by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 14, 2024

Sephora Employee Confronts White Teens Using Makeup To Apply Blackface

New video shows teens at Sephora confronted by an employee for using the store's products to commit blackface. The teens' mothers were also present and allowing the behavior.

News has gone viral of a Sephora employee in Boston confronting white teenage girls for putting on blackface with products from the store. A TikToker documented the girls walking around with their faces caked in brown makeup, with their mothers seemingly OK with their behavior.

The since-deleted video showed the employee walking up to one of the girls as her mother attempted to take a photo of her in the offensive makeup. Another user, Reyah The Last Dragon, screen-recorded the original footage to re-upload after its removal.

@reyahthelastdragon #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen ♬ Beat – beaty

“I walked over here, and you were about to send a picture of that. You want to document this? Go ahead,” expressed the employee. “This is the stuff that ruins jobs, college acceptances, let alone how incredibly offensive this is.”

However, the group seemed unaffected by the callout, with one of the mothers walking away as the Sephora worker continued explaining why it was wrong. The original user who took video of the ordeal repeatedly said how “shameful” the incident was, with the employee apologizing to other patrons for having to witness the offensive act.

In her caption, the user described how the girls were making animal sounds while putting the makeup on, furthering the racist intent behind the action. She then said that one of the mothers, who saw her recording the confrontation, came over to demand that the footage be deleted because she lacked their consent to record the girls.

Historically, blackface was a common racist act usually conducted by white people, who slathered their faces in dark makeup in mockery of Black people.

The video was removed from TikTok because it conflicted with the platform’s code of conduct. However, the continuation of blackface remains gravely offensive to the Black community.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 14, 2024

Ex-Amazon Recruiter Reveals Top Résumé Mistake For Job Hunters

An ex-Amazon recruiter reveals the top résumé mistake that leaves employers underwhelmed by job candidates.

A former recruiter for mega-corporation Amazon shared that providing vague statements is the most prominent mistake job hunters make on their résumés.

Lindsay Mustain called the responses “Miss America”-style answers that can leave employers underwhelmed. In an interview with CNBCMake It, Mustain, who is the CEO of Talent Paradigm, disclosed what she learned employers really want out of prime job candidates. According to the woman who claims she has reviewed “literally a million” résumés, what captures recruiters’ attention is not showcasing “glorified job descriptions.”

A candidate’s choice to highlight their accomplishments and job history superficially can hinder going further in the hiring process, as general statements without substantive details wouldn’t get a second look from recruiters. Mustain argues that while this mistake is common, recruiters lack essential information on what the job seeker has achieved in prior roles, thus making them unable to stand out among hundreds of other candidates.

Including quantitative information is the best course of action, according to Mustain. Landing a job offer is a literal numbers game, and giving employers a quantitive figure helps them measure the work one has done and can potentially do for their company. Mustain claims that the “more metrics and analytics you can add to your résumé, the more impressive.” Listing the numerical value of one’s responsibilities and highlighting one’s accomplishments in the same fashion can get the point across to recruiters faster, leading to a greater chance of scoring an interview.

As the job market continues to cool down, differentiating oneself from other applicants through this method can be a game-changer for success. Recruiters typically take seconds to peruse through applications, and their eyes immediately go toward the figures and metrics candidates can concisely list.

What is Mustain’s best recommendation for standing out during the job search? Being more “results-based” in your résumé to garner the greatest benefit.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 14, 2024

This Nonprofit Hair Salon Teaches Non-Black Adoptive Parents To Style Their Black Children’s Hair

An Illinois-based hairstylist continues to help transracial adoptees and their parents learn how to do Black hair at her nonprofit salon, Styles 4 Kidz.

A Black hairstylist in Illinois is doing her part to help non-Black adoptive parents learn how to style their Black children’s hair. To aid in this venture, Tamekia Swint created Styles 4 Kidz, a nonprofit salon for adopted Black kids with non-Black parents to receive the proper hair care they need.

Swint developed the initiative in 2011 to educate parents on styling and caring for textured hair. After being introduced to a mother of two Black adopted daughters, with virtually no clue of how to navigate their curl patterns, Swint explained to The Today Show that this one-off incident was indicative of a common issue.

“You should have seen their faces when they looked in the mirror after I was finished. It completely transformed not only how they looked but how they felt about themselves,” said Swint. “And that’s how Styles 4 Kidz started. I realized this was a much bigger problem.”

Now, Swint is providing natural styles such as twists and braids, one-on-one training, and general classes for non-Black parents to continue hair care at home. For the nonprofit owner, it has become a vital step for people in the process of adopting children of color, going beyond the traditional steps of parenting by ensuring they are culturally aware of what raising a Black child entails.

“By the time they have their child, they know all about the products and how to use them,” the entrepreneur expressed. “They’re going into the situation fully prepared.”

Although these parents cannot relate to all that encompasses Black hair care and styling, taking this initiative and time to learn how to protect their child’s coils and curls adequately can be fully realized with the help of Swint. The stylist understands the cultural importance of maintaining one’s mane, and instilling pride in Black hair at this fundamental age is crucial for self-esteem and personal growth.

“We express ourselves through our hair,” she said. “It is deeply entrenched in our culture and in our history. And it connects us to one another. Our hair is a huge part of our identity.”

by Stacy Jackson

February 13, 2024

University of Florida Law Student Appointed First Black Woman Chief Justice

The 25-year-old will oversee hearings, appeals, disputes, and ensure fairness alongside four associate judges.

Britney Deas has carved her place in history as the first Black woman chief justice of the University of Florida (UF) Supreme Court.

The 25-year-old Floridian and Haitian law student moved into the position this year around the start of Black History Month after serving as an associate justice in 2023, The Alligator reported. The new chief justice has taken the helm of overseeing hearings, appeals, disputes, and ensuring fairness alongside four associate judges.

Deas plans to hold panels and invite esteemed legal professionals to the university to engage law students.

The University of South Florida (USF) undergraduate alumna said about her trailblazing appointment, “Breaking down barriers for Black women and women in general has always been profoundly and deeply meaningful to me.”

Her passion for empowering women of color in leadership is evident through Deas’ past roles. At USF, she became the first Black student body president. Also, at the time, the university had not elected a female student body president in 20 years.

Deas said, reflecting on her past roles, “Once I saw someone who looked like me do something, I realized I could do it too.” She aims to provide that inspiration for others coming after her. According to The Alligator, she added, “You can see the chain reaction that [representation] sets forth” when commenting that USF’s next two leaders after her were also women.

Joanna Auchettl, the new chief justice’s adviser, told the outlet that Deas has always pursued her ambitions, from homemade t-shirts to centerfield baseball stadium honors. Auchettl said she has “tried to encourage and support all of [Deas’] endeavors. It is exciting to learn about [Deas’] accomplishments.”

Deas shared with The Alligator that she is inspired by the women in her family. “I was always inspired by women fighting oppression and women who are standing up for people who cannot stand up for themselves.”

She is paying it forward and firmly believes in the power of representation. “I saw it in my home with my grandmother, my great-grandmother, and my mother,” the new chief justice said to The Alligator.

by Rafael Pena

February 13, 2024

Tiger Woods Unveils Signature Clothing Line ‘Sun Day Red’ In Partnership With TaylorMade

Tiger Woods amplifies on-course style with the launch of Sun Day Red, a new clothing line inspired by his signature championship look.

Golf icon Tiger Woods is set to redefine his iconic on-course style with the launch of Sun Day Red, a new clothing line inspired by his signature championship look, according to The Athletic. Breaking away from his long-standing association with Nike, Woods announced his partnership with TaylorMade at a recent event in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, marking a new chapter in his golf fashion journey.

While the Sun Day Red website currently lacks products for purchase, it teases a May 1 launch with a promise of golf essentials such as polos and gloves, along with a range of additional offerings like “luxury logo tees, fleece, and hats.”

The collaboration with TaylorMade aligns with Woods’ use of TaylorMade clubs since 2016, following Nike’s exit from the golf equipment market. As the golf legend transitions from the swoosh, his new clothing line introduces a distinctive jumping tiger logo crafted from dynamic squiggly lines.

Tiger Woods’ departure from Nike, with whom he had a profound association since 1996 when he signed a five-year, $40 million deal, marks a significant shift. The iconic red Nike polo, worn by Woods on countless Sundays, became synonymous with his dominance in golf. Nike later launched an apparel line featuring its logo and Woods’ signature TW logo. Over the years, Woods signed multiple lucrative deals with Nike, the most recent being a reported 10-year agreement valued at around $200 million in 2013.

Woods’ decision to part ways with Nike echoes a broader trend, with fellow golfer Jason Day also making a recent exit. The departures are particularly noteworthy in the golf apparel landscape, given Nike’s substantial influence, largely propelled by Woods’ association with the brand.

The Sun Day Red clothing line is poised to capture the essence of Tiger Woods’ enduring legacy, offering fans and golf enthusiasts an opportunity to embrace the golfing icon’s distinctive style. With the anticipated launch just around the corner, the golfing community eagerly awaits the arrival of this new chapter in Tiger Woods’ fashion evolution.

Black Youth, Incarceration, Racial Disparities

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 13, 2024

Georgia Inmate Sentenced 11 Years for Stealing $11 Million—While In Prison

Cofield was sentenced to 11 years after impersonating Sidney Kimmel and fraudulently obtaining $11 million from his Charles Schwab account.

Arthur Lee Cofield Jr. 31, was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering for stealing $11 million while in a Georgia maximum-security facility

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones sentenced Cofield 135 months in federal prison on Friday, Feb. 9. The convicted felon must also pay more than $12.5 million in restitution to replace the $11 million that he stole from the Charles Schwab account of Sidney Kimmel, a 94-year-old billionaire movie producer.

Cofield also has to repay $1.2 million stolen from an unnamed Alabama resident and $391,000 from an unidentified bank.

“If you had put the intelligence you have to legal and positive things, you would have been very successful in life,” Jones told Cofield when sentencing him.

Cofield and his two accomplices, Eldridge Bennett and his 27-year-old daughter, Eliayah Bennett, pleaded guilty in April 2023.

It was initially reported that Cofield was accused of impersonating billionaire Kimmel and fraudulently obtaining $11 million from his bank account. Cofield reportedly obtained access to the funds to purchase gold coins used to buy a mansion in Buckhead, Atlanta. Cofield reportedly purchased the coins and then had them transported from Idaho to Atlanta on a private plane and used part of the haul to buy a $4.4 million mansion.

The crime he committed was described as “potentially one of the biggest heists ever pulled off from inside an American prison,” as he was able to do so while being imprisoned at the Georgia Department of Corrections’ Special Management Unit, a maximum security facility built to accommodate the state’s most hardened criminals.

Cofield has been in prison since 2008. The then 16-year-old was arrested for taking $2,600 from a bank in Douglasville, Georgia. He received a 14-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to armed robbery.

Massachusetts, rideshare drivers, Uber, Lyft

by Rafael Pena

February 13, 2024

Rideshare Drivers Nationwide Set To Strike For Fair Pay On Valentine’s Day

Thousands of rideshare drivers are set to stage a nationwide strike on Valentine's Day to demand fair compensation.

Thousands of rideshare drivers affiliated with Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash are set to stage a nationwide strike on Valentine’s Day, demanding fair compensation for their services, according to FOX Business.

The Justice for App Workers coalition, representing over 100,000 drivers, declared the strike, accusing the ride-sharing companies of offering unjust wages and retaining a significant portion of their commissions.

The coalition released a statement asserting that rideshare drivers should not have to grapple with financial instability and urged app companies to address their concerns. The coalition highlighted the drivers’ challenges, including long working hours, safety concerns, and the constant fear of deactivation with the click of a button.

“We’re sick of working 80 hours/week just to make ends meet,” the coalition emphasized. The strike comes in the wake of Lyft’s recent announcement guaranteeing weekly earnings for drivers, a move seen as an effort to attract more drivers to the platform.

“We are constantly working to improve the driver experience,” said Lyft in a statement, citing recent initiatives aimed at increasing driver pay and transparency. Uber, dismissing the impact of such strikes, mentioned that only a minority of its drivers participate in such actions. Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, reported that drivers in the U.S. earn an average of $33 per utilized hour in the fourth quarter.

Last year, statistics from Gridwise, a gig mobility data analysis firm, revealed a 17.1% drop in Uber drivers’ monthly average gross earnings, while Lyft drivers experienced a 2.5% increase.

Demonstrations are slated to take place across various cities, including Austin, Chicago, Hartford, Newark, Miami, Orlando, and Philadelphia. Jonathan Cruz, a driver in Miami and part of the Justice For App Workers coalition, described it as the “biggest strike” he has witnessed.

Nicole Moore, president of the California-based Rideshare Drivers United union, criticized the algorithmic pricing implemented by these companies, highlighting the drastic decrease in driver pay. Shantwan Humphrey, a driver in Dallas, emphasized the struggle for a livable wage, noting that drivers can barely afford the bare necessities.

by Daniel Johnson

February 13, 2024

Urban Intellectuals Founder Accuses JCPenney Of Copyright Infringement

Urban Intellectuals Founder and CEO Freddie Taylor accused JCPenney of potential copyright infringement in a Facebook Live stream.

Urban Intellectuals Founder and CEO Freddie Taylor accused JCPenney of potential copyright infringement in a Facebook Live stream posted on Feb 8. As reported by Black News, Taylor’s accusation stems from JCPenney’s use of the phrase “Making My Ancestors Proud One Dream At A Time” on their shirts, which bears similarity to Urban Intellectuals trademarked slogan of “Busy Making My Ancestors Proud.”

During the Live video, Taylor said, “This isn’t just about a slogan on a t-shirt; it’s about the systemic disregard for the intellectual property of small, Black-owned businesses. We’ve fought hard to build a brand that uplifts and educates our community, and to see our work co-opted without any regard is both maddening and saddening.”

Taylor continued, “It’s great that they want to give back, but how can you take from the very community you’re looking to support? This isn’t support; it’s exploitation wrapped in a veneer of charity.”

Taylor’s accusation draws more attention to the practice of larger, more popular brands or celebrities within the fashion or retail world taking elements from or outright stealing the work of smaller, Black-owned businesses or creators. It is also allegedly not the first time JCPenney has been accused of copyright infringement over its fashion designs. In 2016, Burberry sued JCPenney after the Plano, Texas-based company kept selling jackets and scarves that the company claimed infringed on the copyright of its “Burberry check” pattern. According to Reuters, Burberry and many other luxury fashion manufacturers often sue over copyright infringement because they don’t want to lose sales, customer goodwill, or damage their reputations.

In 2022, the Duluth Trading Co. sued JCPenney for describing one of its products as a “longtail” T-shirt, which Duluth said violated its copyright. They sued JCPenney for copyright infringement and unfair competition. As reported by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, in 2011, they sent a letter to JCPenney explaining their reasons for the suit, “J.C. Penney’s use of Duluth Trading’s LONGTAIL T trademark on a similar product is highly likely to cause confusion or mistake and to deceive the public, which has come to associate the LONGTAIL T mark with our client.” Similar to its practice with Burberry, the retailer continued to market its shirts as “long tail tee shirts” despite the complaint from Duluth.

by Rafael Pena

February 13, 2024

Mardi Gras Beads Cast a Plastic Shadow Causing Environmental Fallout

New Orleans, steeped in the vibrant tradition of Carnival season, is grappling with environmental concerns.

NPR reports that New Orleans, steeped in the vibrant tradition of Carnival season, is grappling with a less festive aftermath as environmental concerns rise. The age-old practice of flinging strings of colorful beads to the cheering crowd has inadvertently turned into what environmentalists call a “plastics disaster.”

“The waste is becoming a defining characteristic of this event,” said Judith Enck, a former EPA regional administrator and president of Beyond Plastics. The city’s parades, which culminate on Fat Tuesday’s Mardi Gras, leave behind a spectacle of trash, despite rigorous daily cleanup efforts.

Uncollected beads persist, hanging from trees and adding to the waste problem. “The waste is becoming a defining characteristic of this event,” Brett Davis, a native involved in waste reduction efforts, told NPR.

In response to the environmental challenge, organizations like the Arc of New Orleans encourage the donation of caught beads for repackaging and resale, funding services for individuals with disabilities. The city and tourism organization New Orleans & Co. have also set up collection points for recycling beads and other materials along parade routes.

Davis’s nonprofit, Grounds Krewe, is championing sustainability by introducing over two dozen non-plastic alternatives for parade riders. These include headbands made from recycled T-shirts, beads crafted from paper, acai seeds, or recycled glass, and consumable items like locally-made coffee or jambalaya mix. The initiative aims to offer useful, eco-friendly alternatives to reduce waste and environmental impact.

Despite the prevalence of plastic imports, there’s a growing movement toward greener Mardi Gras celebrations. Christy Leavitt of Oceana sees these efforts as crucial in mitigating environmental damage. Enck, advocating for biodegradable alternatives, believes it’s possible to revel in the festivities without causing harm to the environment.

New Orleans faces a pressing challenge: finding a balance between preserving cherished traditions and addressing the environmental consequences of this annual extravaganza.

BuyBlack.org, Zuri', AI Assistant Pilot Program

by Karima Mariama-Arthur, Esq.

February 13, 2024

How To Hack Performance Gaps

How you deal with performance gaps–those areas where your performance is less than stellar–is critical to long-term career success.

Originally Published Aug. 29, 2014

When you have experienced considerable success, it’s easy to cling to your strong suits – those areas where you exhibit clear brilliance. However, as quiet as it’s kept, there are probably other areas where you are less than brilliant and which desperately need attention. In fact, these “dim areas,” may even wreak havoc on your career.

Believe it or not, even the most successful people experience performance gaps. Yet, often times they refuse to acknowledge professional shortcomings, fearing it will negate their “brilliance spree.” This is a huge mistake. How you deal with performance gaps – those areas where your performance is less than stellar – is critical to long-term career success.

Don’t pretend that your performance gaps don’t exist. They exist for everyone! So, hack the gaps and do what’s necessary to maximize your overall performance.

Here are four ways to hack performance gaps and maximize your career success:

Discover the gaps.

Take a deep dive and conduct a comprehensive assessment of your overall performance. Don’t merely dwell on the areas where you feel competent. Reach outside of your comfort zone and ask the hard questions – or have someone else conduct the analysis if the integrity of your results may be compromised. Once you discover where gaps exist, acknowledge them. Being honest about where you are inadequate is necessary to effectively tackle the gaps.

Find an expert

We rely on others who know more and better to provide insight where we lack it. Solving a performance gap is no different. If you need someone to walk you through the process, hire a consultant! If you need to develop a new skill set, find someone who can teach it. If conducting research or reading a book would solve the problem, do that. Whatever the case, discover where the missing pieces to your performance puzzle exist and put them together, one by one.

Close the gaps

Most of us don’t do what we know, which is the equivalent of not knowing. Instead of sitting idly by and hoping that your performance challenges will magically disappear; take strong, consistent action. Apply the expert advice you’ve stockpiled to help you to execute key changes and overhaul your performance. It’s not good enough to know – transformation requires action. And, action is the only way to close your performance gaps.

Re-examine the gaps

You’ll never know whether you’ve made progress (or regressed) unless you take the initiative to re-examine your performance. Yes, you’ve made some key changes. But, have they stuck? Are you doing things differently now? Does your overall performance reflect the new level of thinking and skill that you’ve acquired? If not, you’ll need to determine what went wrong and devise a new plan of action.

Hacking performance gaps is no walk in the park – but it’s a critical component of becoming truly successful. So, let’s get hacking!

Article Written by Karima Mariama-Arthur, Esq.