• News History

by Daniel Johnson

March 31, 2024

Nebraska To Honor Malcolm X With Hall Of Fame Induction, Day Of Honor

Malcolm X’s selection to the hall of fame makes him the first Black person in the state’s history to be enshrined.

---

Malcolm X was honored with a day of remembrance by the Nebraska Legislature on March 28.

As the Associated Press reported, May 19 will officially be referred to as El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz, Malcolm X Day. The amendment which makes this possible was proposed by Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney (D-NE). It does not officially make May 19, Malcolm X’s birthday, a state holiday, but it does allow for schools to recognize the contributions of Malcolm X. 

McKinney discussed the passage of the acknowledgement with USA Today, telling the outlet: “The establishment of Malcom X Day in Nebraska marks a significant milestone, symbolizing the state’s acknowledgment of the invaluable contributions and enduring legacy of its foremost advocate for human rights.”

McKinney continued, “It is my hope that his story and selfless dedication serves as an enduring beacon, guiding our state and nation towards a brighter future for all of us, especially Black people.”

As the AP reported, one of the obstacles to making May 19, the day Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska, a state holiday was the associated cost of over $500,000 a year to create a state holiday. 

The slain civil rights activist is going to have quite a busy 2024, after being one of the subjects of the most recent season of National Geographic’s Genius anthology series, alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in 2023. Also this year, Malcolm X will be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame on May 22. 

Nebraska’s tribute to Malcolm X resonates with the efforts of Ilaysah Shabazz, one of his daughters. In February, during a discussion at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, she highlighted her work aimed at rectifying her father’s image.

Shabazz told the crowd, “When I think of my father, I’m so proud of him because he was only in his 20s when the world learned of him. When we look at the image that was portrayed of him, it’s so inaccurate. Certainly, the Malcolm X that we may have learned about in school or in the papers is not the Malcolm X in his truth.”

As WPR reported, Malcolm X’s selection to the hall of fame in 2023 made him the first Black person in the state’s history to be honored. His enshrinement follows a contentious 4-3 vote, which illustrates Shabazz’s larger point. It took the chairman of the committee, Ron Hull, voting for Malcolm X to be included to make history. 

JoAnna Leflore Ejike, the executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, told WPR that some historians considered Malcolm X violent, “but the truth of the matter is, he himself was not violent. There is no recording of violence at any of his rallies or speeches, except for the day he was assassinated.”

William King, a radio station owner in Omaha, told the outlet that it signified the slow rate of progress, remarking that it is “ironic that in 2024 that we’re still saying a Black man or Black woman is still the first to do something.”

Leflore Ejike contextualized the ceremony of the Honorable Minister Malcolm X with the present-day Black Lives Matter movement to WPR. 

“May is actually the month that George Floyd was murdered, and a number of other modern day lynchings,” LeFlore Ejike said. “It’ll spark new conversations at the dinner table about what we’re going to do next, because that’s what Malcolm probably would be asking.”

RELATED CONTENT: Seattle Opera’s ‘X: The Life And Times Of Malcolm X’ Receives Rave Reviews For Groundbreaking Representation And Powerful Performance

• Politics

by Daniel Johnson

March 31, 2024

Former RNC Chair Michael Steele Calls Trump A ‘Visceral Animal’ Over Biden Hogtied Image

Steele insinuated that the legal system has more or less given Trump the freedom to attack people.

---

Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, referred to presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump as a “visceral animal” after Donald Trump shared a video of an image on the tailgate of a truck showing President Joe Biden hogtied in the bed of a pickup truck. 

Steele, now a political analyst for MSNBC, described Trump’s social media behavior during a segment on “The Weekend” program. 

“That concept [thinking before speaking] is way above Donald Trump’s paygrade, or I think, intellectual capacity, because he’s a visceral animal, politically and in business. He feels that what he says is truth, and I think that is part of the problem in this environment, is he thinks it’s truth what he’s saying.”

During the conversation, Steele insinuated that the legal system has more or less given Trump the freedom to attack people such as Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter.

Merchan, who is presiding over the trial relating to Trump’s hush money payments, issued a gag order which limits what Trump can say publicly about the case.

In a recent social media update, the ex-president insinuated, without substantiation, that Judge Merchan was capitulating to the political agenda of his daughter, a Democratic political consultant. Additionally, he said—claims later refuted by court authorities—that she had shared a photo on social media depicting Trump behind bars.

The gag order, however, did not extend to talking about Merchan and his family, which Steele accused Trump of cynically exploiting.

Steele said he was confused as to why the courts seemed reluctant to build clear guardrails around Trump. “I mean, I don’t get it at all. I’m confused about how the system still does not respond to the thing in front of it,” he said.

The Biden campaign responded to Trump’s post by calling back to a debate during the 2020 election moderated by Chris Wallace when Trump told the Proud Boys, a far-right militia group, to stand back and stand by.

“This image from Donald Trump is the type of crap you post when you’re calling for a bloodbath or when you tell the Proud Boys to ‘stand back and stand by,’” Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler told ABC News. 

Tyler was referring to the Jan. 6 insurrection, which Trump has been accused of inciting through his rhetoric. “Trump is regularly inciting political violence, and it’s time people take him seriously — just ask the Capitol police officers who were attacked protecting our democracy on January 6.”

Meanwhile, NBC News reports that Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung defended Trump, saying, “That picture was on the back of a pickup truck that was traveling down the highway.” Cheung also claimed Democrats were calling for violence against Trump, saying, “Democrats and crazed lunatics are actually weaponizing the justice system against him.”

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Steele Criticizes Trump Over Comments About Black Voters

• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 31, 2024

Family Of Slain Pregnant Woman Seeks Answers From Kansas City Police

The family of Elaysha Gilliam, a pregnant mother of four found dead in February, seeks answers from Kansas City police as the case stalls.

---

The family of Elaysha Gilliam, a 26-year-old pregnant woman found dead in a park in Kansas City, Missouri, seeks answers from police. Gilliam was expecting her fifth child.

The Kansas City Police confirmed that the discovery of Gilliam occurred on Feb. 19, located in a field near Dunbar Park. Pronounced dead by emergency personnel on the scene, Gilliam had multiple gunshot wounds present on her body, per NBC News. However, since finding her remains, the investigation into her death has stalled.

Gilliam’s family told news outlets that police have provided little information into what happened thus far. Clydetta Gilliam shared that the police were “dragging their feet” in uncovering who may have killed her stepdaughter.

“I want closure, we need answers,” expressed the stepmother. “The police are dragging their feet, but I need to go out here and solve the case myself. They aren’t giving us anything.”

The 46-year-old continued, “Are there any fingerprints from shell cases? What was found around her? Did she have clothes on when she was found?”

Gilliam’s death is especially tragic considering she leaves behind four children all under age 9. Her biological mother had moved in with her days prior to her murder, as the 26-year-old began making strides to better her and her family’s life. Her birth mother told Gilliam’s brother that she was on her way to see her boyfriend the night of her death.

Kansas City is wrestling with an increased homicide rate, especially for Black women. In 2023, local news outlet KSHB revealed that the Missouri city is considered the most dangerous state for the demographic. Data from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that Missouri had the highest rate of homicide for Black women in girls in 2020.

Kansas City police have made no arrests thus far but continue to investigate Gilliam’s case as a homicide. Detectives are offering a $25,000 reward to anyone with more information on the matter.

RELATED CONTENT: 5 Women Allege Kansas City Police Officers Raped Black Women With Impunity

• Celebrity News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 31, 2024

Lizzo Talks ‘Quitting’ Music After Constant Internet Hate

Lizzo says she's quitting music as the constant backlash has become too much for the star.

---

Lizzo may be putting down her microphone forever. The singer announced that she’s quitting the music scene due to constant harassment from critics on the internet.

Lizzo posted an emotional message to her Instagram story on March 29. In the post, she shared that the flack has taken a toll on her mentally. Complex shared a screenshot of her words.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by COMPLEX (@complex)

“I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet. All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it,” wrote Lizzo. “But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it. I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views… being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look… my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name.”

Celebrities sent their love to the emotionally troubled star, encouraging her to keep pursuing her craft.

“F that Do U,” commented Queen Latifah, as reported by the outlet.

Letoya Luckett said, “You are deeply loved.”

Lizzo has faced body-shaming throughout her career, despite her music promoting self-love. The backlash toward the singer’s body and persona has become too much for her to bear.

She is also in the midst of a legal battle with ex-dancers who accused her of fat-shaming and sexual harassment. The lawsuit, filed in August 2023, alleged weight discrimination faced by employees as well as forced participation in sexually charged activities.

The ex-dancers said that the singer fostered a hostile work environment, especially concerning given Lizzo’s advocacy for body positivity and safe spaces for all.

Another lawsuit, filed in December 2023 by a wardrobe designer on Lizzo’s tour, doubled down on the allegations.

Lizzo’s issue with online abuse reaches back before the lawsuits. In May 2023, she lambasted a hateful tweet regarding her body after a video of her performing went viral. She kept her Twitter private to limit the negative comments, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Despite Lizzo’s claims of quitting music, the singer made no further statement on if she really plans to do so.

RELATED CONTENT: Lizzo Wants To ‘Bring Back Gatekeeping’ To Stop White People ‘Talking Like Black People’

• Sports

by Daniel Johnson

March 31, 2024

Utah Women’s Basketball Team Allegedly Harassed, Called N-Word In Idaho

The FBI may get involved in the investigation of the harassment the University of Utah’s women's basketball team said they experienced.

---

A town in Idaho called Coeur d’Alene was described as a safe haven for white supremacists by the Idaho 97 Project, a local public advocacy group. And the University of Utah’s women’s basketball team was forced to stay there and endure “horrific” acts of racial hatred due to a lack of hotel space in the Spokane, Washington, area.

The University of Gonzaga, the NCAA, and Idaho Gov. Brad Little condemned the harassment and apologized to the University of Utah’s team, but the damage to the players had already been done.

As NBC News reports, the FBI is ready to investigate should it find reason to get involved. A spokesperson sent the outlet a statement: “We are aware of the incident in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and are in regular contact with local authorities. If, in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate.”

According to Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White, the FBI may have to get involved. As CNN reports, during a press conference, White said, “The Coeur d’Alene Police Department has an open case in this matter, and detectives are attempting to speak with any victims of this incident.”

White continued, “But so far, we don’t know exactly who that may be. It was initially reported that there was approximately 100 people who were in the vicinity of the incident when it occurred. We are working cooperatively with our partners at the FBI because there are federal statutes that may be appropriately charged based on what actually occurred.”

A spokesperson for the police informed CNN that the department is working with the University of Utah to interview those who may have witnessed or heard verbal abuse.

Deputy Athletic Director Charmelle Green, a Black woman, told KSL of her experience and how she and those with her on the trip felt after hearing the N-word yelled at them while walking to a restaurant. 

“We all just were in shock, and we looked at each other like, did we just hear that? Everybody was in shock — our cheerleaders, our students that were in that area that heard it, clearly were just frozen. We kept walking, just shaking our heads like, ‘I can’t believe that.’”

According to The Spokesman Review, a dispatch call made about the incident was released on March 28, and the dispatch caller alluded to the ugly history of the town several times before eventually stating that the team was scared.

“But let’s just put that in the past,” the man said on the call with an officer. “We just experienced that, and let me tell you, there are petrified young ladies that are here for a basketball tournament to play nationally televised games … You can’t control what the hillbilly white trash people do…This is such a bad look… And they’re afraid, and I’m not being dramatic.”

Utah Head Coach Lynne Roberts, a white woman, said during a postgame press conference on March 26 that racism is real, and it is awful. 

“Incredibly upsetting for all of us,” Roberts said. “You think in our world, in athletics and the university settings, it’s shocking. There’s so much diversity on a college campus and so you’re just not exposed to that very often. And so when you are, it’s like, you have people say, ‘Man, I can’t believe that happened.’ But racism is real and it happens, and it’s awful.”

Green, meanwhile, criticized the decision from the NCAA to choose to send the team to another state, let alone a city with the racist history and reputation of the city they found themselves in. 

“We were actually rather taken aback by our accommodations, because when we were planning to host we were having similar issues in which we were seeking hotels either in Provo or Park City or Ogden, and the NCAA said no to that, so the fact that we were sent to a place that wasn’t even the state that the university who’s hosting resides was incredibly problematic.”

Utah’s Athletic Director Mark Harlan echoed Green’s concerns, telling KSL that the team should never have been in that position. 

“When we’re on the road, we don’t want to go through anything that was described,” Harlan said. “We should not have been there. I do appreciate the NCAA and Gonzaga moving us from that situation, but we should never have been there in the first place. So a lot of folks need to get home and heal from the whole matter.”

RELATED CONTENT: University of Utah Investigating Report of Feces Smeared On Black Student’s Dorm Door; KKK Group On Campus

• Entrepreneurship

by Jeffrey McKinney

March 31, 2024

Philanthropic Fund Has Raised Over $2M For Entrepreneurs Of Color Pursuing Capital

The Revolve Fund has helped entrepreneurs of color secure $10.9 million in extra outside capital for their businesses and nonprofits.

---

Black entrepreneur and seasoned philanthropist James Wahls, founder and managing director of the Revolve Fund, is convinced recoverable grants are now a viable capital option for Black businesses.

Wahls said his firm has raised over $2 million in total funding, including $1.3 million in recoverable grants for entrepreneurs of color nationwide. And it just gained $300,000 from the Surdna Foundation to provide planning, grantmaking, and business support for grantees in the South. Further, he added that the fund seeks to raise another $10 million over the next three years.

He launched the Revolve Fund in 2020. Wahls said it has helped entrepreneurs of color secure $10.9 million in extra outside capital for their businesses and nonprofits through direct leverage, co-investment, referrals, and strategic guidance.

Wahls said recoverable grants can offer Black entrepreneurs prompt and adjustable funding to be used for several purposes. That could include starting a new venture, expanding an existing business, and testing new products. Recoverable grants have been a financing option for decades.

However, what perhaps makes the grants timely now is that access to capital remains a large obstacle for many Black businesses. A recent report showed that 76% of Black entrepreneurs reported that access to capital was a hurdle. Wahls maintains funders looking to catalyze businesses led by people of color should support recoverable grant strategies, yet they still need to be utilized.

“Entrepreneurs of color experience a host of challenges when attempting to start or scale their businesses,” he said. “It is imperative that the philanthropic sector and traditional investors develop unique tools that address years of exclusion to cater to this demographic. That is what the Revolve Fund attempts to do.”

So, what is a recoverable grant? Wahls defined it as a financial grant to a for-profit or nonprofit entity where all or part of the investment is returned or directed elsewhere. He said the grant is only repaid if certain financial milestones that support the grant’s charitable purposes are achieved. He stressed the grants are not a zero percent loan, a forgivable loan, or other financial product that includes typical loan-related provisions.

He pointed out that they can be offered by grantmaking organizations, including private foundations, public institutions, and nonprofit organizations. He said the grants offer an opportunity for Black business owners to demonstrate proof of repayment history and make them a stronger investment candidate. The firm reports 80% of its recoverable grantees are BIPOC-owned or -led organizations​.

Wahls said Revolve Fund receives grants and donations to offer recoverable grants. He added that current funders include the Annie E. Casey Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Open Society Institute-Baltimore.

Wahls brings over 15 years of experience to the Revolve Fund. That includes working at the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. He said he managed or co-managed over $250 million in impact investing allocations, including grant, equity, debt, and direct investments.

Wahls connected with BLACK ENTERPRISE and offered some feedback on how the Revolve Fund works.

BE: Please explain what your fund does and how it works?

Wahls: We offer recoverable grants. With a U.S. focus, we work to increase capital access through interest-free recoverable grant capital for businesses, nonprofit organizations, financial intermediaries, and emerging managers. Revolve offers a network of technical assistance partners, public relations professionals, and investors to help catapult the enterprises of grantees.

BE: What is rare about your firm’s recoverable grant process?

Wahls: Each recoverable grant is custom designed based on several factors and includes agreed upon repayment milestones. My goal is to create an atmosphere of trust and to facilitate knowledge transfers for grantees. We offer compassionate capital that helps entrepreneurs of color scale, connect with larger financial investors, and prepare for future growth.

BE: Please tell us what risks are tied to recoverable grants and whether your firm helps grantees overcome them?

Wahls: The risk falls on the Revolve Fund. If grantees don’t meet their financial metrics, they don’t have to return the money. So, that means that we’re out of our investments. But it is a risk that the fund is willing to pay to push small businesses led by Black people and people of color forward. If they do meet the financial metrics, then they repay the fund. That allows us to recycle the funds and invest in new entrepreneurs.

Those interested in applying for recoverable grants can do so here.

RELATED CONTENT:America’s Leading Black Philanthropists 

• News History

by Daniel Johnson

March 31, 2024

Two Men Charged In 2023 Murder Of Educator At Restaurant

Sidney Barrett Morris was 'executed as he ate alone at the counter of a restaurant,' according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

---

Two men have been charged for the 2023 murder of educator Sidney Barrett Morris, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Morris, according to the press release issued by the DA’s office on March 28, was “executed as he ate alone at the counter of a restaurant.”

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón expressed condolences to the family of Morris during the announcement of the charges his office is bringing against Morris’ alleged killers.

“The victim, Sidney Barrett Morris, had dedicated his life’s work to fostering inclusivity and harmony within our society, making his untimely death all the more devastating,” Gascón said. “I want to express my sincere condolences to Mr. Morris’ family. The brazenness of this shooting is alarming, and my office is fully committed to bringing accountability to those responsible for this heinous crime.”

According to the press release, 33-year-old Phillip Clark and 49-year-old Santana Kelly are each being charged with murder and conspiracy to commit a crime. Kelly is facing an additional felony charge of arson of property of another. That charge is in connection to allegations that he set fire to a getaway car the day after Morris’s murder in a bid to destroy evidence.

Clark and Kelly are being held on respective bail amounts of $4.06 million and $3.06 million. If convicted, they face maximum sentences of 85 years to life and 100 years to life, respectively. 

As NBC Bay Area reports, Clark is said to have walked into Fixins Soul Kitchen, headed straight for Morris, and opened fire on him as he ate alone. Morris died at the restaurant. At an arraignment hearing held the week of March 25, the pair pled not guilty; a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 25. 

Following the shooting of Morris, Fixins Soul Kitchen, which is owned by former Sacramento Mayor and former NBA point guard Kevin Johnson, issued a statement. “Fixins Soul Kitchen is shocked and saddened by the incident that occurred this evening at our LA location,” said the statement. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones.”

The case is still being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Major Crimes Division. Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi said in the DA’s press release, “While it does not bring Mr. Morris back to his loved ones, I am proud of the hard work and diligence of our Robbery Homicide Division to bring the murderers to justice.”

• Sports

by Daniel Johnson

March 31, 2024

Dawn Staley And South Carolina Keep Winning

Coach Dawn Staley picked up a $50,000 bonus.

---

Dawn Staley, arguably the best coach in women’s basketball, picked up a $50,000 bonus for guiding her undefeated South Carolina team to the Elite Eight in the women’s NCAA basketball tournament. So far this season, Staley, who got a $22 million bag from the university in 2020, has earned $240,000 in various performance bonuses. 

As On3 reports, Staley and her team earned the Elite Eight payday. Following two huge blowout wins, they faced their most difficult test so far in the tournament. The University of Indiana, led by Sydney Parrish, battled back from a 22-point deficit in the second half to cut South Carolina’s lead to three points.

Raven Johnson, whose much-improved three-point stroke is emblematic of the difference between South Carolina’s 2022-2023 team and this version, answered the call with a huge three with a little over a minute left in the game. 

Down low, South Carolina’s center Kamilla Cardoso was a dominant presence, something Staley told reporters after the game. “Dominant. Like I haven’t seen her play like that in a long time, meaning she imposed her will, her strength, she used her body. She used her determination to put us on her back and carry us over the finish line.”

Staley was also impressed with Johnson’s moxie, telling the Associated Press, “I saw Raven’s eyes coming down the stretch as our lead was diminishing, and I knew she wasn’t going to let us lose. She was going to do something. She had two big baskets.”

Johnson, meanwhile, continues to be fueled by the disrespect she was shown by Iowa and Caitlin Clark, who sagged off Johnson when she was at the three-point line during their matchup in 2023’s tournament. 

“I was open, and all I could think was, let it go. I don’t want to lose,” Johnson said. “Just going from last year. Nobody can sag off me this year, and I take that very personal. And I get in the gym every day and put up reps and I think that’s where it comes from, the confidence.”

The Gamecocks won that contest 79-75.

As The Athletic reports, Staley is winning off the hardwood, too. 

Her prolific career at the University of Virginia landed her a selection to the 1996 Olympic national women’s basketball team. That team, in turn, paved the way for the launch of the WNBA in 1997. Staley has been a consistent presence in basketball and a central figure in the evolution of the women’s game over the last 20 years. 

It is this history and these accomplishments that have earned her a feature-length documentary focusing on her as an illustration of just how rapidly the women’s game has grown. 

Staley released a statement to The Athletic detailing her belief that women’s basketball deserved its own historical documentation. 

“Women’s basketball has not been historically documented for future generations,” Staley said. “However, following discussions with Thomas Tull and the Words+Pictures team, I became convinced that their narrative approach and objectives aligned ideally with the creation of a landmark historical piece on women’s basketball.”

Kristen Lappas, one of the directors of the yet-to-be-titled film and the director of Giannis: The Marvelous Journey, told the outlet what makes Staley the perfect vehicle for such a documentary. “Nobody’s career and personal life has followed the trajectory of the evolution of women’s basketball in the same way as Dawn’s has. You can basically tell the story of women’s basketball via a focused lens through the career and life of Dawn Staley and how she impacted the game.”

The documentary is filming through December 2024 and includes a trip to Philadelphia, where Staley is from. It is targeted for a spring 2025 release and will reportedly feature conversations with 30 people, including fellow Hall of Famers Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie, as well as current women’s basketball star and freshman phenom at the University of Southern California JuJu Watkins.

RELATED CONTENT: Another One! Dawn Staley Again Named USBWA National Coach Of The Year

• Health and Wellness

by Jeffrey McKinney

March 31, 2024

Report: Nearly 30% Of Black Employees Unlikely To Work In A State That Effectively Bans IVF

Women nearly twice as likely than men to not support legislation banning IVF.  

---

Access to reproductive health care and battles over abortion rights are hot topics. Along those lines, some 29% of Black employees are unlikely to work in a state that passes legislation banning IVF. And 16% of the workers are not inclined to consider a job offer in a state with a restrictive abortion policy.

In vitro fertilization is a process of fertilization where an egg is combined with sperm in vitro (performed or taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living being).

Those discoveries are linked to a new report from ResumeBuilder.com, provided to BLACK ENTERPRISE. All told, 1,250 employed U.S. adults were surveyed to grasp how public policies on reproductive care affect their readiness to work in specific states.

To boot, 12% of Black pro-choice workers in states with the most restrictive abortion laws are pondering leaving. Some 18% are prone to go work elsewhere if such legislation is passed.

Overall, 50% of respondents don’t support legislation banning IVF. The survey surmised that women were roughly twice as likely as men to have that stance (40% versus 22%).

Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor, Stacie Haller, shared in a news release how public policies impacting women’s health care are influencing where Americans want to live and work. She added that the survey, with views from private practice, shows individuals are putting more emphasis on evaluating their employment choices on how they conform with what they want health-wise.

She pointed out, “In response to this shifting landscape, some companies are adapting by expanding their benefits packages. This may include offering higher salaries or providing compensation for travel expenses incurred when seeking health care services out of state.”

Further, (33%) of employees residing in states with highly restrictive abortion policies, who are against those policies, are extremely likely, very likel,y both (7%), or somewhat likely (19%) to leave the state, the  survey disclosed.

Women are more inclined than men (37% opposed to 29%) to report they would  leave the state over its restrictive reproductive policies.

Still, the survey indicated that 75% of them could be convinced to have second thoughts if they gained higher pay, enhanced benefits, and other perks.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Women Name Abortion The Top Issue Ahead Of 2024 Presidential Election