Murder, Crime, Prison, Arrest, second degree murder, 25 year old, one year old, juvenile
(Photo: Bill Oxford/Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 15, 2024

Louisiana Mother Faces Murder And Cruelty Charges After 4-Year-Old Son Discovered Dead In Lake

Aaliyah Jack, 25, of Louisiana was charged with failure to report a missing child and charges of cruelty to a juvenile and second-degree murder.

After the dead body of a 4-year-old boy was discovered in a southwest Louisiana lake, and his 1-year-old brother was found crawling near a highway, the mother of the children was arrested and charged with numerous charges.

According to The Associated Press, 25-year-old Aaliyah Jack was arrested in Mississippi on a Louisiana charge of failure to report a missing child. Several days later, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office added the charges of cruelty to a juvenile and second-degree murder. The mother is currently in custody in Mississippi after her arrest in the city of Meridian.

An announcement by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office stated that police officers went to the Vinton Welcome Center to investigate the lifeless body of the 4-year-old boy on July 8. The boy was reportedly last seen with his mother and his 1-year-old brother.

A warrant was issued for Jack after an investigation into the children. The mother was charged with failure to report a missing child. When the Meridian police officers caught up with Jack in Mississippi, the 1-year-old child was not with her. After searching for the missing child, deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office were summoned to I-10 eastbound near mile marker 10 on July 9 after someone saw the baby in a ditch.

Officers identified the child as Jack’s missing son.

“Although we have upgraded charges on Jack, our detectives still have a lot of work to do,” Sheriff Stitch Guillory said in a written statement. “The investigation will continue while we wait for the autopsy results of the victim.”

Jack is now charged with two counts of failure to report a missing child, cruelty to a juvenile and 2nd-degree murder. Judge Tony Fazzio set her total bond at $9.1 million.

RELATED CONTENT: White Couple Accused Of Keeping Black Adopted Children As Slaves Has Bond Revoked

National Civil Rights Museum, Juneteenth
(Photo: Bigmacthealmanac, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
by Daniel Johnson

July 15, 2024

National Civil Rights Museum To Host Symposium On 1964’s Freedom Summer

It is the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer.

The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis will host a symposium on the 60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer on July 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m..

Activists Judy Richardson, Charlie Cobb Jr, Courtland Cox, Dorothy Zellner, and Jerry Mitchell will be on hand to discuss their time as part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. (SNCC)

According to the press release from the museum, the symposium will be moderated by Dr. Robert Luckett, director of the Margaret Walker Center and COFO Center at Jackson State University. Dory Lerner, the National Civil Rights Museum’s education manager, will co-moderate. 

Richardson, an author and filmmaker, served on SNCC’s staff at its national office from 1963 to 1966 and participated in its Freedom Summer initiative, which took place in Mississippi. Cobb, a journalist and author, was a member of SNCC during which time he proposed the Freedom School project and organized voting rights in Mississippi from 1962 to 1967. Cox served as an executive committee member for SNCC and was an organizer for Freedom Summer as well as a member of the Sterling Committee for the 1963 March on Washington. 

Zellner is an author and editor who worked for SNCC in Atlanta, Danville, Virginia, and Greenwood, Mississippi, from 1962 to 1967. She also ran the Northeast office of SNCC in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mitchell is an investigative reporter and author whose research helped to convict four members of the Ku Klux Klan in civil rights cases that had gone cold. 

In his 2022 book, Black Bodies in the River: Searching for Freedom Summer, Davis W. Houck revealed that the search for the bodies of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner also led to the discovery of numerous other bodies in the rivers of Neshoba County, Mississippi.

According to the museum’s website, the upcoming event will also honor the memories of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner.

The symposium will conclude with a panel discussion of the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, a group described by the Mississippi Free Press in 2021 as a “state-funded spy agency charged with resisting integration and civil-rights activity.” Leo Carney, whose father participated in a 1960 effort to desegregate Mississippi’s Biloxi Beach, described the group’s tactics and relationship to the White Citizens Council of Mississippi. 

“Freedom Summer of 1964 followed the Bloody Wade-Ins. Medgar Evers was one of the Sovereignty Commission’s primary targets, assassinated by White Citizens Council member Byron De La Beckwith.”

Panelists for the National Civil Rights Museum’s discussion of the commission will include Houck, Mitchell, and Luckett and will be moderated by Ryan Jones, the museum’s associate curator. General admission tickets for the event will cost $15 and includes lunch for in-person, registered attendees of the event. The event will be free of charge for all educators. 

RELATED CONTENT: National Civil Rights Museum Celebrates Juneteenth Community Day With Free Museum Entry

Île Bizard, Canada, International, Global
(Photo: Charles Rincheval/Flickr)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 15, 2024

Montreal Honors Drowned Children Of The Little Burgundy Negro Community

The community members hope to establish mandated swimming courses to honor the deceased.

Montreal is honoring the tragedy of the Little Burgundy Negro Community Centre. A memorial took place for the 12 Black children who drowned in the 1954 boating incident.

On July 13, mourners gathered at the Montreal park where the drowning happened. Seventy years prior, children traveled to the area for a day trip that would change their community forever.

An innocent boat ride turned fatal as a vessel capsized with multiple children on board, most not knowing how to swim. While some survived, 12 children never returned to the shore alive. Their descendants now honor their lives and legacy while speaking on how their deaths impact the community today.

“It was just this heavy, dark secret,” recalled Allison Saunders, an organizer for the event and relative of the deceased, to CTV News. “People were not allowed to talk about it or our families were kind of, you know, not allowed to go swimming or not allowed to be far from their parents, but never really knowing why that is.”

All of the victims’ names are now ingrained in a memorial plaque, serving as a reminder of the preventable drowning.

Saunders added, “I think it’s really nice to have it marked so that people can come and remember them and learn a little bit about this story.”

While the deaths led to boating regulations, the center’s advocates continue to push for mandatory swim classes in Canadian schools. Racism led to the historic barring of Black people from public pools in the country, confirmed by the University of Toronto. While the laws have changed, its systemic impact persists. However, the center’s members hope to dismantle the barriers in the victims’ names.

The memorial is more than a remembrance of those who drowned. It remains a call to action for all children in Canada to learn the life-saving skill.

Skydiving, Do one thing that scares you
(Photo: ysmael pascual/Pexels)
by Kandiss Edwards

July 15, 2024

Black And Adventurous? Try These 6 Outdoor Experiences

Contrary to popular belief, Black folks are into outdoor adventures.

Originally Published July 20, 2023.

Contrary to popular belief, Black folks are into outdoor adventures. Black folks are not all about day parties, brunch, and BBQs. While all those activities are worth their weight in Black gold, Black people are not a monolith.

Are you feeling adventurous? Are you in the mood for excitement and outdoor experiences?

Whether you are in a city, rural area, or suburban location, there are plenty of outdoorsy escapades for you. Here are six to enjoy. 

1.) Helicopter Ride


If you’re in the Los Angeles area, a helicopter ride might be the adrenaline rush you are looking for. Celebrity Helicopters Tour is a Black-owned company that offers a great adventure for groups of friends looking to soar above the Hollywood Hills. During this adventure in the friendly skies, you can expect a bird’s-eye view of many historical and high-end landmarks around L.A. 

2.) All About Dat Tours 

If you are in or around New Orleans, a bayou swamp tour would be exhilarating. During On All About Dat Tours’ swamp tour on a flatboat with a cover to accommodate rainy days, you’ll see the paths our enslaved ancestors traveled as well as all kinds of wildlife. Over 200 species of birds, alligators, pigs, and raccoons dwell in the swamps. The tour also includes a visit to the Whitney Plantation museum. 

3.) Cloudland Canyon State Park Waterfalls


In the mood for an aquatic journey that includes a hike? This state park in northwestern Georgia might be the perfect place to visit. A 600-stair hike through rock passages and scenic overlooks will lead you to Hemlock Falls, where you can splash and swim along the periphery of the waterfalls—and get some dope pictures. 

4.) Grand Canyon


If camping and hiking are your thing, then must experience both in the mother of all canyons. The Grand Canyon is a difficult hiking trip that can last four days, but you get to enjoy the dramatic and unforgettable views, the plant life and the wildlife, and, most of all, being one with nature. 

5.) Row Your Boat


If in the Midwest, try a great adventure on the water in Chicago. Add excitement to your visit by kayaking through the city’s river. You can explore the city on your own terms, paddle-style, while experiencing Chicago’s skyscrapers and historic landmarks from a different perspective. 

6.) Hot Air Balloon

Go up, up, and away with a hot air balloon adventure. Get up close and personal with the great scenic views of Napa Valley while floating between 1,000 and 3,000 feet above the ground. The views of the vineyards and rolling hills are just teasers before you approach the breathtaking Mount Saint Helena. A champagne brunch is included during this sky-high adventure. 


RELATED CONTENT: 5 Tips For The Best—and Safest—Summer Ever

Women's National Football Conference, HBCUs, flag football
(Photo courtesy of Odessa "OJ" Jenkins)
by Stacy Jackson

July 15, 2024

Women’s National Football Conference Discusses New Franchise In New Jersey

Plans to add the new franchise would expand the Women's National Football Conference to 18 teams.

For the 2025 season, the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC) plans to expand its reach by adding a new franchise in New Jersey.

WNFC Commissioner Janice Masters confirmed the ongoing discussions with a New Jersey-based investment group in a press release, stating, “We launched the process officially months before the 2024 Championship Weekend and have active due diligence ongoing as we speak.” The league’s approach to expansion prioritizes ownership resources and facilities support over market destination.

The league revealed this development in a February announcement before awarding a franchise to Chicago. USA Gold Medalist Angelique M. Smith was awarded the new franchise in “The Windy City,” set to begin play in 2025. This marks the first professional sports team in the city to be majority-owned by a Black woman.

The Women’s National Football Conference, founded by Odessa “OJ” Jenkins, aims to promote financial equity for women through the power of football. Jenkins previously emphasized the importance of execution in sports and business to BLACK ENTERPRISE, saying, “Sports teaches you, if you don’t execute, you will lose. And we need to be the same in business. If we don’t execute, if we don’t have a plan, it will not work.”

In a May interview, she highlighted the personal nature of her mission to put women in a position to win and have opportunities in every space. “Doing that for women in football is personal,” she said.

As the league continues to grow, it’s currently raising a seed round of $1.5 million. The WNFC already boasts 17 teams across the United States, with players from over 20 countries. It looks to combine football and entertainment with a commitment to equity and social responsibility.

The expansion of women’s football through the WNFC continues to gain momentum, with recent additions, including the Houston Mambas and Nashville Trojans. The Women’s National Football Conference is positioning itself as a significant player in professional sports as the league explores new ownership opportunities and potential franchises.

Elderly, Dementia
(Photo: Kampus Production/Flickr)
by Daniel Johnson

July 15, 2024

The Department Of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Foster Program Helps To Dignify Aging Veterans

The VA began a medical foster program in 2002.

In 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched a medical foster program to provide additional care for aging veterans. Now, the program supports over 700 veterans with the help of 500 dedicated caregivers.

Shantel Cross and her family in Baltimore are among those fostering veterans. They currently care for three veterans in their home: Charles McCoubrey, Peter Samaras, and Ekkehard Thies, all of whom served in the military during the 1960s and 1970s.

According to a one-pager on the program from the VA, “Medical Foster Homes are privately owned homes that provide caregivers and supervision 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This caregiver can help the Veteran carry out activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed. VA ensures that the caregiver is well trained to provide VA planned care. While living in a Medical Foster Home, Veterans receive Home Based Primary Care.”

Samaras told CBS News that it is a better experience for him than it would be in a nursing home, “It’s nice here. And being in a nursing home, they just throw you away, they ignore you. But here we’re like part of the family.”

Cross, a former nursing home employee, told CBS News that she treats the men like members of her own family. “The daycare center they go to is wonderful. We take the guys out to the mall, let them do some walking, somebody might want coffee, we get ’em ice cream.”

Dayna Cooper, the director of home and community care at the Department of Veterans Affairs who oversees the medical foster home program, said the dynamic between Cross and her three foster veterans is emblematic of the aims of the program. 

“Our caregivers treat the veterans as their own family,” Cooper said. “The caregivers have to live in the home with the veteran, and so we really see that family bond and relationship. I believe that every veteran has a right to remain and age in place and be with people who surround them with love.”

According to data from the U.S. Census, nearly half of veterans in America are 65 years old or older. Nursing homes can be expensive, often costing upwards of $100,000 a year. However, the medical foster program costs under half that amount and caregivers receive on average, $2,800 a month from each veteran who lives in their home. In addition, any veteran who is in the Veterans Affairs system is eligible for the program.

“It gives me a peace of mind to know that I’m able to help others and give back,” Cross said. “I love helping others and I love giving back. I don’t ever want to stop.”

RELATED CONTENT: These Siblings Are Helping Formerly Incarcerated Women and Veterans Who Are Homeless and/or Mentally Ill

bookstore,Houston, The Reading Room, Black art
(Photo: ljubaphoto/Getty Images)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 15, 2024

Sales Boost For Black-Owned Bookstore As National Chain Closes

The closure of a Barnes & Noble has led to a sales boost for this Black-owned bookstore in Metro Atlanta.

A Black-owned bookstore in metro Atlanta has received a sales boost from an unlikely source. The closure of chain bookstores in the area has now led customers to Nubian Books.

The community of Morrow, Georgia, located in Clayton County, began flocking to the independent shop after a nearby Barnes & Noble permanently closed this spring. Now, Nubian Books gets it shine as a local gem that can offer the same products as a retail giant.

The bookstore’s owner, Marcus Williams, opened the small business 25 years ago.

“I’ve had a lot of customers who are trying to find that Barnes and Noble on Mount Zion Road, so they’ve been coming to me and ordering books from me. So I’ve seen a spike in sales,” he told Atlanta News First. “There are still a lot of people who don’t like to read on the Kindles, they prefer to have a book in their hand.”

His growing customer base can order their newest reads, or find other ones, in the bookstore. This influx of customers was a longtime coming for Williams, who moved Nubian Books to the area after 2013. However, he plans to stay in Morrow for the foreseeable future, especially as his business “unless I hit the lottery then I’ll go somewhere, but other than that I’m going to be here for a long time.”

The website for the bookstore also offers African-American children’s books, as well as other merchandise to celebrate the store’s history. Nubian Books is not only a space to support local entrepreneurs, but encourage reading in the diverse Atlanta suburb. According to Data USA, Black people make up 69% of the county’s population.

Nubian Books’ motto, found throughout the website, symbolizes the mission of empowering this community: “Once you learn to read, you will forever be free.”

RELATED CONTENT: Liz’s Book Bar Is Now Open For Book Lovers And Wine Connoisseurs

Luther C. McClellan, University Of Memphis
(Photo: cmh2315fl/Flickr)
by Daniel Johnson

July 15, 2024

Luther C. McClellan, First Black Graduate Of University Of Memphis, Dies At 83

McClellan was one of the Memphis State Eight, who desegregated the university in September 1959.

Luther C. McClellan, a member of the Memphis State Eight and the first Black graduate of the University of Memphis, died on July 12. McClellan graduated from the university in 1962, three years after helping to integrate the Tennessee university. In 2021, the university honored him by naming its alumni mall after him.

Eight Black students, known collectively as Memphis State Eight, desegregated the school in September 1959.

As WREG reported, McClellan’s passing was honored in statements from University of Memphis President Bill Hardgrave and the university’s Black Alumni Chapter. 

“We are truly blessed for everything McClellan has done for the black community at the University as well as the University as a whole. His legacy will continue through each of us and we will continue celebrating his remarkable impact, courage, and legacy,” the Black Alumni Chapter stated. 

“The University of Memphis is deeply saddened by the passing of Luther C. McClellan,” Hardgrave said. “As a member of the Memphis State Eight and the first African American graduate at our institution, Luther was a trailblazer for our university and a beloved member of the Tiger Family. His perseverance paved the way for many and allowed the UofM to become the institution it is today. He will be missed and forever remembered.”

Along with McClellan, the Memphis State Eight included Rose Blakney-Love, Eleanor Gandy, Sammie Johnson, Marvis Kneeland Jones, Bertha Rogers Looney, Ralph Prater, and John Simpson. 

In 2020, the university commemorated the 60-year anniversary of the students breaking the color line at the University of Memphis. McClellan reflected on what pushed him to keep going, telling the University of Memphis Magazine, “It was my opportunity to get an education and I was not going to let that escape me.”

He continued, “I just challenged myself to focus on doing my work. If another student wanted to speak to me, that was fine with me. That was my stance on it, and it worked for me. My classmates weren’t going to buck the system and become my friend, but I do think they knew that all people were created equal.”

After McClellan’s death, the only surviving member of the group is Looney, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, after Prater’s death in 2022, only McClellan and Looney were left from the group.

According to Action News 5, McClellan’s daughter, Laverne McClellan Trent, posted on social media that no funeral arrangements have yet been made. “Soliciting your prayers. My dad Luther McClellan passed away yesterday afternoon. No arrangements have been made yet. Thank God his soul is at rest.”

RELATED CONTENT: Purdue University Renames 2 Residence Halls for 2 Sisters Who Helped Integrate Campus Housing

THE MULTIHYPHENATE ENTERTAINER AND ENTREPRENEUR TALKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY TO STARDOM, BUILDING WILD ‘N OUT INTO A BILLION-DOLLAR BRAND, AND HIS QUEST FOR GLOBAL DOMINANCE

The punchline left the live studio audience speechless.

 

After mocking Nick Cannon’s musical catalog, Tyga pointed his microphone to the hushed crowd. The piercing silence was swiftly shattered when the audience and Cannon erupted into laughter. Without missing a beat, Tyga, the Compton-born rapper formerly signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment, continued to roast Cannon, taking sharp jabs at his divorce from global pop star Mariah Carey. Cannon, however, took the digs in stride, striking back with a clever quip about Tyga’s past relationship with Kylie Jenner.
 

You want to talk about my ex? 
Let’s make one thing clear: your ex is not even old enough to get up in here!

 

Cannon’s quick-witted comeback brought the exhilarating exchange to a climax, and the crowd clamoring for more. He then proceeded to pass the mic to another emcee, who kept the momentum going during a lively and comedic freestyle battle on Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out.

 

From his rap career to his romantic partners, no aspect of Cannon’s life is off-limits on Wild ‘N Out. The cast and celebrity guests routinely roast the show’s creator, executive producer, and host. Cannon, however, always gets the last laugh. Going into its 21st season, the hip-hop comedy improv show, which premiered on MTV in 2005, has ballooned into a massive billion-dollar franchise that includes merchandise, restaurants, live tours, and an exclusive sneaker collaboration with Nike’s Air Jordan. It’s one of the most successful programs in MTV’s recent history and one of the longest-running improv comedy shows on television. Furthermore, Wild ‘N Out is just one of many ventures that highlight Cannon’s ingenuity and business acumen, cementing his legacy as a multimedia and entertainment mogul at the vanguard of his generation.

The punchline left the live studio audience speechless.

 

After mocking Nick Cannon’s musical catalog, Tyga pointed his microphone to the hushed crowd. The piercing silence was swiftly shattered when the audience and Cannon erupted into laughter. Without missing a beat, Tyga, the Compton-born rapper formerly signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment, continued to roast Cannon, taking sharp jabs at his divorce from global pop star Mariah Carey. Cannon, however, took the digs in stride, striking back with a clever quip about Tyga’s past relationship with Kylie Jenner.

 

You want to talk about my ex? Let’s make one thing clear: your ex is not even old enough to get up in here!


 Cannon’s quick-witted comeback brought the exhilarating exchange to a climax, and the crowd clamoring for more. He then proceeded to pass the mic to another emcee, who kept the momentum going during a lively and comedic freestyle battle on Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out.

 

From his rap career to his romantic partners, no aspect of Cannon’s life is off-limits on Wild ‘N Out. The cast and celebrity guests routinely roast the show’s creator, executive producer, and host. Cannon, however, always gets the last laugh. Going into its 21st season, the hip-hop comedy improv show, which premiered on MTV in 2005, has ballooned into a massive billion-dollar franchise that includes merchandise, restaurants, live tours, and an exclusive sneaker collaboration with Nike’s Air Jordan. It’s one of the most successful programs in MTV’s recent history and one of the longest-running improv comedy shows on television. Furthermore, Wild ‘N Out is just one of many ventures that highlight Cannon’s ingenuity and business acumen, cementing his legacy as a multimedia and entertainment mogul at the vanguard of his generation.

 

Keeping Up With Cannon

 

Cannon uniquely embodies the past, present, and future of Hollywood. Once a child star, he has evolved into a modern-day renaissance man who’s navigated a successful 30-year career in television, radio, comedy, film, and music. From starring in cultural classics like Drumline to being a primetime TV and nationally syndicated radio host to serving as a network executive to landing a stand-up comedy special on Showtime to launching a production company and record label to helping artists like H.E.R and Kehlani at the inception of their careers, Cannon has been racking up wins—and dollars—across the board for years.

 

In addition to Wild ‘N Out, the 43-year-old multifaceted entertainer is the host and executive producer of Fox’s blockbuster reality competition series The Masked Singer and the morning radio show Cannon’s Countdown. As if that wasn’t enough, in February, he debuted Nick Cannon’s Big Drive on Tubi, along with Counsel Culture, a podcast where he discusses taboo topics with various experts and celebrities. Following a promising launch, the show announced a partnership with Amazon MGM Studios to air nine new episodes on Amazon Prime and Freevee in June. Cannon also tapped into the livestream craze with the premiere of The Daily Cannon on Amazon’s streaming platforms last year. But his dizzying track record of past and present gigs and productions doesn’t end there.

 

In April 2023, he teamed up with superstar comedian and actor Kevin Hart to launch Celebrity Prank Wars on E! In December, he premiered the docuseries Nick Cannon Presents: Future Superstars on VH1. All the while, he continues to write, direct, and produce independent films like She Ball (2020) and Miracle Across 125th Street (2021) under his production company Ncredible Entertainment.

 

Outside of entertainment—and frequent headlines about his unconventional family, which includes 12 children with six different women—Cannon has always stood on business. The self-proclaimed “entrepretainer” has launched several businesses outside of media, including a Los Angeles-based vegan soul food restaurant and a line of headphones that he claims has generated more than $250 million in sales.

 

 

A Young Cannon

 

Cannon’s ability to juggle multiple endeavors stems from his unorthodox childhood. The California native bounced between two homes, splitting his time living in a working-class community with his mom and grandmother in San Diego and his dad, a local televangelist in Charlotte, North Carolina. When in the South, he worked on his dad’s public access program, learning various aspects of TV production, including set design, lighting, audio, teleprompters, and camera work at 11 years old. In turn, he was rewarded with opportunities to produce and host his own comedy content whenever his dad had free studio time.

 

“I definitely had a very interesting upbringing,” Cannon recalls. “My stepfather was a drug dealer,” he affirms. “There was my mom’s side of my life in California, and then there was my dad’s side, who was trying to get his life right.” Despite challenges, he says being exposed to multiple walks of life gave him an advantage.

 

“I was able to see so much and learn so much [and] understand the different aspects of manhood, the different aspects of the streets, the different aspects of the church, and the different aspects of just life in general.”

 

While on the West Coast, he hitched rides to Los Angeles in pursuit of a comedy career. His drive and determination earned him auditions for Def Comedy Jam and Comic View. He also performed at open mic nights at The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory and eventually even opened for Dave Chappelle and Chris Tucker by the time he was 16.

 

“I’m a true believer in manifestation,” Cannon told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “One of the elements in Christianity is just having an unwavering faith. And I just always prayed a lot, and I had a faith in myself.”

 

Though he didn’t have a precise vision for his future, he knew from an early age that he was destined to become “an important fixture in entertainment.” “I did so many different things, from music to comedy to writing to producing to acting. I was like, something’s going to pop for me.”

 

And yet, even with a rapid rise to stardom, he remained grounded, embracing each opportunity with humility. “So many blessings were just coming my way. They were just all happening so fast that I was just like, ‘This is supposed to happen. This is the direction my life is supposed to go in.’”

 

His fierce hustle, coupled with a natural pizazz and charm, caught the attention of Will Smith, who signed him to a development deal under his production company. He also gave the eager teen a six-figure advance, which Cannon regretfully spent on a Range Rover.

 

“I wanted a Range Rover because Will had one. He told me don’t buy it – and he was right.” It wasn’t long before Cannon totaled the luxury SUV shortly before facing another crashing blow in his flourishing career. He had written a sitcom that Smith acquired, executive-produced, and sold to Warner Bros. After months of filming, Cannon’s show was slated to air on The WB after “The Jamie Foxx Show.” However, it never saw the light of day. The decision by network executives to shelve the show crushed his dreams and spirit. To make matters worse, he says, “I found myself living back at my mom’s house again, driving my mom’s car.”

 

Rather than giving up, Cannon channeled his disappointment into a steadfast commitment to make his mark in Hollywood. “It made me hungry.” Plus, he learned that he must “keep cooking while the pot is hot. Nothing’s guaranteed,” and “Don’t bet on anything until the check is officially cashed.”

Poised for greatness, the tenacious teen received his big break as a warm-up comic for Kenan & Kel on Nickelodeon. It wasn’t long before producers noticed his talent and offered him a seat in the writer’s room, making him the youngest staff writer in television history at just 17 years old. Cannon also became a recurring character on the network’s popular comedy sketch sitcom All That before landing his own spin-off series, The Nick Cannon Show, in 2002.

 “I had made so much noise with my deal with Will that places like Nickelodeon started to really pay attention. So, it was just a no-brainer that they kind of just allowed me to step in and do my thing and be creative.”

 

Cannon’s grind was paying off. He was finally getting recognition and bigger opportunities to showcase his talent. “People may have [been introduced to] me at Nickelodeon, but I had already been kind of moving and shaking in the industry for years.”


The Businessman Behind the Lens

 

The world witnessed Cannon’s transition from a teen star to a young adult actor with the premiere of Drumline (2002) and Love Don’t Cost A Thing (2003). He also released a self-titled debut album that year. Despite an obvious talent for performing in front of the camera, Cannon gravitated back to creating and producing. At 22, he began developing a comedic game show rooted in hip-hop to spotlight underground comics.

 

“I just wanted to get my friends jobs more than anything. At the time, it was people like Kevin Hart, Kat Williams, Affion Crockett, DeRay Davis, Mikey Day. All these guys were just super talented young people.” He presented his idea to MTV, describing it as “a hip-hop version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?” but executives didn’t understand his vision. That prompted him to rent a comedy studio, round up his friends, and hire camera operators to shoot a pilot. Altogether, he says he invested anywhere between $100,000 to $150,000 to develop a proof of concept, which won over the network.

Four years after the premiere of Wild ‘N Out, Cannon was appointed as the chairman of TeenNick in 2009, making him the youngest TV chairman in history at 28 years old. There, he developed original programming and marketing for Nickelodeon’s teen-targeted division, leading the channel to its highest-rated and most-watched quarter ever with total viewers and teens between 12–17 in 2010.

 

Cannon, who held the position for 10 years before stepping down in 2019, simultaneously began hosting NBC’s hit reality show America’s Got Talent. Both experiences gave him an inside look into running a major TV network.


“It definitely opened my eyes to intellectual properties, how big a brand could be, [and] how a network maneuvers,” he said. “I learned a lot from Simon Cowell [and] created a great relationship with Howard Stern and Piers Morgan. So, it was definitely a great training ground,” he said of NBC.

 

A clash with NBC executives over creative differences prompted Cannon to abruptly walk away from the hosting role in 2016 after 10 seasons. Although many advised him to stay, he says leaving the network taught him the importance of “staying true to who you are [and] standing firm on not only your business practices but your creativity.” He added that he also learned the value of “remaining humble and not getting too full of yourself.”

 

During this time, the jack-of-all-trades reaped the benefits from the sale of Bluetooth headphones, which he released in 2009 in partnership with Monster. Cannon sold his headphones at retailers like Radio Shack and Walmart for as low as $32.99, making his product a silent competitor to the wildly popular Beats by Dre, which were being sold for $200. His headphones reportedly generated $100 million in 2009 alone.

 

 

Lessons From Cannon’s Class

 

Cannon’s decision to independently fund the pilot of Wild ‘N Out paid massive dividends in 2012 when MTV bought the property, leaving him with ownership of the IP. The comedy sketch series returned to television in 2013 following a six-year hiatus. In 2016, the show launched a national tour and partnered with Live Nation and Laugh Out Loud for an expanded 27-city arena tour in 2020. In 2018, Cannon opened his first Wild ‘N Out Sports Bar in Miami, before opening a second location in his hometown of San Diego in 2022. (The San Diego location has since closed.) He also opened an Ncredible gym in Los Angeles in 2020. Cannon says analytics and data show that the brand has earned more than a billion dollars since its creation.

 

Growing the brand, however, has not come without its share of ups and downs. In July 2020, the outspoken personality was terminated by ViacomCBS, which owned MTV, MTV2, and VH1 at the time, after making offensive statements about the Jewish community on his podcast Cannon’s Class. Cannon offered an apology but insisted on complete ownership of Wild ‘N Out, along with an apology from the company for cutting ties with him. Network execs refused to concede to his demands, leading Cannon to issue another apology and publicly engage with Jewish leaders to educate himself about the Jewish plight. He also donated to the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance before ViacomCBS announced in February 2021 that it had reestablished a working relationship with Cannon.

“Nick has not only apologized and taken responsibility for his comments, but he has also worked to educate himself and others through engagement with Jewish leaders and on his platforms,” an MTV Entertainment Group spokesperson told Variety. “Those efforts are of the utmost importance, and that’s why we have invited him to rejoin our team.”


“That moment was a learning experience,” he reflects. “I watched a lot of people abandon me. A lot of people bashed my name, called me certain things to discredit me, and ostracize me,” he said. “I kind of found myself in the middle of one community calling me this name and another community calling me this name. I was everything from a ‘sellout’ to ‘racist’ to ‘antisemitic.’”


Still, he maintains that his remarks were not made in malice. “At no point was I ever looking to hurt, offend, or disrespect anyone. I had no problem apologizing to anyone that I hurt, but also, when speaking truth to power, I stand on the truth.”


After making amends, Cannon renewed a stronger relationship with Viacom CBS. “It was a lot going on behind the scenes that actually strengthened the relationship more than anything. I mean, there’s some super solid people that have been down with me from day one that stood by me when the world was turning its back on me,” he said. “I kind of stood true and was willing to learn and grow and understand and took that whole experience as a lesson,” he added. “We’re really just all seeking understanding…on how we all can coexist and live together as a body of one. We’re not always going to agree. We’re not always going to see things from the same perspective, but there’s no need to villainize individuals.”

Looking back, he perceives the ordeal as a trial that has rendered him more measured and tempered. “Martin Luther King said it best [when] he said, ‘the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy.’ That’s when you really see a man’s character.”

 

Keeping Global Expansion

 

With a proven track record for success and longevity, Cannon is focused on taking steps to bring Wild ‘N Out overseas. “To this day, it’s Paramount’s No. 1 digital brand across all platforms,” Cannon said during a live fireside chat at the May 2024 BLACK ENTERPRISE Disruptor Summit. This “shows that it still has life and continues to grow, even in a space where linear television is shaky and uncertain.” In addition to expanding Wild ‘N Out around the world, he plans to launch his own network that will stream the show’s 500-plus episodes.

 

“Young people are not necessarily watching television in its traditional form anymore, but they’re consuming content more than ever before. So, you’ll see many more platforms. I believe the Wild ‘N Out network is coming. The Wild ‘N Out universe, as I call it, has continued to expand.” Wild ‘N Out has long served as a platform for emerging talent and he is taking that same blueprint to the Mother Land.

 

“Last week, I was in Botswana, and we just launched Wild ‘N Out Africa,” he said at the Disruptor Summit. “When you think about the careers that have been launched and discovered off of Wild ‘N Out here in the States—like I said, the first time a lot of people ever saw Katt Williams, Kevin Hart, Mikey Day, Pete Davidson, Matt Rife, DeRay, Corey Holcomb…DC Young Fly—you never heard of these people before you saw them on Wild’ N Out. Now, there’s a whole continent of 1.5 billion people that I can kind of tap in and find some new talent there.”

Cannon’s Ncredible Legacy

 
Beyond his accomplishments as a host, comedian, actor, producer, artist, writer, director, andventrepreneur, Cannon is focused on creating a legacy for his children. In addition to teaching them the value of a dollar, he says he’s instilling “the value of relationships because that’s how money is made.”

 

The father of 12 also emphasizes the importance of nurturing well-rounded, good-natured individuals. “My goal is to continue to help build their character so no matter how much money they obtain, they treat people with love, respect, and kindness.” Cannon, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2012 and has suffered from life-threatening blood clots in his lungs as well as kidney failure, adds that he wants to his legacy to be defined by how he cultivated safe environments filled with love, compassion, and kindness.

 

“When it’s all said and done, I think my goal is just to make people smile. Everything that I do is just really to offer a good time.” Ultimately, he wants people to “enjoy life, be present, and live in the present.”

 

To achieve this, he intends to remain in the driver’s seat, forging his own lane and maintaining a creative autonomy that empowers him to inspire others on his own terms. Instead of chasing checks, this phase of his Career is dedicated to uplifting fellow creatives, unifying diverse communities, and leveraging his talents to heal.

  1. Written by Selena Hill
  2. Digital Layout: Deven Robinson
  3. Art Direction & Graphic Design: Todd Chapman
  4. Video Production: Edwian Stokes
  5. Photography: Katherine & Mariel Tyler
  6. Videography: John P. Wheatley