Refer To Him As ‘Ye’: Artist Formerly Known As Kanye West Denounces ‘Slave Name’
"Ye is a Black man in America who wants the right to full self-determination just like everyone else," wrote Ye's chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulous.
Kanye West is no more. The artist now known as “Ye” is demanding that the music industry recognize his name change.
His chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulous, reportedly sent a letter to various media outlets on Feb 26. urging them to oblige this request. In the letter, Yiannopoulous referred to the decision as not one made in vain, given the immense recognition of “Kanye West” as a brand. A fan account for the rapper posted a picture of the document.
The Chief of YEEZY staff is sending a letter to various platforms and entities, directing them to stop using "Kanye" and instead use "Ye"
"He [Ye] has on several occasions referred to it as his slave name. Ye is a black man in America who wants the right to full… pic.twitter.com/OkpLGEZrt3
“Ye is one of the most recognizable people in the world, on par with presidents and popes,” shared Yiannopoulous. “He didn’t take the decision to change his name, potentially sacrificing some of the immense value captured by the brand ‘Kanye West’ lightly. The change was made fully, legally, and permanently. The is who he is now. His name is Ye.”
The letter later states that West refers to his old moniker as his slave name. The Yeezy employee shared how, as a Black man, West has a right to self-determination in America. It should also be noted that Yiannopoulous is a former alt-right political commentator.
“He has on several occasions referred to it as his slave name,” detailed the letter. “Ye is a Black man in America who wants the right to full self-determination just like everyone else. My colleagues and I are reaching out at his urging and hope you can assist in this effort by bringing any and all instances of his name into line on your services.”
In 2021, a Los Angeles Judge legalized the name change. West listed “personal reasons” for the name change in court documents obtained byPage Six.
Alabama Governor Signs Bill Banning Diversity Programs In Public Schools And State Universities
The law stresses that it doesn't outright ban DEI; it prohibits state funds from being used for any DEI program.
Kay Ivey of Alabama became the latest governor in the South to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion from her state’s public universities when she signed SB129 into law on March 20.
As CNN reports, in Alabama’s version of the law, there is an additional requirement for those universities to “designate restrooms on the basis of biological sex,” which, according to Alabama state law, is defined as “the physical condition of being male or female, as stated on the individual’s original birth certificate.”
Ivey told CNNthat her administration “will continue to value Alabama’s rich diversity,” and that there is a “liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe.”
The law also bans students, employees, and contractors from any DEI “training, orientation, or course work that advocates or requires assent to a divisive concept.”
According to CNN, Alabama’s law says that divisive concepts include discussions about conscious or unconscious racism and sexism and prohibits discussions about “meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist.”
The law stresses that it doesn’t outright ban DEI, but prohibits state funds from being used for any DEI program. Meanwhile, universities are allowed to teach about events in a “historically accurate context” as well as being allowed to “engage in recruiting and outreach programs.”
Alabama’s ACLU has boisterously opposed the law on its website, writing, “This bill is intended to have a chilling effect on discourse regarding race, class, sexuality, and national origin, and seeks to characterize these discussions and accurate teachings, assignments, and trainings that also supplement them as ‘divisive.’”
The ACLU continued, “SB129 disrupts the work of student, staff, and faculty organizations at higher education institutions that rely on public funding from their university to develop DEI or culturally based programming. This is not only a form of classroom censorship, it’s an anti-truth bill which curtails an education on systemic inequities, racial violence, and the historic efforts to gain civil rights and civil liberties for marginalized communities throughout our nation’s history.”
Original Black Panther Party Members Speak at Virginia School Board Meeting Over Alleged Hate Speech Response
A white student allegedly wrote “I KILL N----R” on his arm.
After the Powhatan County (VA) Public School Board called a 3-hour public meeting to address the district’s lack of a response to hate speech, which many parents in the community believed constituted a death threat, members of the Original Black Panther Party spoke.
As The Daily Beast reports, hundreds of people attended the meeting, including Original Black Panther Party National General Mike Pain. Those who attended spoke out about racism they felt the district was allowing to fester.
Pain told the outlet, “The Original Black Panther Party has heard the cries of the Powhatan community. When the community hurts, we hurt. Our initial step was to confront the school board and allow them the opportunity to do right by the victims of not just this one terroristic threat but all the accusations that had been presented at the school board meeting.”
Pain continued, “If the Powhatan School Board continues to ignore these racially charged situations, we must move forward in protecting the students ourselves, by mentally arming them and their parents with new strategies to combat a racist environment.”
The Original Black Panther Party also released a statement to The Daily Beast, “We need people in these positions who will do right by all the children. Sweeping racial activity under the rug and ignoring the pain placed upon the students can not continue. The Original Black Panther Party will offer mediation to assist in bringing unity back to Powhatan County Public Schools. We also will offer a class on race relations for all the kids, parents, faculty, and staff.”
The tension originated from an incident at Powhatan High School where a white student allegedly wrote, “I KILL N—-R” on his arm as well as on another white student’s arm. A Black classmate took a photo.
“Without this picture, we wouldn’t be here now because it would have been their word against [my son’s],” Owens said. “So, I’m proud that he took the picture. I’m proud that he was brave enough to take the picture and come forward with it.”
According to WRIC, several parents and community members expressed outrage on Facebook that the student who allegedly wrote the messages on their arm was only suspended for three days. Others, including Owens, expressed that there is a culture of bigotry in the district’s other schools.
It wasn’t until March 10 that Powhatan Public Schools Superintendent Beth Teigen sent an email that addressed what happened, “Hateful speech and actions will not be tolerated. Period,” Teigen wrote.
A school board meeting was finally held March 18 after a meeting scheduled for March 12 was postponed due to the Fire Marshall raising concerns about the crowd size. This was after the local NAACP conducted its own meeting on March 7.
One Powhatan Middle School student, Yasmine Smith, a Black eighth-grader, told the school board, “Ever since I moved to Powhatan… I felt out of place because of the color of my skin. … Kids have said the N-word right to my face. I feel as if I can’t report anything because y’all will keep it on the low, give it little investigation and consequences.”
In a criticism of the all-white school board, a running theme during the meeting, according to The Daily Beast, former Powhatan School Board member Rick Cole, who is white, said the problems in the schools are representative of the problems in the community.
“We’ve failed to acknowledge that our school system reflects our community. This is not just a school problem; this is a county problem. This is a society problem. This is a Virginia problem. This is a United States problem,” Cole then directed the board, “Don’t stack committees with people who look just like you.”
In addition to the skepticism of the Original Black Panther Party that the school board will make the necessary changes, Powhatan’s NAACP branch told The Daily Beast that they had engaged with the board for years to no avail.
Powhatan Branch President Gail Hairston and Education Committee Chair Chiara Hoyt told the outlet in a joint statement, “We have no faith that they will make any of the necessary changes without sustained pressure and accountability. Many of them still have not responded formally to our organization, even after multiple emails, some of which included direct policy suggestions.”
They concluded, “Many of their final (and myriad other) comments indicate to the community that they are not equipped to lead in this moment, they do not understand the depth and complexity of the issues our marginalized children are facing, and they desire to remain willfully ignorant so that they do not have to go against their politically-motivated policy positions, even if that means continued harm to our children.”
Congressional Black Caucus Introduces Resolution Targeting Racial Wealth Gap
The resolution highlights policies historically keeping Black Americans from building wealth.
The Congressional Black Caucus announced a resolution on March 21 aimed at ending the racial wealth gap. The resolution highlights policies historically keeping Black Americans from building wealth before suggesting policy solutions to address those ills.
As The Hill reports, the bill aims primarily at housing, entrepreneurship, employment, tax equity, and voting rights, which the Caucus leadership believes is imperative for building a Democratic House majority focused on Black economic empowerment.
The 23 Regional Councils of NMSDC Back Congressional Black Caucus's Plan to Drive Black Wealth. pic.twitter.com/nVAs4gYcSu
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) told members of the Black press during a February meeting, “Our goal is simple: We want to create a Day One Agenda for the next Congress focused on Black economic creation for the start of a Democratic House majority.”
Horsford continued, “The Congressional Black Caucus will be in a position to advance an agenda that can move through the House, through the Senate, and signed by the President of the United States, one that addresses racial equity and the racial wealth gap, but also tackles some of these major issues.”
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), who helped draft the resolution, stated in the press release that the Caucus should address long-standing economic issues affecting Black Americans.
“Economic disparities continue to plague this country. We see it in unequal access to capital, appraisal bias, overrepresentation in minimum wage jobs, and constant barriers to wealth-building opportunities, to name just a few,” Beatty said. “While conservative activists seek to undo our recent gains, the Congressional Black Caucus stands united in the fight for equity, justice, and prosperity for every American. We know that when Black America succeeds, America succeeds.”
The plan is based on the Black Economic Alliance Foundation report, “Policy Agenda to Advance Black Work, Wages and Wealth” which points out that white Americans have an average wealth per capita of $284,310 compared to a figure of $44,100 for Black Americans.
In 2020, William “Sandy” Darity and A. Kirsten Mullen argued in a commentary on reparations and the racial wealth gap for Brookingsthat the racial wealth gap is based on the unmet promise of reparations. They also traced a lack of policy aimed at rectifying the racial wealth gap from Reconstruction to the 20th Century in their commentary.
“The origins of this gulf in Black and white wealth stem from the immediate aftermath of slavery when a promise made to provide the formerly enslaved with 40 acres in land grants went unmet—while many white Americans were provided substantial ‘hand outs’ (typically 160 acres) of land in the West,” they wrote.
Rep. Glenn Ivey, (D-MD) who helped draft the legislation, stated in the press release that Black American prosperity is good for everyone.
“From education to entrepreneurial opportunity, from equity in housing and healthcare to equal treatment at the ballot box and at the bank, Black wealth creation must build upon the solid foundation that what’s good for our Black communities is ultimately good for the American economy, American society, and America at large.”
The Black Economic Alliance President/CEO Samantha Tweedy communicated via the press release that her organization looks forward to working with the CBC. “We share these leaders’ commitment to community-informed, data-driven steps to move economic opportunity for Black Americans to the forefront of our nation’s agenda.”
Maryland Town Suspends Entire Police Force Amid Ongoing Investigation
The move has left residents feeling "blindsided."
Ridgely, Maryland, a town on Maryland’s Eastern shore, has suspended its entire police force due to the ongoing investigation conducted by state prosecutors.
One resident said she was “blindsided” by the abrupt decision.
“It makes you question the integrity of people who are supposed to protect and serve,” Holly Justice, a Ridgely business owner, told the Associated Press.
Resident Laura Cline expressed her disappointment with the department’s lack of communication.
‘We’re adults—thinking, rational adults who deserve the truth,” she said.
The Town Of Ridgely posted a statement on its website last week but did not offer details as to why the six-member police force was suspended.
“The Commissioners of Ridgley (the “Commissioners”) suspended with pay the entirety of the Ridgely Police Department (the “Department”), effectively immediately, pending investigation by the Office of State Prosecutor,” the post reads.
According to city officials, officers from the nearby Caroline County Sheriff’s Office will step in to respond to emergency calls in the small town of 1,621 people. The town is 74.87% white and 12.97% Black or African American, according to the latest U.S. census.
Some residents they are concerned about emergency response times if they need help. Caroline County Sheriff David Baker, says that his agency is equipped to handle the extra calls.
This isn’t the first time the department has faced controversy.
In 2018, Ridgeley’s former police chief Gary Manos was involved in the killing of 19-year-old Anton Black. The teen died after being pinned down by Manos and two other off-duty officers from the neighboring towns of Greensboro and Centerville. The three officers held the handcuffed teen down for more than five minutes. The teen died of “sudden cardiac arrest,” according to medical reports.
Black’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the towns of Ridgley, Greensboro, and Centerville, and was awarded a $5 million settlement.
When the Associated Press requested details of the investigation, the Maryland State Prosecutor’s office declined to comment.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Appoints New Police Chief Amidst Rising Crime Concerns
Oakland has been a revolving door for police chiefs. Since 2005, 12 permanent and interim chiefs of police have been hired and fired.
On March 22, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao announced the hiring of Floyd Mitchell, the former police chief of Lubbock, Texas, to the same position in the Bay Area city.
As KQEDreports, Thao hopes that Mitchell can provide long-term stability to a department since LeRonne Armstrong was fired in February 2023.
Good Morning, Oakland. Today, I am honored to announce the next Chief of the Oakland Police Department.
“I know that he’s a strong leader, and I know that he’s a smart crime fighter who delivers results,” Thao told KQED in an interview. “His commitment to proven crime-reduction strategies include proactive policing, and the most important part is the strong officer community engagement.”
Mitchell’s record of effective crime reduction in Texas, where he was the City of Lubbock’s first Black police chief, made him an attractive hire for Thao.
According to data from the Mayor of Lubbock’s office, crime in the city was reduced by 5% between 2020 and 2021 before it went up by 7% the following year.
In Temple, a smaller Texas town, the mayor’s office said that crime fell each year Mitchell was police chief.
Others are concerned about other aspects of Mitchell’s record, such as former Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte, who told KQEDshe was concerned about 911 response times.
“I am troubled by some of what he brings, particularly as it relates to 911 response times. He left his old job because of concerns with that. Oakland, as you know, has for months been trying to fix our 911 response time,” Harbin-Forte said. “I hope he will be able to get up to speed and get Oakland up to speed on this.”
Thao, as Mercury News reported, believes that Mitchell can implement one of the department’s key violence interruption initiatives, similar to others being employed around the country.
As The Guardian reported, Operation Ceasefire, as Oakland’s initiative is known, was shifted by the pandemic and never returned to its pre-pandemic focus on people as opposed to another version of “broken-windows” policing.
Thao conceded that Mitchell is going to have to answer the questions swirling about his resignation around the 911 response time. “There were no excuses from him,” Thao said. “He talked about what he learned from the situation that makes him a better police officer, a better chief.”
However, as an outsider, Mitchell is going to have to get the department to buy into his program, as former Oakland police chief Anne Kirkpatrick told Mercury News.
Oakland has been a revolving door for police chiefs since 2005. In that time, 12 permanent and interim chiefs of police have been hired and fired. Part of what makes the job in Oakland difficult are the competing values of calls for safety and its history of police brutality, which it is currently under orders from federal courts to curtail.
Cat Brooks, the co-founder of Oakland’s Anti Police-Terror Project, told KQED, “I’m concerned that might be a move he makes to quell the more conservative, carceral voices that have gotten louder in Oakland.”
“As Oakland’s police chief I look forward to working together with our residents, business owners, city leadership, and members of the police commission to build a stronger and safer Oakland,” Mitchell said in a statement, according to Oaklandside. “I am excited about the opportunity to meet the members of the police department, interact with all the people who call this beautiful city home, and become an integral part of this special place.”
Couple Goes Viral After Disinviting Non-RSVP’d Guests To Their Wedding
A couple sent an unconventional note to their invitees, and the internet has some strong opinions.
Wedding planning can be daunting, especially when you are unsure how many guests will attend. A couple decided to take matters into their own hands by disinviting people who did not RSVP in time.
“We are sorry you can’t make it to our wedding. Our RSVP deadline has passed and you unfortunately did not respond. We would have love to have you attend but final numbers have now been turned in and your presence will be missed,” reads the note that was posted by user ChiChi on X.
The post, which has 11 million views, received many comments in support of the couple.
“Can’t lie, I’m very impressed they stood their ground. If you can’t take my wedding serious then you don’t deserve to be there.” one commenter said.
An X user who goes by the name of Trini87 said that he wished he had done the same thing.
I wish my wife and I had done this. It would have avoided so much stress as the venue needed to know our final numbers but people were taking too long to respond. Also, people RSVP’d as coming but never showed up. We paid $175 per plate for catering. Those spots could have gone…
“I wish my wife and I had done this. It would have avoided so much stress as the venue needed to know our final numbers but people were taking too long to respond. Also, people RSVP’d as coming but never showed up. We paid $175 per plate for catering. Those spots could have gone to others that we wanted to come but couldn’t invite because of our budget,” he said.
Some users thought the couple could have given their guests some grace.
“Such events should be attended by close family and friends…whom you can reach out to and remind them to RSVP – if you can create an ‘I’m sorry you missed’ you could’ve used that time to reach out to your people,” an X user wrote.
“Who puts the ACTUAL date on ANYTHING due??? I always lie by a week or two, work/personal, colleague/ friend or family. People have lives, factor that into dates & times. And, if it’s that important, call to follow upyou got 2 weeks.” X user Sophia wrote.
Were the soon-to-be newlyweds too harsh, or were they standing on business?
Charlotte Shopping Mall Thrives As ‘Black Mecca’ For Black-Owned Businesses
Thanks to Black-owned businesses, the Northlake Mall in Charlotte is now thriving.
Things may be turning around for Northlake Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, thanks to Black-business owners, WCNC reports.
Looking for a fresh start following financial woes and growing crime rates, Northlake is embracing Black businesses in hopes they will turn things around. Entrepreneurs like Danyell Butler, co-owner of Modified Kicks, said, lots of the negative rumors have been silenced. Like many other business owners, Butler said things have been difficult but he is grateful for the space. “If we go back just a couple of years, I was homeless sleeping in a car,” Butler said.
But with some paint and paintbrushes, his creative niche with shoes and clothes has turned things around. “To reach the level we have now, it’s kind of unreal. It is becoming more of a Black mecca. It’s becoming a smorgasbord of companies that have unique styles,” Butler said.
Butler’s business is just one of several new Black-owned additions to the Queen City-based shopping center. As of November 2023, Northlake has welcomed some of Charlotte’s favorites including Charlotte’s Nails, Vixen Ready Art Factory, 3Six92, D. Williams Suits, and Destination Sweets, according to WSOC-TV. The additions proved healthy growth for the space—bringing the mall’s occupancy to 85%, higher than the 2022 holiday season level of 74%.
Mall officials say there are now 19 Black-owned businesses at the mall, making up 17% of all businesses there, which range from bakeries to nail salons to sharply tailored suits. Adam Kamlet, the general manager of Northlake Mall said he is excited to present such a diverse offering. “Our shoppers will find something special for every occasion,” Kamlet said in a statement.
With the love of online shopping capturing the heart of consumers following the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses are the target to rekindle the relationship with customers and brick-and-mortar stores. LaToya Evans, owner of Charlotte’s Nails, said she doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that violence has gone down with Black-owned businesses being present.
She feels that by investing in Charlotte entrepreneurs, others can witness the shift in the culture, providing opportunities to see dreams come true and create generational wealth at the same time. “Being able to have more Black-owned businesses isn’t just great for the economy within the Black community, but it’s great for the local economy,” Evans said. “It’s great for our city to be able to say that anyone can come here, and anyone can thrive.”
NBA G League Ignite To Disband After Current Season Amid Changing Landscape Of Youth Basketball Development
The team was started to give basketball prospects the chance to develop their skills in a professional environment to prepare for the NBA Draft.
The NBA has announced that NBA G League Ignite, a team that is owned and operated by the league, will cease to exist after this current season.
NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim made the announcement four years after the NBA first started the team to give high school and college prospects the chance to develop their skills in a professional environment to prepare for the NBA Draft.
“Four years ago, we started Ignite to fill a void in the basketball landscape, and I’m proud of the contributions we were able to make to that ecosystem,” said Abdur-Rahim in a written statement. “With the changing environment across youth and collegiate basketball, now is the right time to take this step. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to general manager Anthony McClish, head coach Jason Hart, and their staff, and to each player who wore an Ignite jersey. As ever, the G League’s commitment to developing top NBA talent and helping players achieve their NBA dreams is unwavering.”
The reason given for the team’s termination is the current climate in the NCAA, where student-athletes can capitalize on their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), which allows students to accept endorsement deals from any interested companies.
When the league introduced the G League Ignite team in April 2020, it provided a first-of-its-kind development pathway for NBA Draft prospects to hone their skills and learn the professional game, all while receiving a salary and endorsement income before they were eligible for the NBA Draft.
In the team’s first three seasons, 10 players who were developed through the team were selected in the NBA Draft, including four players selected in the top 10 of their classes. Some players participating in the NBA G League Fall Invitational were offered a platform for top prospects to showcase their talents. Victor Wembanyama (currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs) participated in 2022, while Alexandre Sarr and the Perth Wildcats played last year.
The team will play its last game on March 28 against the Ontario Clippers.
String Of Shootings Across Metro Atlanta Leaves Multiple Dead And Injured
At least six people are dead and five wounded after multiple shootings occurred in the Atlanta area since March 21.
At least six people are dead and five wounded because of multiple shootings that occurred in the Atlanta area since March 21.
As Atlanta News First reported, at least three of those incidents were officer-involved shootings, including one on March 23 where a 34-year-old man who was reportedly pointing a gun at patrons of a bar and acting “unruly” was shot by officers after he allegedly pointed a gun at responding officers.
The man was taken to a hospital where he was received in critical condition.
Another shooting happened near a hospital in Snellville around 4 a.m. Officers allege that a man who was pulled over by police pointed a gun to his own head as a response to being told that he was under arrest and to exit his vehicle.
Officers claimed they tried to get the man to put the weapon down, but he fired, and officers also reportedly discharged their weapons. It is unclear at this time whether or not he was killed by his weapon or one of the officers weapons.
Another shooting occurred following a high-speed chase which began in Birmingham, Alabama. Once the suspect crossed into Georgia, according to the sheriff’s office, Haralson County deputies picked up the chase. The sheriff’s office claimed that once the suspect spun out on I-20, the suspect shot at officers, who returned fire. They have not yet clarified if any officers were wounded.
These shootings are in addition to the ones reported by WSBTV, where in nine shootings since March 21, at least five people have been killed and six injured.
At around 6:30 p.m. March 21, two people were shot at an Atlanta area apartment complex. One was killed and the other was taken to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. The police have not said what the circumstances were that led to that shooting.
In Gwinnett County, officers responded to a shooting that left one dead and another injured.
According to the 911 caller, someone inside his apartment shot him, and he shot back at them. The victim, 29-year-old Faisel Norley, died at the hospital, while the 911 caller, who has not yet been identified, lived. Officers are attempting to discern who fired the first shot after they are believed to have gotten into a fight inside the apartment.
In DeKalb County, a man allegedly shot another man to death in front of a tattoo shop during the early hours of March 22. Officers were able to find 35-year-old Jonathan Thomas, who has been charged with murder and other charges.
Atlanta police responded to reports of a shooting where they found one man with a gunshot wound to his stomach. Police were able to ascertain that the victim had come across a man trying to break into his car. The man who was shot, officers believe, was shot by an occupant of the vehicle that picked up the suspect.
In South Fulton County, officers responded to a shooting where a man who had arrived at the mother of his child’s house to pick up his child got into a fight with a man who was visiting her. The man who had arrived to pick up his child was shot and was taken to a local hospital. Officers are still investigating.
Finally, at 4:50 am on March 22, Atlanta police responded to reports of a shooting where they found two victims with gunshot wounds. One survived and the other died in the hospital that they were both taken to.
One of Atlanta’s most prominent residents, rapper Quavo has been leading an effort to help address gun violence. Recently, as BLACK ENTERPRISE reported, his efforts culminated in the formation of a $100,000 initiative aimed at helping to curb gun violence in Atlanta.
As the rapper told the Associated Press,he sees his newfound advocacy as a “calling.”
“You don’t think nothing is going to happen,” Quavo said. “I need to step up to the plate and hit a homerun. I have to do something about it, so it won’t happen to the masses — especially in our culture. I don’t want this to happen to the next person. I want to knock down these percentages.”
Quavo continued, “We need to do better with the control of guns. We need to figure out how do we keep these types of incidents from happening to people going anywhere and thinking they can hurt somebody where it shouldn’t happen.”
