• Politics

by Daniel Johnson

April 15, 2024

U.S. Disputes Iran’s Claims, Urges Caution From Israel

President Biden has been urging restraint from Israel in hopes of avoiding a major conflict in the Middle East

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Iran reportedly sent waves of missiles and drones towards Israel on April 14 as a response to an attack that Iranian leaders believe was carried out by Israel on the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier in April. However, only a few of these weapons were able to breach Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system and those that did only caused light damage. Iran said that it warned the United States, a key Israeli ally, of the attack but U.S. officials dispute those claims. 

As ABC 7 reported, the tension between Israel and Iran has only escalated since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, in large part driven by Iraq’s belief that Israel needs to stop the war it is waging in Gaza. The conflict reached a boiling point after the alleged attack on the Iranian consulate building by Israeli forces was met with threats of a response in kind from Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni and President Ebrahim Rasi, as well as the Iran-backed Syrian militant group Hezbollah. 

Reuters reported that Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told reporters that they had warned their neighboring countries and the United States of their attack, and a source within Turkey’s Foreign Ministry told the outlet that they had relayed messages to both Israel and the United States as an intermediary. “Iran said the reaction would be a response to Israel’s attack on its embassy in Damascus and that it would not go beyond this. We were aware of the possibilities. The developments were not a surprise,” the source said. 

An anonymous senior official in the Biden Administration has contradicted Amir-Abdollahian’s statement, telling Reuters, “That is absolutely not true. They did not give a notification, nor did they give any sense of … ‘these will be the targets, so evacuate them.’” The official indicated that the U.S. had been in contact with intermediaries in Switzerland but only received word from Tehran, the Iranian capital, once the attacks had started. 

“We received a message from the Iranians as this was ongoing, through the Swiss.” The official told Reuters, “This was basically suggesting that they were finished after this, but it was still an ongoing attack. So that was (their) message to us.”

However, officials from Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq all said that Iran provided warnings of the attack on the week of April 8, including some details about the attack they planned on Israel. On April 12 and 13, U.S. officials declared that they expected an attack from Iran and President Joe Biden issued a one-word message to Iran, “Don’t.”

Despite that terse warning, and the circulation of a statement from National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson declaring the support of the United States towards Israel’s defense and security, the United States has not pledged any military support to Israel. 

As Politico reported, both publicly and privately, President Biden has been urging restraint from Israel in hopes of avoiding a major conflict in the Middle East. According to a U.S. official given anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy, the hope is that in the event Israel does respond, that it ends the conflict. “We’re advising them to take a breath before responding,” the official said. In the event Israel does respond, “it needs to be proportional and bring this cycle to an end.”

Politico also reported that even though Biden has been more critical of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli offensive in Gaza, he did not mention that Israel’s alleged attack on the Iranian consulate has left some officials frustrated that in striking at Iranian military leaders, they attacked a diplomatic building to do so. According to Politico, another senior U.S. official believes that the only person who might want a war is Netanyahu, who he referred to by his nickname, Bibi. “Nobody except maybe Bibi wants this to get out of control.”

Iranian leaders, meanwhile, indicated that unless Israel responded, their acts of aggression were done. Amir-Abdollahian issued a statement declaring that Iran would only defend themselves if necessary. “At this point, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of continuing defensive operations, but if necessary it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Georgia Voters Voice Discontent Over Biden’s Stance On Gaza

• Fashion & Beauty

by Stacy Jackson

April 15, 2024

Serena Williams Pops Up At West Palm Beach Ulta Store To Launch WYN Beauty Line

WYN Beauty features 91 shades across 10 distinct makeup products including skin tints, concealers, blushes and more.

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Tennis icon Serena Williams recently made a special appearance at an Ulta Beauty store in her Palm Beach Gardens neighborhood to unveil her highly anticipated makeup line, WYN Beauty, by Serena Williams.

During her visit, she engaged with customers, offering personalized guidance on selecting the perfect products from her extensive collection, which includes concealers, lip serums, lipsticks, blushes, eyeliners, brow products, and mascaras. According to The Palm Beach Post, the products, covered in neon green packaging to emulate a tennis ball, include a skin tint in 36 different shades with varying undertones, including warm, cool, peach, olive, and neutral options. This inclusive approach stems from Williams’ own struggles with finding makeup that complemented her complexion while traveling and working with makeup artists unfamiliar with Black women’s beauty needs.

In an April 4 press statement, Williams emphasized her desire to create clean, high-performing, and skin-loving makeup that moves with the wearer throughout their day. “I needed makeup that could truly move with me. That’s the intention behind WYN BEAUTY –- for people to live in it every single day of their lives and enhance the beauty they already have.”

With 91 shades across 10 distinct products, WYN Beauty aims to cater to a wide range of skin tones and preferences. Williams shared her vision, saying, “Throughout my career, I was always searching for makeup that looked good after hours on the court, mixing products myself and creating my own formulas while traveling the world…As I evolved…I needed products I could apply…and still look good at the end of the day.”

Williams’ WYN Beauty line was born from a groundbreaking partnership with the Good Glamm Group, an innovative tech-driven conglomerate renowned for disrupting global beauty and personal care markets. In a deeply personal touch, each product and shade carries an empowering name that doubles as an affirmation – such as “Brave,” “Momentum,” “Shine,” “Discover,” “Push,” “Build,” and “Move” – mirroring the motivational mantras Williams would jot down in her “matchbooks” before taking the court.

WYN Beauty has secured a coveted presence in select Ulta Beauty retail locations, bringing Williams’ vision of inclusive, high-performance makeup to a wider audience.

In addition to Saturday’s product launch in Florida, Williams engaged with beauty influencers and offered advice to young girls in sports.

• Legal

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 15, 2024

Man Receives 50 Years In Jail For Poisoning Infant With Antifreeze In Baby Bottle

Curtis Jack admitted that he willfully poisoned the newborn child after urging the mother to terminate her pregnancy.

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A Georgia man was received a prison sentence of 50 years for trying to kill his newborn daughter. Curtis Jack poisoned the infant by pouring antifreeze into her milk bottle.

People reports that Jack used the chemical to taint the breastmilk the newborn’s mother gave to him in October 2020. The child, just 18 days old at the time, was in the care of her grandmother and aunt when she drank from the tampered bottles. The mother was still hospitalized after the delivery.

However, upon feeding the child, the caretakers soon noticed her severe reaction to the milk. They took her to the hospital the next day, where she tested positive for having ethylene glycol in her system. The chemical, found in automotive antifreeze, can cause damage to one’s brain, lungs, and kidneys. The injuries can also lead to organ failure and death, according to Medline Plus.

An investigation prompted by the South Fulton police soon pointed to Jack as the suspect, with an arrest warrant issued. While detained, Jack admitted to the crime. He also disclosed that he urged for the mother, who he met as his co-worker, to terminate the pregnancy.

The child did survive the poisoning, and is now three years old. Her biological father’s trial ended in a guilty conviction by the jury following testimonies from her family members. Medical experts also appeared on the stand to speak on the poisoning and how “easy” it was to commit. South Fulton police released a statement thanking the District Attorney Fani WIllis for “obtaining justice” on behalf of the child.

“A special thanks to Madam Fani Willis and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in obtaining justice for the victim and her mother,” the department wrote.

Jack received guilty verdicts on all charges, including a criminal attempt to commit murder and cruelty to children in the first degree. He will serve 40 of his 50-year prison sentence in custody.

RELATED CONTENT: Kansas City Mother Faces Felony Charge After Allegedly Placing Infant In Oven, Killing Her

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

April 15, 2024

Dr. Tashion Macon Releases ‘Coming In Hot: A Blueprint For Black Women Setting The World Ablaze’

Dr. Macon's book is a transformative guide that addresses the state of the C-suite quest for Black women and the path forward.

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In her groundbreaking book, Coming in Hot: A Blueprint for Black Women Setting the World Ablaze, Dr. Tashion Macon offers a transformative guide for Black women by exploring emotional and spiritual health and workplace wellness.

Drawing inspiration from literary giants like Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and Alice Walker, Macon introduces the “Hotlist,” a groundbreaking framework designed to support Black women navigating their authentic career paths. The book states that Macon’s love letter to Black women acknowledges the assaults they have faced, both past and present, while simultaneously recognizing their indomitable spirit.

“I expect to pull no punches about where the African American woman stands in relation to the culture and the corporate world in which she functions,” the best-selling author states in the introduction. “But make no mistake, the African American woman cannot be suppressed. She is skilled in creating something from nothing and has done so since before the founding of this nation,” she writes, paying homage to great-grandmothers and “all the Black Women who set the world ablaze” before her.

With a thought-provoking and straight-talking approach, “Coming in Hot” offers guidance on professional access, agency, and ascension. Macon’s words resonate deeply. She wrote on Instagram, “I hear you, your struggles… your fight from Hollywood to the Hallowed Halls of college campuses to corporate spaces. It has not gone unnoticed, and I’ll continue to voice our power and personhood loudly and proudly.”

As a trailblazer at the intersections of brand marketing, pop culture, philanthropy, and positive psychology, Macon’s professional experience is a testament to her visionary strategies, her Amazon bio reads. She has helped iconic companies like Arista/LaFace Records, Interscope/Universal, NBC, T-Mobile, and Warner Brothers achieve their financial and marketing objectives while also leading mission-focused organizations to fulfill their purpose.

According to her website, Culturalist and Communication + Cachet Catalyst has been instrumental in the highly successful branding of multi-award-winning artists such as Usher, Pink, and Dr. Dre. Macon has propelled renowned brands like the USOC Winter Olympics, Burger King, the World Cup, and the Oprah Winfrey Show to new heights of awareness and success.

“Coming in Hot” was released in March and is available on Amazon. The book became an international bestseller in the United States and Canada within just the first two days after its launch.

• Contributor Network

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 15, 2024

Ask Your Fairygodmentor®: How To Manage A Team Of Your Peers After Promotion

The best part of leading a team of your peers is that they already know you. However, they know you as their peer.  Now they need to get to know you as their manager. 

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Dear Fairygodmentor

I was just promoted from team leader to manager and must now lead a team of my peers. We got along great as a team before this promotion. I want to continue to keep the vibe going but now they have to take direction from me.  How do I do this smoothly without burning any bridges?

I appreciate you!

Best wishes,

From Peer to Manager

Dear From Peer to Manager

First, let’s take a moment to celebrate this milestone! Congrats!  One of the many reasons why you were selected for this role is that you exemplified the skills, knowledge and ability to lead this team to excellence.  Let that reality soak in a moment.  We get so caught up in the climb that we forget to look out at the summit. Marinate in this awesome career moment.

Write this career moment down along with your other wins in your DIG Folder so you don’t forget them.  What’s a DIG folder? It’s a Damn I’m Good Folder. Each night at 7 pm, I write down all of my glows (wins) and grows (opportunities for growth) for the day.  I track them.  I am able to refer to them when I have doubts about the magic that I bring into this world so they can hype me up. I also refer to them when interviewing or writing up my year-end reviews, so I don’t have to wrack my brain trying to remember what I did all year. You can also encourage your team to keep their own DIG Folders too.

The best part of leading a team of your peers is that they already know you. However, they know you as their peer.  Now they need to get to know you as their manager.  This can be a tricky transition.

Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with each team member.  Get to know them on a direct report level.  Having regular one-on-one meetings with your team will foster communication and trust and keep you apprised of what’s going on.

A Fairygodmentor® of mine introduced me to a How I Like to Be Coached form.  I’ve since edited and altered it to my leadership style and it breaks the ice with the folks that report to you.  It asks questions like: “What’s your communication style?” “How do you like to be recognized?” “What are your career goals?”  I use this form as an agenda and blueprint of future conversations with each team member.

My next piece of advice is to keep it real. Be transparent but only share what they need to know.  Remember you’re their manager now, they have confidence that you are in place to take this team to the next level.  It takes time to build trust and only seconds to break it.

 Find other confidants and mentors at your level to share insecurities. At one point in my career, I had the opportunity to lead a team of my peers.  I shared with my new direct report that I was nervous about speaking to upper management. I learned quickly through the grapevine, that my overshare shattered her confidence in my ability to lead.   I had to work very hard to win back that direct reports’ confidence and trust in my ability to lead the team effectively.  Luckily, it didn’t take too long to accomplish that through my actions.

It can be very easy to blur the line between being a peer and a direct report. Keep your professional distance and document your work conversations even if you think they’re just a casual chats.  This may prove very useful in the future.

Think about what you didn’t get from your past manager.  What do you want to do differently?  How would you have liked this manager to have treated you and your fellow peers? What do your peers want to see in their new manager? Use these answers to fuel your drive to lead the team to success.  This is your show now!

Finally, ask for feedback on how you can help make things even better on the team.  What do you need to stop, start or continue?  They need to know you’re not a carbon copy of your past manager.  Discuss expectations of them and, conversely, ask what expectations they have of you.  Communication is key.  Including your team in the vision and mission will create more buy-in, give them a sense of pride and purpose and strengthen your connection.

Keep going! You got this!

Sincerely,

Your Fairygodmentor®

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and the founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that develops empowered, results-driven leaders through engaging leadership development coaching, training, and facilitation. 

Have a question about handling a micromanager? Are you having difficulty navigating spaces because of your hair? Is work stressing you out? Do you need support coaching poor performance, or are you wondering how to effectively negotiate and get the job offer you desire? Do you have any questions about career and leadership development? 

Ask Your FairyGodMentor® here.

RELATED CONTENT: Ask Your Fairygodmentor®: How Do I Delegate Effectively When Overworked And Overwhelmed

• Arts and Culture

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 15, 2024

Sean Bankhead’s Viral Choreography Is Reigniting Pop Music: ‘God’s Timing Is Everything’

He's worked with everyone from Cardi B. to Lil Nas X.

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The seven-time VMA-nominated choreographer Sean Bankhead stopped by BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s The Culture Shift to share how he’s reshaping the pop music industry one dance routine at a time.

Celebrated among today’s pop music enthusiasts as the mastermind behind viral music videos like Normani’s “Wild Side,” Cardi B’s “Up,” Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby,” and Victoria Monet’s “On My Mama,” Bankhead has been busy behind the scenes helping to bring out the best in some of today’s biggest musical acts.

Born in Philadelphia, but raised in Atlanta, Bankhead credits his father’s job relocation to “the A” for helping to introduce him to a city whose culture set the groundwork for his thriving entertainment career. From “emulating” the dance routines in music videos as a child, dancing at Atlanta’s famed Dance 411 Studios, and receiving mentorship from the renowned Fatima Robinson, Bankhead was destined to make it as a dancer/choreographer, even when he didn’t think it was possible.

“There was never a moment when I was like, ‘I want to be a dancer, I’m going to be a choreographer,'” he tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I just kept getting more opportunities to dance and choreograph.

“I think when I got to Atlanta and started working at Dance 411 Studios, I think there became a vision and like a clear pathway that I could do this. I could make money. I could make a name for myself.”

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A post shared by sean bankhead (@itsbankhead)

He started as a background dancer in Tiffany Evans’ “Promise Ring” and the moved on to dancing with Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Missy Elliott. By 2014, Bankhead earned his first VMA nomination when he choreographed Fifth Harmony’s “Down.” His work with the group led him to meet his “muse” Normani with whom he helmed viral dances for her singles Motivation,” “Dancing with a Stranger” (with Sam Smith), and “Wild Side” (featuring Cardi B).

Bankhead discussed being nominated for multiple VMAs but not winning one, the importance of artist development for live performances, and how “humbling” it was to take off his choreographer hat to serve as one of the dancers in Usher’s 2024 Super Bowl halftime show.

“I think a lot of times people are afraid to dream big because they don’t really know how they’re going to get there,” he said. “But have that dream and God will take care of the rest.”

Performing with Usher at the Super Bowl was a “full circle” moment for Bankhead, “because when I was about 19, 20 years old I came this close to going on tour with him,” he shares. He ended up getting cut and it crushed him at the time.

“God’s timing is everything and I truly know being almost in this industry for 20 years. Stay focused, have vision, be diligent, work hard, and everything that’s supposed to happen for you will,” Bankhead says.

Press play below for the full interview and to learn Sean Bankhead’s favorite dance routine and what he has planned for the rest of 2024.

RELATED CONTENT: Sean Bankhead’s Favorite Dance Routine, Super Bowl With Usher, And More

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

April 15, 2024

Disney Dreamers Talk Business And Philanthropy

The 2024 Class of Disney Dreamers received their flowers in early April at the Disney Dreamers Academy.

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The annual Disney Dreamers Academy 2024 took place April 3 through April 7 in Orlando, Florida. Thousands of students ages 14 to 18 could apply, but only 100 were chosen. The youth who make the cut display great character, initiative, and drive. Their dreams are big, and they are actively taking steps to achieve them.

The program is integral to Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities by encouraging the next generation to think and dream big. Dreamers possess outstanding resumes. The 100 Dreamers’ philanthropic work, artistic talent, and business acumen are admirable. Over five days, the dreamers attended hands-on workshops tailored toward their interests, received behind-the-scenes looks at Disney operations, and were treated to visits from celebrity mentors and guest speakers.

BLACK ENTERPRISE is dedicated to uplifting and amplifying the youth who strive to add value to the communities around them. The future of the Black business community was present at Disney Dreamers Academy. BE spoke with some of the exceptional young leaders of today and tomorrow. 

Noelle Nelson

You founded a nonprofit, Best Buddies Wear Teal & Red, that advocates for allergy awareness and sit on a board of directors. What have you learned about business and how boards operate based on those experiences?

We all have different thoughts and ideas that have been able to help us grow. We discuss who could sponsor and partner with us. 

You are a journalist, health advocate, and business woman. If you had to pick one role, which would you choose?

Definitely, healthcare combined with education. I work with kids in camps once a month to help them feel supported and empowered in their journey and also learn more about their food allergies.

If you could put out an appeal to anybody to help your business grow what would it be?

I would ask 100% for more funding to be able to have educational curriculum. To teach about not just food allergies but all hidden conditions nationally. Nationwide awareness would help progress to have more empathy and legislation.

Jayden Watkins 

You are the CEO of Higher Is Waiting. Tell us about it.

Higher Is Wating’s mission is to host mentorship programs for teenagers in my area. I’m planning a huge book bag giveaway for the summertime and youth explosion. We donate care packages to the community, because that is where my passion lies.

How do you decide as the CEO, what’s needed and what’s next?

So prayer is very important to me. I usually have a vision. Always write down your visions. The youth explosion, I wrote it down on paper years ago, but now it’s coming to fruition. Also, you need a board of directors.

What have you learned from working with the board of directors?

Be open minded. You may have a dream, but God can bring other people into the mix to take that dream even further. We have wisdom as teenagers but other people have lived longer than us. So having a board  gives new insight.

If you could put out an appeal to anybody to help your business grow what would it be?

We need mentors who will pour into us and not overlook us because we’re at the bottom right now. Give me advice, show me where I’m weak and be open to our ideas. I didn’t know about filing 501(c)(3). I had to reach out to people, and they did not reach back out to me.

If we want Black enterprise to thrive we have to work in unity. 

Lola Obasade 

Let’s talk about your early reading initiative.

We host events to encourage children to read. We’ve been going to local schools and kindergartens and reading to them, and also passing out care packages with books to help inspire more kids to read.

You want to pursue neuroscience and focus on early reading gaps. How do those endeavors look in the future?

I want be like a scientific researcher managing a hospital one day, becoming a CEO.

What’s gonna happen to the reading initiative when go to college?

I still want it to continue during college  and encourage my classmates to also participate in it, too.

What would you say to other children who want to start a nonprofit for early reading or anything else?

I would just encourage them to really be out there because, you know, I was really nervous to start it because I wasn’t sure if anyone wanted to do it with me. I learned that you have the power to be a difference and make change. Go for it.

TeLario Watkins ll 

Tell me about being a “Hunger Hero.”

I partnered with No Kid Hungry. I organize fundraisers to raise money and awareness for child hunger. They’ve given me the title of Hunger Hero.

Tiger mushroom farms is your business. Do you have any employees? Do you have any plans to scale up? 

I do. I want to have a full, established food company out of Tiger Mushroom Farms. It’s only my family and I right now. We’re working on our seasoning line.

How do you manage running a business, running a non profit, going to high school, speaking engagements, etc.?

I finish my schoolwork while I’m in school, then I work in my business. l go down to my basement, take care of my mushroom sprouts.  We plant them and once they start sprouting transplant them over to one of my community gardens. 

How many acres do you have? 

One acre was donated to us, and then we also have another acre where I donated around 250 feet to a local food bank for their garden.

If you could put out an appeal to anybody to help your business grow what would it be?

Volunteers. We definitely need a lot of volunteers for all the projects that we want to start. 

Christiana Blankson 

Let’s talk about Ana Mission, what inspired you to start it? And how’s it going?

Ana Mission is my catering company. It came from my love of making and eating breakfast tacos.  I love them so much, and I’ve become quite the connoisseur. I was inspired to make it a business. I started it in 2017 or 2018. I’ve been doing it every summer and long as I’m here I will keep building it. I also sell my cookies in my school cafeteria as a non-profit venture.

It’s very difficult to get school cafeterias to introduce a new food because of food allergies and safety concerns. How did you accomplish that?

A lot of meetings. Administrators asked me the ingredients  and safety protocols. I had print them out along with my mission and post in the school store. I’m donating proceeds to kids in Ghana for their shelter, food and health care. It’s called Peacock Cookie, it’s mint chocolate chip. Soon I’ll introduce my gluten-free cookie. 

Tell us about Black Girl unity.

I have two younger sisters in the middle school. As a girl, I feel like our experiences are different than guys. Black Girl Unity was really supposed to help fix the mistakes that I feel like are being made when it comes to Black girls assimilating.

RELATED CONTENT: Disney Dreamers Academy Class Of 2024 Unveiled On MLK Day

by Daniel Johnson

April 15, 2024

No, Rep. Jasmine Crockett Did Not Call For Tax Exemption For Black Americans

Though some conservative media outlets and right-wing social media accounts tried to say Rep. Crockett suggested that Black people not pay taxes as a form of reparations, Rep. Crockett did no such thing.

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During a March 29 episode of the Black Lawyers Podcast, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) briefly discussed the topic of reparations during an interview. Though some conservative media outlets and right-wing social media accounts attempted to argue that Rep. Crockett suggested that Black people should not pay taxes as a form of reparations, Crockett did no such thing, NewsOne reports.

According to Rep. Crockett, the idea of Black people not paying taxes came from an unnamed celebrity (the latest celebrity whose comments generated a discussion on reparations was Terrence Howard) and the caveat from this celebrity was that Black Americans would have a certain period of time set aside to be exempted from paying taxes. This idea, Rep. Crockett said during the podcast, was not without merit, but was an idea that would have to be carefully considered regarding how it could be implemented. 

Rep. Crockett remarked that the idea of withholding taxes may be more palatable to those who object to giving Black people money, before pivoting to a short discussion of how tax brackets would be affected. Rep. Crockett seemed to indicate in the interview that the poorest of Black Americans are not really contributing that much to the tax base in the grand scheme of things, so the no-tax idea isn’t as far-fetched as some would like to think. 

Rep. Crockett was also concerned about the way that the current reparations debate plays out in the political arena, saying that instead of both sides using preconceived notions about what reparations would look like, emphasis needs to be placed on studying and gathering data. Rep. Crockett also clearly stated that she believes that the United States has a moral obligation to pay descendants of enslaved people reparations, but she believes that the federal government needs to be the ones establishing policy and not individual states. 

Similar to Andrew Gillum, the former mayor of Tallahassee, Florida, who ran for governor opposite current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018, Crockett holds a political office so it would likely not be well-received if she were to publicly advocate for no taxation. On a mini-pod of the Native Land Podcast focusing on taxes in March, Gillum told his co-hosts Angela Rye and Tiffany D. Cross, “I was a locally elected official guys, I can’t be like against taxation. Taxation goes—not to mention, my kids are in public school, paid for by my taxes that I pay on my house.”

RELATED CONTENT: Debate Over Taxes And Reparations: Insights From Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, And Andrew Gillum

• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 15, 2024

O.J. Simpson Executor Vows Ron Goldman’s Family Gets ‘Zero’ From Estate

Prior to his death, the former NFL star owed over $100 million to the Goldman family from a wrongful death judgement.

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The executor of O.J. Simpson’s will, Malcolm LaVergne, has vowed to not let the family of Ron Goldman receive any money from his estate. The 76-year-old Simpson died from prostate cancer on April 10.

Prior to his death, the former NFL star owed over $100 million to the Goldman family from a wrongful death judgment. Earlier this year, LaVergne was surprised by his appointment as executor over the estate. Regardless, he assumed the role with no favor toward the Goldman’s case. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that his “hope” lies in the family gaining nothing from Simpson’s assets.

“It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing,” he told the publication. “Them specifically. And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representative to try and ensure that they get nothing.”

His disregard toward the family stems from Simpson’s planned book about the 1994 killing of Nicole Brown Simpson and Goldman. While Simpson intended to release a book titled If I Did It, the Goldman family won the rights to the project, adding Confessions of the Killer to its title. LaVergne also claims that the courts never ordered Simpson to pay the Goldmans, as reported by WBAL.

However, the Goldman family states that the issue is more about holding Simpson accountable and less about the hefty check. They won a 1997 civil suit finding Simpson liable for Goldman’s murder two years after his acquittal of the criminal charges. Following the judgment, the courts seized Simpson’s valuable items for the payout. Currently, their attorney stated that the Goldmans would evaluate the situation and see if they should proceed with the claim.

While unclear thus far how much Simpson had upon his death, his four children were listed as his beneficiaries. Anyone challenging “shall receive, free of trust, one dollar ($1.00) and no more in lieu of any claimed interest in this will or its assets,” the will reportedly states.

However, the court still has yet to tally Simpson’s full estate.

RELATED CONTENT: O.J. Simpson Dies From Cancer At Age 76