• News

by Stacy Jackson

April 22, 2024

12-Year-Old Jaylen Griffin’s Body Found In Attic Near His Family’s Home

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia confirmed that the boy's body had been left in the attic for a "significant amount" of time.

---

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of 12-year-old Jaylen Griffin from New York has taken a grim turn after his dead body was discovered in an attic near his family’s home, bringing closure to a four-year-long search.

A maintenance worker stumbled upon Jaylen’s remains in the attic of a multi-unit house on 107 Sheffield Avenuey five miles away from his home. According to Daily Mail, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia confirmed that the boy’s body had been left in the attic for a “significant amount” of time and extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family.

The pre-teen’s father, Brian Griffin, now has closure since the discovery. However, his mother, Joann Ponzo, died in September 2023 due to illness and a “broken heart” without learning of her son’s fate. The family has endured unimaginable grief, as Jaylen’s brother, Jawaan, was also shot and killed in front of their home in November 2020.

The discovery has left the neighborhood grappling with questions. WIVB said neighbors witnessed activity of unfamiliar faces frequently moving in and out of the house where Jaylen’s body was found, in addition to continuous police activity.

“The search for ‘Where’s Jaylen Griffin?’ has come to a close. But now the search is ‘What happened to Jaylen Griffin?’ Who would do something like this to a 12-year-old boy?” said Pastor Tim Newkirk of GYC Ministries, who is close to the Griffin family. “How did he end up here? Was he moved? The questions are still remaining…How long was he dead? How long was he deceased? Was he found in something that was locked and had to be opened? And did a certain aroma come out that would be a major complaint to this community? This looks like the type of community where if anything is taking place, somebody will report it or say something.”

In a bid to unravel the truth of the discovered body, Crime Stoppers of WNY is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaylen’s killer. A candlelight vigil has been scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. to mark what would have been the young boy’s 16th birthday.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2024

‘Breaking Bad’ Stopped Giancarlo Esposito From Arranging His Own Murder For Insurance Money

Giancarlo Esposito reveals how his role in "Breaking Bad" saved his life.

---

Actor Giancarlo Esposito is opening up about the “self-annihilation” he contemplated before landing his award-winning role on the hot television show Breaking Bad.

Esposito’s ascent to new heights in his seasoned acting career with the role of Gus Fring in AMC’s Breaking Bad marked a long-awaited milestone. Before this breakout role, he was a familiar presence in early Spike Lee films such as School Daze, Do The Right Thing, and Malcolm X. His exceptional performances in movies like Fresh and The Usual Suspects underscored his versatility and talent as an actor.

However, despite having over 100 acting credits to his name dating back to the early ’80s, Esposito still found himself down and out in 2008 and contemplating gruesome ways he could help his family. The Parish star was so broke, that he considered arranging his own murder so that his four children could receive his life insurance money.

“My way out in my brain was: ‘Hey, do you get life insurance if someone commits suicide? Do they get the bread?’ My wife had no idea why I was asking this stuff,” Esposito revealed on SiriusXM’s Jim & Sam show.

“I started scheming. If I got somebody to knock me off, death by misadventure, [my kids] would get the insurance. I had four kids. I wanted them to have a life. It was a hard moment in time. I literally thought of self-annihilation so they could survive. That’s how low I was.”

Esposito credited this idea as his first thought of having “a way out” of being broke and depressed after decades in Hollywood. Thankfully, he opted out of the decision due to the “trauma” he didn’t want to inflict on his family. He also got the break he needed when he landed his iconic role on Breaking Bad, which ultimately changed his career and opened the door for roles in The Mandalorian, The Boys, and more.

“That was the first inkling that there was a way out, but I wouldn’t be here to be available to my kids,” Esposito added. “Then I started to think that’s not viable because the pain I would cause them would be lifelong, and there’d be lifelong trauma that would just extend the generational trauma I’m trying to move away from. The light at the end of the tunnel was Breaking Bad.”

Esposito appeared in 26 episodes of Breaking Bad as Gus Fring and reprised the role for the prequel series Better Call Saul. The role landed him a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He told British GQ earlier this year he would be open to playing Fring again in a prequel series on the villain’s life.

“Yeah, I would love that,” he said. “My backstory is he was a military guy who worked his way up through the ranks and could have become president, even possibly the dictator and have taken over. But he wanted to do something that could not be controlled by others, and he wanted to control his own destiny. And so he took off to create a new life for himself in America and become a meth dealer, a businessman.”

RELATED CONTENT: Giancarlo Esposito Confirms He Met With Marvel to Put Professor X Casting ‘Out in the Universe’

by Daniel Johnson

April 22, 2024

Biden Administration Deports Haitian Migrants Amid Criticism Over Country’s Ongoing Violence

In March, the Biden administration was sent a letter from more than 480 human rights organizations asking for several concessions for Haitian migrants.

---

On April 18, the Biden administration deported approximately 50 Haitians to their home country, which is currently experiencing turmoil and unrest. Although it was the first deportation flight initiated by the United States to Haiti in several months, the move was criticized by several advocacy groups. 

As the Associated Press reports, the United States Department of Homeland Security indicated that it was following its policy of returning noncitizens who do not establish a legal basis for remaining in the United States to their home countries. The DHS statement declared that it “will continue to enforce U.S. laws and policy throughout the Florida Straits and the Caribbean region, as well as at the southwest border. U.S. policy is to return noncitizens who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States.”

In March, the Biden administration was sent a letter from more than 480 human rights organizations asking for several concessions from the United States government for Haitian migrants. These include the immediate release of currently detained Haitian migrants, a pause on Haitian deportations, the closure of any pending deportations of Haitian migrants, and the creation of a new Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants that would allow those who are already living in the United States to remain there. 

According to the letter, if the United States could not keep its own people safe in Haiti, then there stood little chance of the Haitian government keeping those who were deported by the U.S. safe either. “If the United States cannot keep its personnel safe in Haiti, then the Haitian government is unlikely to keep Haitian nationals safe.”

Though the U.S. had not been able to return migrants via plane to Haiti before April 18, it has repatriated them via boat. “Those interdicted at sea are subject to immediate repatriation pursuant to our longstanding policy and procedures,” a spokeswoman for DHS told NBC News. The United States returns or repatriates migrants interdicted at sea to The Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

Furthermore, U.S. officials note that individuals who are repatriated at sea to Haiti are not being sent to the capital, where the violence is the thickest, but to less central areas of Haiti. Advocates for Haitian migrants say that this concession is not good enough, considering the widespread violence.

Advocates for Haitian migrants also say that the position of the United States refusing to provide Haitian migrants with TPS was hypocritical when the American government extended the program to Venezuelan migrants in the summer of 2023, whose conditions were less threatening than those in Haiti. 

Gurline Jozef, a human rights advocate and co-founder of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, the group that led the letter from the human rights organizations, said that the United States’ claims that accepting Haitian migrants into the TPS system would cause a mass migration event are overblown. 

“It is almost impossible to leave Haiti,” Jozef told NBC News, “There is no excuse to send anyone to anywhere in Haiti right now. They are using this as an excuse for the inexcusable. The whole country is unstable.”

RELATED CONTENT: With A Surge In Gang Violence, Americans In Haiti Are Struggling To Find Ways To Escape

• News History

by Daniel Johnson

April 22, 2024

Driver Speaks Out About K-9 Attack During Traffic Stop, NAACP Calls For Police Accountability

Attack victim Brandon Upchurch says that Toledo police officers stopped the wrong vehicle.

---

Brandon Upchurch, a 39-year-old man who alleges that he was bitten multiple times by a police K-9 unit from the Toledo Police Department during a traffic stop on April 11, has spoken out about the injuries he sustained as a result of the incident. Furthermore, Upchurch says that the officers should not have even stopped his vehicle in the first place. 

As ABC News reports, Upchurch was driving his cousin home from work when officers pulled him over, alleging that Upchurch’s vehicle matched the description of a stolen vehicle. However, according to Upchurch, the officers did not follow the normal procedures of a traffic stop. “They instantly came out with the guns drawn,” he said. “They did not come to my car and ask me for license, insurance, etc., anything.”

According to the body cam footage, officers did ask Upchurch to exit the vehicle while he asked them why he was being stopped. As Upchurch stepped out of the car, officers instructed him to turn his back to them while he repeatedly asked the officers, “What am I stopped for?” They do not answer his question but instead demand that he get on the ground. While he is in the process of kneeling, an officer with a K-9 unit releases his police dog on Upchurch while he protests, “Man, I’m not even doing nothing,” Upchurch said, then repeatedly asked the officers, “What did I do?”

As he was being handcuffed, an officer informed him that the truck allegedly had a license plate belonging to a stolen vehicle, which Upchurch protested. He asked the officers for medical attention, which they assured him was coming, but allegedly, privately, amongst themselves, called Upchurch a “petulant child” for even requesting it. They also began to doubt that they had pulled over the right vehicle, and one officer could be heard saying, “Now I know it’s not the plate.”

Despite an admission that it was not the correct plate, the department still charged Upchurch with resisting arrest and obstruction. According to ABC News, the police report alleges that Upchurch ignored their commands and “refused to comply throughout the entirety of the event.” As the Toledo Blade reports, an internal investigation is being carried out, but the police department has not released any investigation details as of April 19. 

Upchurch told ABC News that the police mishandled the situation. “This is uncalled for over a stolen tag,” Upchurch said. “All they had to do was run the plates again and found out it wasn’t stolen. I have license, insurance, everything is clean with me. He even said it on his body cam that he messed up.”

The Toledo NAACP agrees with Upchurch’s version of events and has called for accountability for the police department’s actions. Rev. Willie Perryman III, the president of the Toledo branch of the NAACP, told the Toledo Blade, “Our police are here to serve, not to occupy our neighborhoods even when they believe a violation of the law has been committed.”

He continued, “We do count on our police to be fair and just when dealing with community members because, as in this case, officers can be misinformed. Incidents of this type not only set back any progress of positive community and police relations, but it demonstrates a glaring need for training.”

Reggie Williams, the executive director of the Frederick Douglass Center, echoed Perryman’s points, telling the outlet, “To see a dog being sicced on a man of color who was not violating anything, but requesting why he was being pulled over, and to see the footage, it was very hurtful, it was unacceptable.”

Williams continued, “We stand in unity, to demand justice to be done, and then also to look at ways to resolve police and community relations. We don’t want to go into the summer having more escalation of things that will not allow us to trust our TPD.”

RELATED CONTENT: Family Of Ricky Cobb II Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota State Troopers Over Fatal Traffic Stop

• HBCU

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 22, 2024

Morris Brown College Accepts Entire Senior Class At Atlanta High School

The school will allow all seniors at Mays High to attend class next year if they meet enrollment requirements.

---

Morris Brown College is gifting the senior class at Mays High School in Atlanta with acceptances. The HBCU has formally accepted the graduating class into its upcoming freshman cohort.

Fox 5 reports that the seniors learned about their acceptance during the school’s Spirit Day on April 19. Morris Brown’s President Kevin James told the excited students that they can attend next fall if they meet enrollment requirements. James spoke to reporters about why he wanted to embark on the initiative for the community and Morris Brown’s betterment.

“I really want to let all the parents know that we are an institution that is of quality that they now have full access to come to. And not only that but [they] have access to federal financial aid,” explained James.

The college partnered with the school to provide higher education options for inner-city students. All Morris Brown hopefuls at Mays High can take on the academic opportunity if they maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

The news follows Morris Brown’s newly reinstated accreditation. The school, also part of the Atlanta University Center, officially regained its status in 2022, marking a new era for interested students. Founded in 1881, Morris Brown remains especially important to Georgia’s educational history, as it is the first Black-owned and operated school in the state.

As for Mays High School, its namesake is also a part of HBCU history. The institution honors Benjamin E. Mays, who was president of Morehouse College for over 25 years. He was also the first Black president of the Atlanta Board of Education.

Unfortunately, Mays High School has struggled academically. Only 71% of seniors graduate, and its statewide testing rank falls in the bottom 50%. However, this gift bestowed by Morris Brown officials hopes to inspire students to dream bigger about their academic future. Furthermore, they hope that the future begins at the Atlanta HBCU.

RELATED CONTENT: Morris Brown College Welcomes Back Its Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha After 20 Years

• Entrepreneurship

by Stacy Jackson

April 22, 2024

8-Year-Old CEO Runs Lemonade Stand And A Nonprofit

Elijah Silva kickstarted his venture, Elijah’s Gumdrop Lemonade, at five years old, before his mom helped him establish his own nonprofit.

---

At just eight years old, Elijah Silva has already accomplished remarkable feats as an entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, and CEO of his family’s nonprofit.

His entrepreneurial journey began at the tender age of four when he expressed a desire to run a lemonade stand, according to Valley News. Inspired by an article about COVID relief funds for kids’ stands, Silva kickstarted his venture, Elijah’s Gumdrop Lemonade, at five years old, setting up shop twice a week near his home with his parents’ support. “I sell around two and one-half gallons, which is around 24 16-oz. cups…I know that revenue minus expenses equals profit,” Silva stated about his thriving business.

His lemonade stand’s success led him to request a candy business from his mother, Delesia, who nurtured his spirit by helping establish gumball machines. “I asked owners if I could place my gumball machine in their business and offered them a percentage of the profits,” the boy said.

The enterprising third-grader from Hemet has been a Chamber of Commerce member since June 2022 and recently placed his fifth gumball machine at its office. His parents, Delesia and Luis, both U.S. Navy veterans, have been instrumental in his journey. Delesia, with her organizational management background and DIY skills, helped Elijah establish the nonprofit, Elijah Cares.

“My nonprofit serves kids in underserved communities through arts and crafts for free,” the elementary student said. Elijah Cares’ mission is to empower youth through educational opportunities, foster connections within local communities, and cultivate a supportive network. To achieve this vision, it strategically curates events and engaging activities designed to facilitate meaningful collaborations, resource sharing, and the exchange of invaluable insights among like-minded individuals and initiatives committed to uplifting their communities.

Elijah’s accomplishments extend beyond business. He has authored two books and was recently contracted as a Youth Commissioner with Youth Empowerment for Community Enrichment under Sigma Beta Xi Youth and Family Services, advocating for community needs and building relationships. On April 27, he will be a featured speaker at the Kidpreneur Expo in San Jacinto, an event he helped inspire to showcase young businesses.

The Silvas believe that educating kids involves teaching them skills that will help them grow into responsible and successful adults.

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

April 22, 2024

Fort Wayne Councilwoman Sharon Tucker To Be Sworn In As 1st Black City Mayor

Tucker must formally resign from her current role as city councilwoman for the 6th district when she is sworn in as mayor this week.

---

In a historic moment, Fort Wayne’s Democratic Party welcomed Sharon Tucker as the city’s new mayor, making her the first Black leader and the second woman to hold the esteemed position.

The announcement, which came on Saturday, was met with enthusiasm from the local Democratic Party, which expressed excitement to have “Mayor Tucker at the helm” of the northeastern Indiana city. According to ABC News, the statement added: “Today, Mayor Tucker proved that she has the energy and support of our party, and we can’t wait to support her as she works to continue moving our community forward together.”

The Journal Gazette noted Tucker’s swearing-in ceremony will be arranged for this week by city officials rather than the Democratic Party. This significant step will require Tucker to formally resign from her current role as City Councilwoman for the 6th district, prompting a second caucus within 30 days to fill her vacant council seat. She hopes the next representative shares a similar passion for the community. “I know that person exists, and I will be willing to support them in any way that I can to make sure that we keep our (eyes) on the prize in the 6th District,” she said.

Tucker emerged victorious after two rounds of voting that initially involved seven candidates. Her victory speech at the caucus on Saturday, April 20, captured her determination and commitment: “Now you’ve entrusted in me a heavy job, and it doesn’t weigh light on my shoulders.” She outlined her priorities, emphasizing economic development both downtown and within neighborhoods. “When we invite economic development to our communities and support entrepreneurs from inside -– it just helps strengthen our economy…And a robust economy helps provide opportunities for everyone.”

To ensure a smooth transition, Tucker plans to communicate with the existing staff established by former Mayor Tom Henry, who died on March 28 after battling stomach cancer. Karl Bandemer, the former deputy mayor, served as acting mayor until Tucker’s swearing-in, and she has expressed her intention to retain Bandemer on her team.

• Media

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 22, 2024

Black-Owned Sundial Media Group Acquires Refinery 29

The company is already home to Essence, Afropunk, Girls United, and BeautyCon.

---

Sundial Media Group (SMG) is expanding its portfolio. The Richelieu Dennis-owned company has officially added Refinery 29 to its slate.

SMG is already home to many Black and women-focused platforms, including Essence, Afropunk, Girls United, and BeautyCon. Now, the conglomerate will include Refinery 29 and its vast audience centering on women. Prior to its acquisition, the publication belonged to Vice Media Group. There has also been speculation that Dennis was in talks to buy Revolt TV from Sean “Diddy” Combs.

According to a press release obtained by Afrotech, Refinery 29 will continue to grow as a standalone entity within SMG. Dennis released a statement sharing his excitement to bring the platform into its media family.

“We’re very excited about the expansive ecosystem we’re building at Sundial Media Group. R29 is an incredible brand with a phenomenal team that will play an important role in reimagining how media serves the need for connection, culture, and commerce in these distinct, but complementary communities of the New General Market,” shared Dennis.

Refinery 29 also gains a new CEO to facilitate its operations. Cory Haik, the former chief operating officer at Vice, will take over to further the platform’s reach and female-driven voice.

Essence congratulated SMG’s newest addition, showcasing solidarity as the platform transitions and aims to thrive with the media company.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ESSENCE (@essence)

“On behalf of #EssenceVentures, a division of Sundial Media Group (SMG) we are excited to welcome Cory, the Refinery 29 team and their community to the SMG family,” captioned the post. “While we recognize and will maintain the unique offerings of each brand, we will also activate the synergies that unite us around shared impact and implement those with care and authenticity, now and for generations to come.”

They ended the celebratory post with a proverb, emphasizing community and support among the brands.

“There is an African proverb that sums it up well, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ Stay tuned for all that together will bring us, by bringing us together,” shared the publication.

While no word of any upcoming collaborations, the news is a mark of success for the Black-owned media conglomerate.

RELATED CONTENT: Game Changing Moves with Richelieu Dennis

• Career

by Janell Hazelwood

April 22, 2024

Olympic Stamina: 3 Tips To Overcome Career Obstacles Like A Superstar

Use these tips from an Olympian to overcome setbacks in your career.

---

Originally Published June 8, 2016.

Carmelita “The Jet” Jeter has reached many milestones in her career, from becoming the 2011 IAAF World Champion in the 100-meter race to earning medals three times at the Olympic games—gold, silver and bronze.

A victory during the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix made her a sports icon when she wowed the world coming in at 10.64 seconds in the 100-meter, making her the second fastest woman ever, behind Florence Griffith-Joyner’s long-standing world record.

What were the factors that led to the phenomenon? “Drive, discipline, and sacrifice,” she says. “It took a lot of sacrifice and support, from my family to my agent to my fans to my coach.”

It also did not come without having to overcome setbacks.

“In 2007, I won a bronze medal at the Osaka games,” Jeter says. “That was the first year I went pro. In 2008, I was doing all these interviews … people are thinking I was going to be in the 2008 Olympic games. I started believing my own hype and thinking I was better than what I was at the time—like I didn’t have to train the way I did prior—and I didn’t make the team.”

Jeter has also had to face recovery from a major injury in 2013, fighting back naysayers who thought she might not make it back to the heights of her earlier career days.

BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Jeter and she dropped gems about overcoming and excellence.

Be consistent and deliberate in setting up clear goals for yourself

“It’s all abut your goals and what you want,” Jeter says. “What do you want to achieve? Set your goals up specifically. You have to have a strong desire.

Be aggressive in your approach to achieving your goals

“It’s one thing to write down goals, but it’s another to be aggressive about how you’re going to see them through,” she adds. “I wrote my goals down and of course it didn’t all go as planned, but after writing them down you have to stay focused. And even if something doesn’t happen at that moment, you have to keep pushing for it.”

 Use every setback as a springboard to step your game up

“[When I didn’t make it to the Olympic games in 2008), it was a reality check and it hurt really bad,” she says. “It’s was a very painful, emotional time. It made me check myself and sit down and figure out another plan. I changed coaches and my whole perspective on my job changed. It was no longer a 9-to-5 but more of an everyday all day job to be at my best.”

“The past few years I’ve been injured and that’s no fun. It plays with your confidence, but you just have to believe in yourself. Right now, it’s all about making this team. I’m focused on that this year. I’ve changed a lot this year [including] eating organic, doing Pilates, went to rehab. Everyone keeps mentioning I’m 36 and a little older, but I’ve changed so many things to get ready for success.”

RELATED CONTENT: USA Basketball Reveals Roster For 2024 Summer Olympics

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

April 22, 2024

Southern Methodist University To Present ‘Grandmother Of Juneteenth’ Opal Lee, With Honorary Degree

Lee will receive her honorary degree during the university's commencement at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, in Moody Coliseum, 3009 Binkley Ave.

---

Trailblazing civil rights leader Opal Lee, renowned as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” will be honored by Southern Methodist University (SMU) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during its May 11th commencement ceremony.

“Having Ms. Lee join us at commencement and share her work through a symposium is a signal of honor for our university,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said, according to the university. “Her life’s work is most deserving of this recognition, and our students will be inspired by her.” Prior to the commencement, Lee’s remarkable achievements will be recognized at a free symposium on May 9. According to SMU, she will attend with her granddaughter, Dione Sims, the founding executive director of the National Juneteenth Museum.

A momentous milestone in Lee’s journey will be realized in 2025 with the opening of the $70 million, 50,000-square-foot National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth’s South Side, where Lee has operated her own modest museum. Beyond serving as a museum and cultural center, the complex will include a business incubator and a mixed-income residential community.

Lee, the honorary chair, and Sims, a legacy board member, have been instrumental in bringing this vision to fruition. As previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Lee has dedicated her activism to the memory of the formerly enslaved people of Texas. Lee’s vision to commemorate Juneteenth in the state and establish it as a federally recognized holiday was achieved on June 17,  2021, when President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Lee’s unwavering dedication has garnered numerous accolades, including seven honorary doctorates. She was named 2021 Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News editorial board, Fort Worth Inc.’s 2022 Person of the Year, and nominated for a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Remarkably, in 2023, she became only the second African American to be honored with a portrait in the Texas State Senate chamber.

Join the live stream to view the presentation of Lee’s degree.