure to ensure the Confederacy’s readmission into the Union. Its implementation was to force the Confederacy’s hand and liberate those enslaved in the region. The Union had to win the Civil War to enforce the total abolishment of slavery.
But on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers marched into Galveston Bay in Confederate-controlled Texas, announcing their victory and enforcing the manumission of over 200,000 enslaved people, freeing them from subjugation. Juneteenth was born.
Many consider Texas the birthplace of the holiday. Juneteenth, a portmanteau combining the words June and nineteenth, was first celebrated in the state in 1866, one year after the complete abolition of slavery. Following emancipation, many formerly-enslaved Texans focused on locating long-lost relatives and improving their quality of life. To observe the shift in the tide, they held prayer meetings, sang spirituals, and donned new clothes to signify their newfound liberation.
Some revelers made it a custom to travel to Galveston annually to honor the day. Others created new traditions, like rodeos and horseback riding, in celebration. Many newly freed Black Americans were taught about voting rights. Soon, these traditions spread to nearby states like Mississippi and Louisiana, and eventually, the holiday evolved into what we know it to be today. A day of religious services, speeches, educational events, music, and food festivals, Juneteenth is now a largely recognized festivity.
Juneteenth’s significance has escaped many African Americans, as it was unknown to Black Americans outside of the Texas region and surrounding Southern states. Juneteenth was not a formally recognized holiday in Texas until 1980. And, it is not uncommon for Northerners to be unfamiliar with the concept entirely.
During the country’s Reconstruction Era, the commemoration of the day was hindered by white southerners’ efforts to glorify the Antebellum period, with the remembrance of slavery reserved for their fallen Confederate brethren. Despite even this, Black Americans still sought to honor and remember a victory over their oppressors. But as the years continued, war and racial violence further scarred the sanctity of the holiday until, by the 1930s and 1940s, celebrations began to dwindle.
With conflicting recollections of the Civil War, the horrors of slavery, and public unrest grew, support for Juneteenth lessened. Eventually, Black Americans opted to honor their traditions in private gatherings. There was little improvement in how Juneteenth was celebrated in the wake of the Civil Rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. However, the country would witness a large resurgence of Juneteenth celebrations in the 1970s as many Black Americans sought to reclaim their heritage, including their emancipation. But, throughout the South, it always remained a fixture in Black America’s legacy.
Juneteenth celebrations differ from household to household. For many who grew up in Texas, celebrating Juneteenth was a tradition in the home. You could even find families wandering around Fort Worth’s Martin Luther King Junior Center, listening to retellings of what occurred that fateful day.
Opal Lee is an activist who has dedicated her life to honoring the memory of the formerly-enslaved people of Texas. Lee had a vision for how the state should commemorate Juneteenth. Rather than a single day that recognized the atrocities of the past, Lee’s cause expanded into a multi-day event in Fort Worth, TX, that includes a parade, breakfast of prayer, a health and job fair, a Miss Juneteenth Pageant, a 5K run, an art exhibit, and more. Her efforts did not stop there. Lee wanted to ensure that Juneteenth became a federally recognized holiday, so, at 90 years old, she began a walking campaign. Starting small, she traveled through Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Dallas, 2.5 miles at a time. Soon, she traveled across states. Eventually, Lee covered 21 states until the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to stop. However, she witnessed the fruits of her labor on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
As Juneteenth has grown in popularity, more Americans have learned about its history. It has become a staple celebration in households throughout the country. But, while freedom was first granted to Northerners, the South carried the torch and legacy of Juneteenth.
Jemele Hill Compares Angel Reese/Caitlin Clark Rivalry To Magic Johnson/Larry Bird’s
The sports journalist feels that both rivalries re-energized their leagues.
The rivalry of WNBA rookies, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, which started during their college days, has summoned memories of another collegiate rivalry that jumpstarted interest in the NBA in the 1980s.
Sports journalist Jemele Hill likened the ladies’ comparison to the one between Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird, who had a fierce rivalry when they played at Michigan State University and Indiana State University, respectively.
Interest in the WNBA has been at its strongest since the league started in 1997, and many have attributed that to the emergence of Clark, who was picked number one in the recent draft. Although the league has been around for almost 30 years, just like the NBA in the 1980s, there was renewed interest right after Clark and Reese entered the WNBA.
Hill appeared on TMZ and mentioned the women’s rivalry spilling from the college ranks and entering the WNBA in the same way Magic and Bird’s interaction laid the groundwork for their rivalry to reach another height in the NBA.
“Caitlin Clark was certainly surging in popularity before she and Angel Reese crossed paths,” she said “But the moment Angel Reese did the [you can’t see me gesture], this rivalry and the conversation around them both went to a completely different level.”
The two women met in the NCAA playoffs two straight years. Reese and LSU bested Clark and Indiana in 2023 on their way to taking home the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. Earlier this year, the teams matched up in the semifinals, with Iowa beating LSU.
Indiana lost to the eventual unbeaten champions, the University of South Carolina.
“That’s why Larry Bird and Magic Johnson is an appropriate comparison. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had the most watched men’s national championship game in history. I believe they still have the record.” Hill said. “They brought all of that with them to the NBA. They had a rivalry from that game and brought all that to the NBA.”
Nike Announces Kobe 4 ‘Girl Dad’ Shoe In Time For Father’s Day
The colorway symbolizes Kobe's legacy as a "Girl Dad."
Sneakerheads who have a doting daughter in your life, this new shoe may be for you. Nike has announced its Kobe 4 “Girl Dad” shoe right in time for Father’s Day.
The specialty shoe is the fourth Kobe signature sneaker with Nike, which relaunched the brand in August 2023. The Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” colorway takes inspiration from the bicoastal green beanie worn by Bryant while out at a 2019 NBA Game with Gigi. It also features a chrome heel clip and metallic silver branding, completing its shiny design with an icy outsole.
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) May 24, 2024
“This special edition of the Kobe 4 Protro pulls inspiration from a courtside moment shared between Kobe and Gigi,” detailed the Nike website. “With ‘Girl Dad’”’ printed on the inner tongue and a total orange insole inspired by Kobe’s support of women’s basketball and the WNBA hoodie he was wearing, this meaningful rendition invites you to celebrate the power of Girl Dads everywhere.”
Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter died in a helicopter accident in January 2020. The father-daughter frequently sat court-side at NBA games, as Bryant also coached the second-eldest child and her basketball team. Upon their deaths, the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation was created to support underserved boy and girl athletes.
Upon the relaunch of the Kobe Brand, Nike has also sought to uplift his legacy in basketball. Moreover, this latest sneaker also symbolizes his dedication to empowering women in the sport. His pride in being a girl dad now lives on in this special edition shoe.
The Kobe 4 shoe represents the late athlete’s fatherhood and his shared love with Gigi for basketball. Nike continues to commemorate his impact in basketball through their rollout, with additional shoes scheduled for release.
The shoe officially drops on June 7 via the Nike SNKRS website and app. Fans of the sports legend and Girl Dads alike can purchase the performance sneaker for $190 in adult sizes.
Whiteness Strikes At Graduation As Dad Deads Daughter’s Handshake With Black Superintendent
'I don't want him touching her,' the man is heard saying.
A Wisconsin high school has filed disorderly conduct charges against a white father who got physical to stop his daughter from shaking the hand of a Black superintendent during a graduation ceremony.
The father, whose name was withheld to protect the student, was escorted out of Baraboo High School’s graduation on Friday, May 31, after he stormed the stage while his daughter stepped up to accept her diploma.
The student’s father, who wore a white polo shirt and a baseball cap, the grabbed Briggs by his right arm and pushed him away.
“That’s my daughter,” he could be heard saying.
“You better get up off me, man,” Briggs replied. “Get away from me, bro.”
This wild af!!!!
A District Superintendent was pushed away from congratulating a student graduating the Baraboo High School
Turns out the person was the girls father & the reason he did it was because he didn’t want her touching him pic.twitter.com/FhAS1OTNO2
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) June 5, 2024
School staff stepped in, along with three Baraboo police officers and a school resource officer, to escort the man off the stage and out of the building.
“I don’t want her touching him,” the man could be heard saying.
There appeared to be no issue when the student shook the hands of School Board President Kevin Vodak, board members Gwynne Peterson, Katie Kalish, and Amy DeLong, and Baraboo High School Principal Steve Considine. However, when the student approached Briggs, the only Black faculty member on the stage, the disgruntled father stormed the stage.
District spokesperson Hailey Wagner said a disorderly conduct charge for the man was sent to the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office.
“We would like to emphasize that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members is a top priority,” Wagner said.
According to WISC NEWS, there have been complaints about Briggs and other administrators from the school board and residents. Many community members want Vodak recalled before his possible re-election next spring.
Association Of African American Financial Advisors To Hold Inaugural Networking Conference For Women Of Color In Wealth Management
The WIIN conference will focus on professional development and building opportunities along with combating racial and gender inequities.
On Juneteenth, the Association of African American Financial Advisors, or Quad-A (AAAA), will launch the Women’s Impact Initiative Network (WIIN), a two-day networking and educational conference in Chicago.
WIIN’s inception is a direct response to the glaring underrepresentation of women in the wealth management arena of the financial services industry.
Fueled by the industry’s longstanding gender imbalances and the pressing need for a more diverse and inclusive workforce that promotes shared equity and inclusivity, the AAAA stated that WIIN’s goal is to revolutionize the industry’s landscape and pave the way for Black/African American women, especially in wealth management. Through its empowering environment, continuous learning opportunities, and collaborative spirit, this network seeks to open new doors for women of color.
According to the conference agenda, attendees can look forward to forging connections while immersing themselves in a diverse range of sessions on June 19 and 20. The conference will delve into women advisors, cultivating a supportive professional network, leveraging connections to boost net worth, investment and estate planning strategies, retirement planning, the latest fintech advancements and digital assets, and achieving work-life balance as a high-powered career woman and mother.
Shaakira N. Mason-Holloway, Market Director/Executive Director, JP Morgan Wealth Management
Linda Reeves, Business Development Director, Merrill Lynch
Sheena Gray, Quad-A’s interim CEO, told Think Advisor that the group collaborates with its corporate partners and various stakeholders. Their joint efforts include the WIIN project and other initiatives that directly align with and propel the organization’s mission.
“We love all our allies,” Gray said. “They’ll be in the building, too, so this conference is about women, but it’s not just for women.”
Alex David, the interim board chairman, emphasized the conference’s multi-focus on professional development, building opportunities, and combating racial and gender inequities. “When we have these conferences, any advisor who happens to stumble into this conference is going to be able to hone their craft,” David said.
Select attendees will be granted access to a special evening event on June 19 featuring the legendary Janet Jackson.
