• Women

by Stacy Jackson

July 31, 2024

‘And Still We Ride’ To Set Out On Its Largest Bike Ride Through NYC

And Still We Ride invite bicyclists to hop on their bikes for a ride through NYC to celebrate Black women's wellness, resistance and power.

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Black women and allies around New York City are gearing up for ‘And Still We Ride’s’ fifth and largest annual bike ride on Aug. 3 to celebrate Black women’s wellness.

And Still We Ride was founded in 2020 by Marz Lovejoy and her friend Angie Chavez. According to the initiative’s website, the annual ride-out is inspired by Maya Angelou’s famous poem, Still I Rise, focusing on resistance and power. PopSugar noted that each year, the free 20-mile ride gathers hundreds of NYC participants to hop on their bicycles and participate in the ride and volunteer events. “…Literally, we’re pushing pedals, but also figuratively,” Lovejoy said. “It’s a reminder that we’re here and we gather.”

To celebrate its five-year milestone, this year’s ride will commence at Manuel Plaza in NoHo, joined by cultural producer Diamon Fisher. In partnership with NYC-based organization Black Gotham Experience, riders will learn about Black history and landmarks along their city route on Saturday. An award ceremony on Aug. 2 will honor several Black women for their efforts in their communities. According to And Still We Ride’s Instagram, 2024 honorees include Ayo Harrington, Chanel Porchia-Albert, Farhia Tato, Gia Love, and Isatou F. All event volunteers and riders will unite for one massive block party in Brooklyn to enjoy food, music, wellness services, and bike tune-ups.

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Something Lovejoy believes is important in the initiative’s success is that the bike ride is open to bikers of all backgrounds and communities.

“[Angie] is Latina, and I think it’s a beautiful thing that she came on board with me and never wavered,” Lovejoy said about her initiative partner. “I think it’s really important that other people are able to show up and support this thing for this specific cause because not everything is meant for everybody, but that doesn’t mean we can’t show up for our brothers, our sisters, our siblings, and for their cause.” Since the 2020 pandemic, Lovejoy has worked tirelessly to keep the initiative going. “The reason why I keep on doing it is because on the day that everybody shows up, we’re riding together, the vibes are up, and then after, everybody is just like, ‘Dang, this was so beautiful. I needed this,'” Lovejoy said.

All monetary donations to And Still We Ride’s initiative are distributed among local nonprofits centered on Black women’s wellness. Organizations include Mama Glow Foundation, Black Women’s Blueprint, and Gays & Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.).

Check out a recap of last year’s bike ride, which featured a grocery distribution.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Girls Do Bike Creates Community For Black Women Through Cycling

• Politics

by Mitti Hicks

July 31, 2024

Meet Lucinda Cross, The Black Woman Who Ensures Formerly Incarcerated People Know Their Right To Vote  

Activate Your Life and Your Right To Vote

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Lucinda Cross is leading the initiative to ensure formerly incarcerated individuals know their voting rights and register to vote.

Cross officially launched her nonprofit, Activate Your Life, in 2015. She helps formerly incarcerated women and youth between the ages of 18 and 24 reenter society. She noticed an alarming trend within this community: people who served time in prison didn’t know they could vote.

“I was constantly hearing, ‘I can’t vote, I’m not allowed to vote, or I have a felony,’” she tells BLACK ENTERPRISE

“Just hearing that individuals weren’t aware that serving time […] I knew I had to do something.”

According to Cross, more than 600,000 people across the United States are released from prison every year, and many are eligible to vote.

“That’s a big piece of the pie that’s missing in the electorate,” she says.

“In some states, you never lose the right, including Washington, D.C.,  Maine,  and Vermont. In other states, your rights are restored right after you serve your time.”

She recognizes states like Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, and Kentucky are more strict about restoring voting rights for formerly incarcerated citizens, but her goal is to educate people about how to participate in the democratic process through her nonprofit.

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A post shared by Lucinda Cross (@lucindacross)

Formerly Incarcerated To Founder and CEO

This mission is personal for Cross. She was sentenced to federal prison for 3.5 years at 19-years-old. By the time she finished her sentence, she had only 30 days to find a job, but her employment options were not promising.

“When coming home, you’re told you have 30 days to get a job or you’re going back,” she recalls.

“There were a few things offered to me. Working in fast food, parenting, cosmetology, or horticulture classes.”

Cross says there’s a lack of programming for formerly incarcerated individuals to rebuild their lives, especially for women who deal with an extra layer of judgment.  

“Society already has a label on you, so it’s hard to get housing and the basic support you need with a felony or background,” says Cross. “Many times, you’re forced back into the toxic environment you left. Women suffer silently because they’re often embarrassed or ashamed. As a woman in society, you’re looked at as a person who shouldn’t do anything wrong.”

Cross was fortunate to have a friend working at a telemarketing company because it gave her a different path from what was expected of her. She recognizes that not everyone has someone to fall back on, so she works to fill the gap for women through her nonprofit.

“Women need more than ‘dress for success’ programs. With my nonprofit, we offer programs that focus on life skills and public speaking, working on effective communication to help them get a job confidently,” she says.

“We also have programs on personal branding so they can feel good about themselves, and I share my story.”

Following her role at the telemarketing company, Cross worked at a hospital and then went back to school, where she majored in Organizational Leadership. It took her 10 years after her time in federal prison to build a nonprofit, but she is proof to women that there is life after prison. She has helped over 20,000 women and youth through her nonprofit and the conferences she hosts for people reentering society. Recently, she has expanded her activism in restorative justice and restoring voting rights for convicted felons.

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A post shared by Lucinda Cross (@lucindacross)

On Oct. 11, 2024 -– the same date she was arrested in 1996 –- she plans to host a voting rally to get people formerly incarcerated registered to vote in Queens, New York.

“The goal is to get individuals to register to vote, understand their rights as a citizen, and to push for restorative justice,” Cross says.

“The main focus is to get them to register to vote.”

RELATED CONTENT: VOTING RIGHTS FOR FORMER FELONS IN THE HANDS OF STATE GOVERNMENTS

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 31, 2024

Goodie Nation Secures $150k For Black Tech Entrepreneurs In Atlanta

This funding will go toward Goodie Nation's upcoming projects through its ATL BLK TCH program.

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Goodie Nation is about to elevate the Black tech scene in Atlanta. The nonprofit received $150K in grants to distribute to its ATL BLK TCH initiative.

Goodie Nation’s mission lies in connecting diverse entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts with resources and opportunities. They secured this latest funding from organizations such as Kapor Center, Emory Philanthropy Lab, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s GoATL Economic Inclusion Fund.

Goodie Nation’s CEO announced the news on Linkedin on July 30. He remarked that ATL BLK TCH’s upcoming projects can now come to fruition with the help of these grants.

“Let’s get ready to turn up the heat,” shared Joey Womack on the groundbreaking news.

Through the Atlanta-based initiative, diverse tech professionals will soon have access to angel investor training and a member search platform. This programming will not only educate potential investors but also build connections that can bring a startup to life.

“Our vision for ATL BLK TCH is to create a cohesive and thriving Black tech community in Atlanta,” shared Goodie Nation in a news release. The generous support from the Kapor Center, Emory Philanthropy Lab, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s GoATL Economic Inclusion Fund is a testament to the importance of this mission. These funds will enable us to build a stronger, more connected community where Black tech professionals can thrive and succeed…Together, we can create a future where Black tech talent in Atlanta is recognized, supported, and celebrated.”

Furthermore, an ecosystem mapping project is under development. It will detail strategies to ensure tech enthusiasts from pre-k to college receive opportunities that strengthen their skills. Additionally, the establishment of an online Slack community will foster a hub for innovation and discussion.

Investments and opportunities for Black entrepreneurs in any industry remain at risk. However, this financial support marks a monumental step for this tech-focused demographic.

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Shows Out for Kamala Harris In Her Largest Rally Ever

• News

by Daniel Johnson

July 31, 2024

Harvard Study Indicates Black/White Wealth Gap Decreased Among Gen X, Millennials

According to the researchers, one possible direction that policymakers could pursue is creating policies that would encourage mobility in general by investing in schools or youth mentorship programs and changing zoning restrictions or school district boundaries, which have been shown to exacerbate existing income inequality through a concept called income segregation.

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A Harvard study released on July 25 indicates that while the Black/white wealth gap has shrunk between Generation X and millennials, the gap between low and high-income white adults has widened, marked by an improvement in economic mobility for low-income Black children as well as a decline in earning for low-income white children.

According to NBC News, the change in income levels is largely attributed to increased employment rates of Black parents.

As the researchers told NBC News, “Outcomes improve…for children who grow up in communities with increasing parental employment rates, with larger effects for children who move to such communities at younger ages.”

According to the study, Black people from low-income families also had regional differences play into the data; there was more economic mobility in the southeast and the industrial Midwest than in parts of the East or West coasts and the Great Plains. 

According to the researchers, one possible direction that policymakers could pursue is creating policies that would encourage mobility in general by investing in schools or youth mentorship programs and changing zoning restrictions or school district boundaries, which have been shown to exacerbate existing income inequality through a concept called income segregation.

The researchers state, “Importantly, social communities are shaped not just by where people live but by race and class within neighborhoods,” the researchers told NBC News. “One approach to increasing opportunity is, therefore, to increase connections between communities.”

Although the research is mostly positive on the front of economic mobility, it does point out that the probability of social mobility from poverty to the top tier of the income pyramid increases by nearly 9% if you are white.

According to the study, “Economic mobility can change within relatively short periods of time. While previous research suggested the importance of targeting policy interventions at the neighborhood level, this study further identifies patterns of change at the community level as shaped by not only neighborhood, but by race, class and cohort. These findings provide new data to understand how and where places are changing over time that may be used to inform policy focused on improving economic mobility.”

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Ranks No. 1 City To Start A Career Despite City’s Racial Wealth Gap

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 31, 2024

Rick Ross’ Baby Mother Takes To Social Media Demanding Funds From The Rapper

Tia Kemp instructs her son to get $200K from his father

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William Leonard Roberts II, better known to the world as rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross, has been presented with what looks like a bill via social media from the mother of his son, William Roberts III, referring to some items seemingly for his college stay.

According to Complex, Roberts’ mother, Tia Kemp, who often takes to social media when she has an issue with her baby’s father, appeared on her social media account to encourage her son to get some money from his father. In the posted video, Kemp shows an amount in what looks like a bill or order form. She points to $209,931.58, and she states that Roberts should contact Ross to have him forward the money to her bank account.

The video shows some itemized clothing from Nike, including Air Zooms, a hoodie, a sleeveless compression top, and some woven shorts that are visible in the video. The video clip, captured by a TikTok user, starts with Kemp placing the paper in the camera’s view. It’s captioned, “Tia with a message for Ozempic Ross pertaining to his child’s tuition.”

Kemp says in the video, “I ain’t playing. I need you to call your daddy right now, you tell him. You screenshot this right now, that right there and you tell him that’s how much I need in my bank account.”

RELATED CONTENT: Items From Rick Ross’ Personal Collection To Be Auctioned

by Daniel Johnson

July 31, 2024

Donald Trump Attacks Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff In Radio Interview

Trump, who has literally eaten with neo-Nazis, seems to be spiraling and throwing anything he can at Harris, in the hopes that it will stick with his base, which to be fair, probably won't be difficult.

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Donald Trump seemed to yet again traffic in antisemitism and anti-Blackness as he claimed during a radio interview with WABC on July 30 that Vice-President Kamala Harris hates Jews and her husband, first gentleman Doug Emhoff, was a “crappy Jew.”

According to the Associated Press, Trump claimed that Harris was uncomfortable when she met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

“You can see the disdain. No. 1, she doesn’t like Israel. No. 2, she doesn’t like Jewish people. You know it, I know it, and everybody knows it, and nobody wants to say it.” Trump claimed.

Trump, who has eaten with neo-Nazis, seems to be spiraling and throwing anything he can at Harris in the hopes that it will stick with his base, which, to be fair, probably won’t be difficult. As Jelani Cobb described in a piece for The New Yorker, Trump is “awkwardly trying to figure out how to hate Harris from scratch.”

The Harris campaign issued its rebuttal to Trump’s strategy of throwing hatred and division at the public through James Singer, a spokesperson for the campaign. 

“America is better than the fear, hate, and despicable insults of Donald Trump,” Singer said. “Vice President Harris believes Americans want a president who unites our country instead of divides it, uses the power of the presidency to help families instead of hurt them, and has a vision for our future instead of taking us [backward.]”

The former president also repeated comments he has previously made, saying that Jewish voters who back Democrats “should have their head examined” and “if you’re Jewish, if you vote for a Democrat, you’re a fool, an absolute fool. They have let Jewish people down since Obama at a level that nobody could believe.”

Trump continued, saying that Vice President Harris “dislikes Jewish people and Israel even more than Biden did.”

Trump’s interview was conducted by Sid Rosenberg, who was fired from Don Imus’ radio show in 2001 for calling tennis legend Serena Williams an “animal” and saying that Williams and her sister Venus Williams should pose for National Geographic. Imus’s show later rehired him and was also involved in the incident when Imus called members of the mostly-Black Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hoes.”

Rosenberg and Trump went on something of an extended rant targeting Emhoff, beginning with Rosenberg saying, “He’s Jewish like Bernie Sanders is Jewish. Are you kidding me?”

“Yeah,” Trump said. 

“He’s a crappy Jew,” Rosenberg said. 

“Yeah,” Trump repeated. 

Rosenberg then disparaged Emhoff again, saying, “He’s a horrible Jew.”

Although Emhoff’s office did not issue a statement to the AP, Emhoff has been a critical asset to the Harris campaign. As The Hill reported, Emhoff has previously called the ex-President a “known antisemite” and “toxic.”

On July 23, he told reporters that Trump’s criticisms of his wife underwhelmed him. 

“That’s all he’s got? You heard the vice president yesterday making the case against Donald Trump very clearly. Laid out the case directly and in a compelling fashion. But she also laid out a vision for the future, a vision where there’s freedom, where we’re not having to talk about these issues of today in this post-Dobbs hellscape that Donald Trump created.”

In contrast to Melania Trump’s absence, Emhoff was described to The Hill by ex-Harris staffer Rachel Palmero as a true partner to Harris and an asset to the campaign.

“Mr. Emhoff and Vice President Harris are true partners in every sense of the word. His support for the vice president fuels the fight for gender equity in a way that will shape future generations. The second gentleman is a significant asset to the campaign — which is why we are seeing him hitting the trail and galvanizing people across the country.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 31, 2024

Petty Patriarchy: VP Kamala Harris Breaks Political Glass Ceilings Only To Be Labeled A ‘DEI Hire’

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The term “DEI Hire” has been dubbed the latest way to insult Black people, and Vice President Kamala Harris is the new target. 

DEI — an acronym used to shorten diversity, equity, and inclusion — refers to policies and practices in workplaces and educational institutions designed to support people of color and provide resources for them to succeed. But lately, it has been used as a way for Republican leaders to insult the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and those who look like her: Black people. 

Several attacks against Harris, labeling her as a “DEI hire” or a “DEI candidate,” highlight the new ways racism can be used against Black people in power, regardless of their impressive resumes. 

In early July 2024, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) used the term to call her a “DEI Vice President” during an impromptu interview with CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju. “Biden said, first off, he was going to hire a Black female for vice president,” the legislator said. “What about white females? What about any other group? When you go down that route, and you take mediocrity, and that’s what they have right now as a vice president,” he said. 

When Raju suggested that Harris was “DEI hiring,” Burchett agreed. “One hundred percent,” he said, “she was a DEI hire.”

Rep. Harriett Hageman (R-Wy.) also thinks Harris is a “DEI Hire.” “I think she’s one of the weakest candidates I’ve ever seen in the history of our country,” Hageman said.

“I mean intellectually, just really kind of the bottom of the barrel. … I think that she was a DEI hire.” 

A resume check by Forbes says the opposite of Harris. The 59-year-old former prosecutor once held the appointment of attorney general and U.S. Senator for California, as well as a graduate of Howard University and the University of California College of Law in San Francisco. She also holds the title of the first Black and Asian woman in history to serve as Vice President of the United States. 

Colleagues of Harris and top-level legislators ask what would happen if people would think or say such things about a white man in politics. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican and former Senate colleague of the vice president, says simply, “No.” “What, are they just going to say if you’re not a white male, it’s a DEI candidate? I’m sorry. No,” she said. 

Susan Rice, a Black woman, U.N. ambassador, national security adviser, and adviser to President Joe Biden, says that being called a “DEI hire” by GOP leaders means they don’t think the person deserves to be there. “You didn’t get there on merit. You got there because you got some unfair advantage,” Rice said. “That is incredibly insulting to the vast majority of Americans who fall into all of those categories.”

Even former President Donald Trump has called Harris “dumb as a rock,” and members of his team have supported his comments. “Kamala Harris is, by all accounts, dumb as a rock. Even minorities like myself know that. She is weak, failed, and dangerously liberal,” Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said. 

While DEI efforts have been scrapped from educational institutions and corporations nationwide thanks to GOP efforts, not all Republican leaders share the same ideology. Samuel Rivers Jr., a former Black conservative South Carolina state representative, admitted that he doesn’t agree with some of Harris’ policies but says her track record is proven, whether his colleagues like it or not. I’m a hardcore Republican, and I don’t agree with Kamala Harris’ policies, but in fairness, the woman just didn’t wake up yesterday and become vice president,” Rivers said. 

“There’s a track record of her being elected multiple times, and so I believe people pick their VPs based on what they want them to do for them.”

RELATED CONTENT: Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris Continues Fight For Reproductive Rights

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

July 31, 2024

White TikToker Slammed After Advising Her Peers Not To Correct Or Talk Over BIPOC Women During ‘White Women: Answer The Call’ Meeting

During the July 25 Zoom meeting, Arielle Fodor, aka Mrs. Frazzle, advised White women to refrain from correcting or talking over BIPOC women.

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Following last Thursday’s “White Women: Answer The Call” Zoom meeting in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, TikToker Arielle Fodor, also known as Mrs. Frazzle, went viral after she encouraged white women to “take a beat” if they find themselves correcting or speaking over BIPOC women.

“If you find yourself talking over or speaking for BIPOC individuals or, God forbid, correcting them, just take a beat,” Fodor said during the July 25 meeting, which BLACK ENTERPRISE noted followed the historic Win With Black Women’s Zoom call on July 21. The Hill reported that the meeting gathered 164,000 white women across the United States. The former kindergarten teacher, who has amassed over one million followers on TikTok, was invited on the massive call to “gentle parent” the group of white women as they navigate election season.

According to a snippet of her speech posted to her TikTok page, her advice on interacting with BIPOC women has attracted heavy criticism. TikTokers flooded her comments, one user calling her “condescending” and another accusing her of “demeaning white women” with her advice to “basically bow to and ‘god forbid’ never correct a BIPOC person.” Others commended Fodor’s speech and thanked her for the advice. “I strongly identify with the ‘a lot to learn and unlearn’ statement,” one user commented about Fodor’s “great message.” At the same time, another said Fodor’s words “only [inspire] me to take every piece of advice you gave.”

Known for making content using her teacher’s voice, Fodor encouraged the women to use their white privilege to “make positive changes” as she addressed them with her Do’s and Don’ts of getting involved in politics. “BIPOC women have tapped us in as White women to step up, listen, and get involved this election season,” Fodor said. “This is a really important time, and we all need to use our voices and influence for the greater good.”

Recognizing the women as influencers in their own ways, she motivated them to not make the matter about themselves and instead push for systemic change by using their voices, listening, and learning from members of marginalized communities. “As white people, we have a lot to learn and unlearn.” She further challenged the women to intentionally engage in content from BIPOC creators and address issues of injustice.

In a follow-up video, Fodor addressed haters with a brief message, clarifying that she’s not concerned with receiving bad press for her views during the “Answer the Call” Zoom meeting.

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 31, 2024

Bond Denied For Young Thug In RICO Trial

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has denied the motion made by Thug's attorney to allow the Atlanta recording artist to be released on bond.

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The new judge in the Young Thug RICO case has ruled on the rapper’s request to be released on bond while on trial.

According to Courthouse News Service, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has denied the motion made by Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, to allow the Atlanta recording artist to be released on bond. She also rejected Young Thug and his defendants’ motion for a mistrial based on how the former judge of the case, Chief Judge Ural Glanville, handled a secret, ex-parte meeting with prosecutors and a state’s witness.

“I am not going to reconsider any bond issues that have already been considered and ruled upon by another court absent legitimate changed circumstances,” Steele was told on July 30. Whitaker also denied bond for Young Thug’s associates, Deamonte Kendrick and Marquavius Huey.

The trial is now in its 19th month, extending the longest criminal trial in Georgia history.

“So that the record is clear, the basis for the recusal of Judge Glanville was not that he was biased, was not that the ex-parte itself was improper,” Whitaker said. “It was that Judge Glanville engaged in an exposition on the facts in making his rulings on the motion to recuse.”

Whitaker has yet to respond to Young Thug’s request to have lead prosecutors Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love and Deputy District Attorney Simone Hylton disqualified from the trial based on the ex-parte meeting that took place between Judge Glanville, prosecutors, and one of the witnesses, Kenneth Copeland, “Lil Woody.” She said she would not rule on the motion until she could review the ex-parte meeting transcript. After doing so, she can determine if the prosecutors’ actions were coercive.

Young Thug is on trial after the state brought a 65-count indictment in May 2022 containing 191 “overt acts” while participating in alleged gang activities through YSL, known in the streets as “Young Slime Life.” Young Thug states that YSL stands for Young Stoner Records, and his associates are not gang members.

• HBCU

by Daniel Johnson

July 31, 2024

North Carolina A&T’s Endowment Hits $200 Million

In 2012, Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. launched the Campaign for North Carolina A&T fundraiser and set a goal to raise $85 million.

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North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College’s endowment recently hit $200 million, ranking just behind Howard, Spelman, and Hampton universities as well as Morehouse College, all private universities.

Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., who will retire August 15, made increasing the university’s endowment one of his primary goals when he took the job in 2009. According to a press release from North Carolina A&T, the $200 million mark represents a tenfold increase as well as the largest endorsement for a public HBCU. 

“As our endowment grows, it provides significant income to fund programs and enhance operations at North Carolina A&T,” Martin said. “It also increases our funding flexibility, allows us to plan more effectively for future initiatives, and lends strength to our bond ratings—all important in a highly competitive higher education marketplace.”

In 2009, the university’s endowment was only about $20 million, but it would soon be assisted by an explosion in private donations. In 2012, Martin launched the Campaign for North Carolina A&T fundraiser and set a goal to raise $85 million, but the university had raised over $181 million by the time the campaign concluded in 2020. 

According to the press release, this made the campaign the biggest capital campaign ever completed by a public HBCU, boosting its endowment to approximately $140 million. Robert Pompey, the university’s vice chancellor for business and finance, credited the Endowment Committee and investment managers for their outstanding work.

That work is highlighted by the fact that during the pandemic, only North Carolina A&T and Howard University had their endowments increased, and North Carolina A&T’s increased its by almost 5%. 

“Our outstanding Endowment Committee and investment managers are effective stewards of our investment portfolio, always ensuring that those funds are managed in ways that bring value to the university,” Pompey said. “Their work is a significant part of the story of our growth.”

RELATED CONTENT: North Carolina A&T Launches Biotechnology Learning Center With Merck