Inaugural Black Women In Tech Cohort Class

by Stacy Jackson

March 12, 2024

Inaugural Black Women In Tech Cohort Class To Graduate On March 15

With its commitment to empowering Black women in tech, this groundbreaking program is paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive future.

The inaugural cohort class of Black Women in Tech, a pioneering program aimed at increasing the representation of women of color in the tech industry, is set to graduate on March 15.

The trailblazing initiative offers training and skill development at all levels for women embarking on or transitioning to careers in tech. It also caters to those seeking to enhance their expertise or advance in the tech industry, according to WVXU News.

The news outlet reported that the program offers Google Career Certificates in six areas: IT support, UX design, data analytics, project management, cybersecurity, and digital marketing and e-commerce.

The three-month program, with classes meeting 16 hours per week, also supports participants’ success by providing services like childcare, mentoring, case management, and financial education workshops.

Ebony Young, vice president of impact for the Urban League, said about the initiative: “These women have worked hard to complete the work necessary to enter an in-demand field with good salaries and growth opportunities.

“We’re so happy to play a small role in their success and look forward to seeing what they do next.”

A graduate of the data analytics program, Keturah Tatum, said about being part of this groundbreaking program: “In today’s digital world, access to technology is very important.

“This program, for me, especially being that it was one of the first cohorts for Black women, I really believe that it helped to facilitate learning and skill development within our community,” Tatum continued. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen this level of engagement in the tech field for Black women.”

Tatum, who is an operations specialist and a small-business owner (Kadosh Aromas), told WVXU News that she is in a good position to advance at her company. She noted it’s all thanks to the skills she has acquired to build on the abilities she already has.

Taylor Higgins, another graduate, participated in the project management course. The founder of Taylored Design Co. said, “I am an entrepreneur, and I’m always looking to learn new things.”

“It’s really cool to be able to have the support to strengthen our individual capabilities, but also leverage contracts and pursue new business opportunities effectively,” Higgins also said to WVXU News.

Black Women in Tech was made possible by collaboration between the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, Brighton Center, the Community Action Agency, and the Gaskins Foundation. The program also got support from JPMorgan Chase, Google, and the Workforce Innovation Center of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the news outlet reported.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 12, 2024

Flashy Brooklyn Pastor Lamor Whitehead Found Guilty Of Fraud And Attempted Extortion

Scamming never works.....

Lamor Whitehead, the Brooklyn pastor known for his larger-than-life lifestyle, has been found guilty of wire fraud, attempted extortion, and lying to the FBI.

In a federal courtroom on March 11, Whitehead was found guilty of five counts after the trial began in late February 2024. Prosecutors argued the pastor of Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries boasted about a friendship with NYC Mayor Eric Adams and let his greed take over as he scammed the retirement savings of one church member and attempted to extort a businessman.

He also allegedly lied to FBI agents in denying he had a second cell phone.

Prosecutors allege that Whitehead scammed Pauline Anderson out of $90,000 of retirement savings by falsely promising to find her a home and invest the remaining balance in his real estate business. Instead, he spent the money on himself, mainly on luxury goods and clothing.

Upon taking the stand on Feb. 27, Anderson described Whitehead as a trusted “mentor and spiritual adviser” to her son.

“I trusted him,” Anderson testified tearfully. “He said he had real estate experience. He was a man of God — he prayed for me in earnest. I believe in God, so I believed he would honestly help me to get this house.”

Bronx businessman Brandon Belmonte accused Whitehead of convincing him to loan $500,000 after mentioning that Mayor Adams was his “key to the city” and that he could assist with stop-work orders on a property the two were in talks of purchasing. Adams and the pastor formed a mentor-mentee relationship during Adams’ tenure as Brooklyn’s borough president.

Known as the “Bling Bishop,” Whitehead pleaded not guilty to all charges but gave a teary-eyed sermon on March 10 before hearing the verdict. “This is a time where we rejoice in the Lord; this is not a time to be sad. I know I got choked up a little bit, but just thinking about the goodness, not thinking about the badness, it was the goodness,” he said.

“There are always going to be people who wish on your downfall. But just understand that God will step up. Don’t worry about tomorrow because we know who holds tomorrow. Amen.”

Whitehead’s lawyer, Dawn Florio, said they would appeal the verdict after telling the jury that evidence against her client didn’t support the charges.

The Canarsie, Brooklyn-based preacher’s exuberant lifestyle came to light in July 2022, after he was the victim of an armed robbery during his live-streamed church service, where the thieves got away with $1 million worth of jewelry. Following the theft, Whitehead continued to drive around in a Rolls-Royce, and records show that he lived in a $1.6 million home in Paramus, New Jersey.

by Daniel Johnson

March 12, 2024

Demanding Equality: Women’s Equal Pay Day Addresses Pay Inequality For Women

In 2010, the ACLU pushed for the Paycheck Fairness Act to get passed, writing in a statement that it was a much-needed enhancement of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which has largely been unenforced.

In recognition of Equal Pay Day, which CNN reports is observed this year on March 12, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike called attention to how the issue of equal pay uniquely affects the women workers in the WNBA. Ogwumike posted a graphic calling attention to the need for the WNBA’s workers to remain transparent about what they make, followed by a direct quote from the WNBPA.

“The purpose of Equal Pay Day is to raise awareness to the gap that exists between men’s & women’s wages,” the quote reads. “It’s observed today to mark the current state of the gender pay gap for women: 84% for full-time & year-round workers, 78% for all workers.”

My 2024 salary is $204,500. Pay transparency is crucial for Pay Equity. #EqualPayDay #PayEquity @TheWNBPA pic.twitter.com/ORYNwx2MMi
— Nneka Ogwumike (@nnekaogwumike) March 12, 2024

In 2021, NBC Sports highlighted that a large part of the reason that women’s sports in general, and the WNBA in particular, face a large pay gap in comparison to men’s leagues is due to underinvestment in their leagues, fed by sexist beliefs.

Will Allen, a former Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers player, told CNBC in 2021 that the fight for pay equity was not a women’s issue but a societal one. “It’s important that women are not only paid equal, but treated with equal respect,” said Allen, adding that it was important for men to “be advocates and fight for equal pay and gender equality.”

As CNN reports, the date has moved up recently, which indicates some progress as far as the gender pay gap is concerned. However, the existence of the observation in 2024 is yet another reminder of how far we have to go as a society to achieve equal pay for equal work. There are other days in the year that reflect the inequities of specific groups of women; the equal pay days for Black and Indigenous women will fall on July 9 and Nov. 21, respectively, in 2024, an expression of just how wide the gap is for those groups in particular.

According to AAUW, “the goal of Equal Pay Days is to raise awareness about the ongoing gender pay gap and how the pay gap varies significantly among different communities, particularly for women of color.”

There has been some action, notably on the state level, aimed at helping to alleviate the pay equity problem. This has led to a push for more comprehensive federal action, such as the Salary Transparency Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, two bills that have been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate on multiple occasions. Deborah Vagins, the national campaign director of Equal Rights Advocates and the director of Equal Pay Today, told CNN that these federal actions are critical to getting women actual pay equity sooner rather than later.

According to Equal Pay Today, the Paycheck Fairness Act, in particular, contains significant protections for those impacted by the gender pay gap. That act in particular would “bar retaliation against workers who voluntarily discuss or disclose their wages; close loopholes that have allowed employers to pay women less than men for the same work … [and] ensure women can receive the same robust remedies for sex-based pay discrimination that are currently available to those subjected to discrimination based on race and ethnicity.”

In 2010, the ACLU pushed for the Paycheck Fairness Act to get passed, writing in a statement that it was a much-needed enhancement of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which has largely been unenforced. “The Paycheck Fairness Act will help secure equal pay for equal work for all Americans. The bill would update the Equal Pay Act of 1963, a law that has not been able to achieve its promise of closing the wage gap because of limited enforcement tools and inadequate remedies.”

by Daniel Johnson

March 12, 2024

Family Of Melvin Jay Calls For Justice After Bodycam Video Released

Shelton allegedly ordered Jay to put his hands up, which he complied with. Then Shelton fatally shot him.

Melvin Jay’s family is demanding justice after he was fatally shot in his home by Prince George County (MD) Department officer Braxton Shelton on Feb. 1.

The family, DC News Now reports, plans to file a civil suit.

Shelton responded to a break-in at Jay’s apartment complex, but was not informed by the dispatcher that anyone was inside. Shelton allegedly ordered Jay to put his hands up. The 31-year-old reportedly complied before Shelton shot and killed him.

https://twitter.com/MissBeaE/status/1765522988131115076?t=7l5huMiEUVp722kL7A9aJA&s=19

Attorney for Melvin Jay's Estate, Andrew O. Clarke told reporters “The 911 Caller gave a description of the person that he believed that was burglarizing his home that description did not match. Mr. Jay. That description was not related to Officer Braxton.” pic.twitter.com/8mVvnoU78i
— Beatrice Peterson (@MissBeaE on all platforms) (@MissBeaE) March 7, 2024

PGCD officials say that Jay had a gun inside his pocket when he was shot, and another was located by the sink.

District 7 county Councilmember Krystal Oriadha told the outlet that Jay should not have been killed. “We have to make sure that this incident doesn’t happen in vain and someone learns from this so that a moment like this doesn’t happen again,” Oriadha said. “No matter the circumstances, he did not have to die.”

Jay’s family held a press conference March 6 at A Clarke Law in conjunction with the advocacy group Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, where they called for Jay to receive justice.

The pain we feel is immeasurable,” said Leonard Lee Jr., Jay’s cousin. “And the questions swirling in our minds are endless. Our grief is raw, our anger is justified, and our resolve is unwavering.”

“We’re always told, ‘Think before you act and react so you won’t regret your decision,” Jade Mathis, the Jay family’s attorney, said in a statement. “Or ‘make a decision that cannot be repaired.’ That rule should not be an exception just because you’re wearing a uniform or a badge.”

Shelton has been on paid leave ever since the incident occurred.

As Fox 5 DC reported, following the release of the bodycam video, the family has been relentlessly calling for justice. An unnamed cousin told the outlet, “We are hurt. We are just tormented by the video, the fact that we cannot hear him, hug him, say ‘I love you,’ it’s just devastating to all of us,” Jay’s cousin told Shomari Stone. “We seek justice. We are going to allow this to unfold, allow the truth to come out, you know, and seek justice for my cousin. Because he deserves it. He did not deserve what happened to him.”

Attorney Andrew Clark, who is representing the family of Jay in a yet to be filed civil suit, told Fox 5, “For compliance to happen, and for you still to be shot, what kind of world are we living in here today? Melvin Jay did not deserve to die.”

Clark continued, “Well, I ask you to sit in your home, on your cozy couch, and have somebody that you don’t know that is coming into your house, barge into your house, and start making commands to you, and see how you react to that.”

‘The New Brownies’ Book’ Wins NAACP Image Award For Outstanding Nonfiction

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 12, 2024

‘The New Brownies’ Book’ Wins NAACP Image Award For Outstanding Nonfiction

"The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families" has won the NAACP Image Award For Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction.

The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families has won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction. The coffee table book won prior to the live airing of the 55th annual event.

The New Brownies’ Book was published in October 2023 by Charly Palmer and Karida L. Brown. The husband-and-wife duo were inspired by W.E.B. DuBois’ original children’s magazine, published in 1920 as the first of its kind to focus on Black youth. Excerpts from DuBois’ work are found throughout this modern take.

The creators of the book previously spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about their mission to engage with and inspire Black youth as well as honoring the vision of DuBois.

The New Brownies’ Book seeks to promote Black families and authors by featuring their creative works, ranging from short stories to poetry and fine art. Its contributors are not only esteemed writers, such as BE‘s Director of Content Ida Harris, but youth artists. The children’s creations are displayed throughout, making the book an engaging read for all age groups.

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A post shared by Charly Palmer (@charlylpalmer)

“I, along with a collective of 49 writers and artists, woke up winners of a NAACP Image Award for our art,” Harris said.

“It’s a testament to the power and beauty of village work, the urgency of sustaining Black art, and to carrying forward Dr. W.E.B. Dubois’ vision and that which his committed editor Jessie Redmon Fauset actualized, in an contemporary, inclusive and tangible way.”

The New Brownies’ Book won over four other esteemed works, including The Art of Ruth E. Carter and Black AF History. It now joins previous winners such as Barack Obama’s A Promised Land and Nikole Hannah-Jones’ The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.

The 55th NAACP Image Awards will take place on March 16, airing live on BET. For those who want a copy of the award-winning book, it can be purchased across multiple retailers.

by Stacy Jackson

March 12, 2024

Miami’s Millionaire Boom: A 75% Surge Over The Past Decade

Florida's lack of state income tax, estate tax, and capital gains tax continues to lure the ultrarich to Miami.

The influx of the ultrawealthy in Miami has skyrocketed, with a 75% increase in millionaires over the past decade.

Charlie Garcia, a managing partner at R360, an exclusive community for ultrawealthy individuals with an average net worth of around $400 million, noted, “If you look at the number of billionaires who have moved to Florida, it’s off the charts. It’s causing issues.” He told Fortune, “Getting dinner reservations has gotten a lot more difficult.”

The “305” has emerged as one of the top U.S. destinations for millionaires and billionaires, with the millionaire population growing by 90% in West Palm Beach and 75% in Miami over the past decade, according to a 2023 Wealth Report. Miami ranks among the top four cities with the highest concentration of millionaires, centi-millionaires, and billionaires.

Garcia attributed the spike in Florida-based membership at R360 partly to recent tax law changes in states like Washington, which imposed a 7% capital gains tax in 2022. “It’s not what you have or what you make, it’s what you keep…what you keep every year, what you keep when you die…what you keep if there’s a slip and fall in your house, and they come after you for everything,” he said.

Florida’s lack of state income tax, estate tax, and capital gains tax makes it an attractive destination for the ultrawealthy seeking to preserve their wealth.

Jeff Bezos, who moved from Washington to Miami, is the most notable recent transfer. According to Fortune, the billionaire is expected to save around $600 million in taxes over the next year as he unloads stock with e-commerce giant Amazon. While some states like California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, and Washington are imposing or proposing additional levies on the wealthy, the Sunshine State’s tax-friendly policies continue to lure the ultrarich.

“The laws aren’t going to cause people to move if there aren’t other reasons to move…it’s a much more complex decision,” Barbara Goodstein, another managing partner at R360’s New York office, said.

She emphasized that Florida’s allure as a destination for the affluent extends beyond its favorable tax policies, but it is also highly sought after for its warm weather, housing, and cultural attractions.

Business Insider reported that the rise of remote work has played a pivotal role in fueling the state’s population surge, providing increased flexibility for professionals to relocate. However, this influx is not solely driven by individuals; businesses have also been flocking to the Sunshine State in droves.

A comprehensive analysis of SEC filings by HireAHelper.com revealed a remarkable 86% increase in the number of corporate headquarters established in Florida during the 12-month period ending in March 2023 –- the highest growth rate among all states. The study further highlighted that three Florida cities — Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami — secured positions within the top 10 U.S. cities, gaining the most corporate headquarters, underscoring the state’s burgeoning appeal as a business hub.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 12, 2024

Mo’Nique Reveals Katt Williams Helped Fellow Comedian Yvette Wilson Until She Died

She stated that Katt 'just stepped in and took care of that sister until she left this earth.'

Comedian Mo’Nique recently revealed another act of kindness that fellow artist Katt Williams partook in, which many people may not have known. She expressed that Williams took in Moesha actress Yvette Wilson to care for her before she died in 2012.

In a recent Instagram Live video, Mo’Nique and her husband, Sidney Hicks, discussed Williams and mentioned the tidbit about Wilson, who played the character Andell Wilkerson on both the television show Moesha and the spinoff series The Parkers, which starred Mo’Nique. She died in 2012 after losing a battle with stage 4 cervical cancer and kidney disease.

Mo’Nique once again stood up to defend Williams in the video clip.

“I want to say this about our brother Katt Williams,” Mo’Nique stated. “Through the years, I would always hear things like, ‘OK, he won’t show up to the shows, he ain’t this, he ain’t that.’ That’s one of the purest cats in this game.”

The couple were speaking about “TRUTH, ACCOUNTABILITY, & TRAUMA.”

Well into the conversation, she turned her attention to the Friday After Next actor and stated that she sought his permission to reveal the kind act he did for a fellow human being in her time of need. Wilson, who was also a comedian who appeared in House Party 2, House Party 3, and Friday, needed money to assist with her medical care.

A friend, Jeffrey Pittle, started an online fundraiser on giveforward.com, which was acquired by GoFundMe, to obtain $25,000 for the actress.

When “the website only raised 56% of the $25,000 needed” to assist Wilson, Mo’Nique stated that Williams took care of her “until she left this earth. Atlanta Black Star reported that Williams donated $12,000 to the cause. Mo’Nique said, “There was a woman named Yvette Wilson, who played Andell on ‘The Parkers,’ and when Andell took ill, it was a man named Katt Williams who just stepped in and took care of that sister until she left this earth.”

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A post shared by Mo’nique (@therealmoworldwide)

Victoria Monét, Chris Brown, NAACP, image award, winners

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 12, 2024

Victoria Monét And Chris Brown Lead Early Winners At NAACP Image Awards

Victoria Monét and Chris Brown are taking the lead at the NAACP Image Awards.

Victoria Monét and Chris Brown have taken the lead at the NAACP Image Awards virtual ceremony that started Monday, March 11.

The three-day event takes place online ahead of Saturday’s live televised award ceremony hosted by the incomparable Queen Latifah. Early winners are announced in categories across music, television, and film.

With Monét receiving the most nominations in the recording category, the “On My Mama” singer was bound to secure some early wins. Earning six total nominations, Monét has already secured two Image Awards: Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Album for Jaguar II, Variety reports.

It’s the first NAACP Image Awards for the singer/songwriter, who won three Grammys last month in what’s already been an eventful year.

Usher, who recently triumphed as the Super Bowl’s halftime performer, followed up after Monét with five nominations and secured an early win for Outstanding Male Artist. Outstanding Female Artist went to H.E.R. Chris Brown won two for his 2023 collaborations with Ciara (“How We Roll”) and Davido & Lojay (“Sensational”).

The Color Purple musical film, released over the holiday season, landed its first win (among its whopping 16 nominations) for outstanding soundtrack or compilation album. The soundtrack includes performances from the cast of A-listers including Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, H.E.R., Corey Hawkins, Colman Domingo, and Danielle Brooks.

The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Steven Spielberg.

The virtual NAACP Image Awards is hosted by Khloe Thomas and featured presenters Bellah (Hulu’s Queenie), Da’Vinchi (Starz’s BMF), Danielle Jalade (Disney’s Saturdays), Gabrielle Nevaeh (Nickelodeon’s That Girl Lay Lay) and Vanessa Simmons (BET+’s Deadly Entanglement).

The Image Awards will broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.

Ariel Henry, CARICOM, haiti, prime minister, resign, council

by Daniel Johnson

March 12, 2024

Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry To Resign As Violence And Instability Rises

In February, Henry announced that he would delay elections until 2025 and the Haitian gangs responded by uniting and systematically targeting government facilities.

Ariel Henry, the de facto leader of Haiti following the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021, has promised to resign after a transitional council is created and a new prime minister is appointed. Henry was under pressure to resign from CARICOM, a blocKk of Caribbean nations that announced his resignation before he confirmed it.

“The government will resign immediately after the installation of this Council and will remain in office to handle current affairs until the appointment of a Prime Minister and a new government,” Henry said. “I thank the Haitian people for the opportunity given to me to serve our country with integrity, wisdom, and honor.”

As NPR reports, Irfaan Ali, president of Guyana, said that the group had agreed in principle to a seven-member council to be comprised of the major political parties in Haiti. The gangs that have been terrorizing and largely controlling the island nation’s capital, were not consulted, according to Ali.

Henry was backed by the United States after the assassination of Moïse but did not fulfilled his promise to hold elections due to the widespread gang activity in Haiti. In February, Henry announced that he would delay elections until 2025, and Haitian gangs responded by uniting and systematically targeting government facilities. As a result, Henry is believed to have fled to Puerto Rico, where he is now presumed to be.

As Al-Jazeera reported, the gangs threatened the country with genocide and a civil war if Henry did not step down as prime minister. Haitians also consider Henry to be a corrupt figure in politics, so he was not at CARICOM’s emergency summit. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however, was promised an additional $100 million for a UN-backed security force to help stabilize Haiti, as well as $30 million in humanitarian aid. Blinken said that securing Haiti was “critical” for the Caribbean nations.

According to the United States State Department, they support “a proposal developed in partnership with CARICOM and Haitian stakeholders to expedite a political transition through a creation of a broad-based, independent presidential college.”

As Vox reported in 2023, the external interference of bodies such as the United States and the United Nations in Haitian affairs conjures the history of colonialism and imperialism that shaped much of Haiti’s history. The United States’ initial backing of Henry, a neurosurgeon, as prime minister may have played a part in the majority of Haitians not recognizing him as legitimate.

Jake Johnston, a senior research associate at the Center for Economic Policy and Research, told Vox that sending troops to secure the country without addressing the underlying conditions in Haiti will not solve the problems ravaging the country.

“You can’t send troops in there and combat gangs and think that that’s actually addressing the drivers of instability and insecurity,” said Johnston. “And so, what’s your plan? Are you going to occupy Haiti forever with foreign troops to prevent any instability? I don’t think so.”

Braids, hair, crown act, Pennsylvania, DISCRIMINATION

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 12, 2024

West Virginia Republicans Double Down On Anti-Blackness By Vetoing The CROWN Act

CROWN Act advocates in West Virginia suffer a hefty blow after a bill against hair discrimination fails in the state's legislature.

Despite the push by Black hair advocates and politicians in support of it, the CROWN Act has failed in West Virginia. Republican lawmakers killed the bill to ban hair discrimination.

The bill’s most recent version, SB 496, intended to prohibit the discrimination of certain hairstyles and textures “historically associated with a particular race.”

NBC News reports that Republican Senator Eric Tarr sent the bill to the Senate Finance Committee in a successful effort to stall it. Overseeing the committee himself, he argued that potential hair discrimination lawsuits would be too costly for the state, a claim the Human Rights Commission debunked.

Versions of the CROWN Act have been introduced or enacted in the vast majority of states, with 20 currently having laws in place. Its push in West Virginia was also prompted by its own hair discrimination incidents, such as when a high school basketball player was benched due to the length of his locs in 2019, as reported by ABC4 WOAY.

“It was definitely a slap in the face. I was extremely disappointed because I felt that this year was the year that it would see its way through [the legislature],” said Veronica Bunch, 44, one of the state’s CROWN Act advocates. “The leadership we have, and the state itself, I just feel like we’re so regressed in our opinions and our views. In regards to African Americans, we tend to get pushed aside.”

The retiring Democratic senator who introduced the bill, Mike Caputo, also spoke out against its short-lived progression.

“We hear horror stories all the time about how, particularly women of color, are treated differently because of their hairstyle, their natural hairstyle, or their traditional hairstyles,” said the lawmaker. “We need to move forward in America, not backward. It’s a shame we still are having discussions like that. I’m ashamed that in West Virginia, we can’t at least do that much.”

Advocates will have to wait until next year for another lawmaker to sponsor the CROWN Act bill.