Descendants of Slaves Who Built St. Louis University Calculate They Are Owed $74 Billion Dollars

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 12, 2024

Descendants of Slaves Who Built St. Louis University Calculate They Are Owed $74 Billion Dollars

Talk about a pay day!

The descendants of enslaved Black people responsible for the building of a Missouri-based university are requesting the amount of stolen labor – and it is in the billions.

Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved have calculated the school’s stolen labor is worth as much as $74 billion. On Feb. 8, the group reached out to St. Louis University, formerly Jesuit University, to follow up on commitments made in 2016. The Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation Project found the institution used beatings and family separation as a form of harsh punishment.

Between 1823 and 1865, universities in Missouri borrowed, rented, and owned close to 200 enslaved Black people. Three enslaved families from the White Marsh Plantation in Maryland were removed in 1823 and delivered to Florissant. Those same people helped build the St. Stanislaus seminary and plantation. More slaves arrived from Maryland in 1829 – the same year the Jesuits took over St. Louis College – later becoming St. Louis University, where some enslaved people were forced to work.

Areva Martin, attorney for the descendants, said the amount of money doesn’t include the pain and suffering of Henrietta Mills Chauvin and other enslaved Black people who assisted with building the school.

“We do know that providing this valuation gives us a starting point to start talking about reconciliation,” Martin said.

“It starts with recognizing your obligation to discord even a fraction of the value of their ancestors’ labor that was used to build this storied institution.”

Lynette Jackson found out she was the great-great-great granddaughter of Mills Chauvin in 2019. She said she often feels the wrong endured by her ancestors when she drives by SLU and wants the wrongs corrected – including removing the statues built by the enslaved people.

“It just makes me feel sad that they had to go through this and knowing that it was the church involved as well, and we helped to build the church, you wouldn’t think that a church would do this,” Jackson said.

Democratic state Senator Karla May has worked with the group for access to this opportunity. May says now is the time for SLU to do the right thing.

“St. Louis University has a chance to do something positive by properly acknowledging the tragic history,” May said. “The beginning of trying to make this right is saying the names of the enslaved so that we may never forget them.”

University spokesperson Clayton Berry is still preparing a detailed response based on the information provided.

“At this point, we can affirm that we understand and share the sense of urgency expressed by several members of the descendant community,” Berry said. “We acknowledge that progress on our efforts to reconcile with this shameful history has been slow, and we regret the hurt and frustration this has caused.”

However, the statement concluded with a promise of continuing to work towards reconciliation with the descendant families.

Black Owned Business, Oakland, Atlantic city

by Daniel Johnson

February 12, 2024

Black-Owned Businesses See 14% Increase, Reflecting Positive Growth Amidst Challenges

Black-Owned businesses are still underrepresented according to the Black population share in America.

According to numbers from the latest available U.S. Census, Black-owned businesses have increased by 14% since 2020. While the increase in the number of Black-owned businesses is a positive sign, Black-owned businesses are still underrepresented according to the Black population share in America. And, the growth is concentrated in a few industries.

Healthcare and social services comprised the bulk of Black-owned businesses in 2021, followed by professional, scientific, and technical services. Administrative/waste management/remediation services round out the top categories. According to a January 2023 Pew Research Center survey, approximately 60% of Black adults indicate that supporting Black businesses is either an effective or a very effective strategy for gaining momentum toward equality in the United States. The same survey also showed that nearly 40% of Black adults believe that having Black-owned businesses in Black communities would be similar to supporting Black businesses and establishing a Black national political party.

In December 2023, the White House drew attention to the rise in Black businesses through a fact sheet. The sheet called attention to several initiatives that the Biden-Harris Administration spearheaded, including the Small Business Community Navigators Pilot Program, which dedicated $100 million across 51 organizations, including U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce and the National Urban League. According to an SBA analysis, the Community Navigators program provided training and counseling to over 350,000 small businesses, and 43% of those businesses were Black-owned businesses. The $100 million marked the largest ever federal investment into supporting minority small businesses. In addition to this, the Small Business Administration increased its share of the loans going to minority-owned businesses from 23% to 32%.

As the fact sheet states: “When Black businesses do well, they create jobs, generate wealth in their local communities, and make the broader economy stronger.”

That quote from the fact sheet is strongly supported by a 2020 report from the Brookings Institution that states that if Black businesses had access to the same capital and resources of white businesses, the American economy would experience an unprecedented explosion.

In an encouraging sign, Black women have steadily made gains over the last three years, rising from owning 37% of Black businesses in 2020 to approximately 42% of Black-owned businesses by 2023, approaching gender parity.

According to the Brookings Institution, male and female Black business owners were likelier to cite a desire to assist their community as a reason for starting their businesses.

Despite the difficulty in securing funding, Black businesses experienced a boon during the pandemic, which Diamonte Walker, the deputy executive director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, said is a signal of the progress that could come into other markers of Black financial wealth. Walker told US News & World Report, “You see a glaring wealth gap between Black people and white people. That disparity is felt not only on an economic level but on a psychological and emotional level,” Walker said. “As these Black businesses start to thrive, it signals what’s possible.”

by Derek Major

February 12, 2024

McKinsey Report: It Could Take More Than 3 Centuries For Black Americans To Reach Racial Parity

The main takeaway from the report is that unless progress accelerates, it will take between 110 and 320 years to eliminate the gaps between Black and White Americans.

A report, titled The State Of Black Residents: The Relevance Of Place To Racial Equity And Outcomes, shows substantial gaps between Black and white residents in nearly every county in America.

The main takeaway from the report is that unless progress accelerates, it will take between 110 and 320 years to eliminate the gaps between Black and white Americans, and because the country has worked at a snail’s pace in addressing both economic and social gaps for Black Americans. Additionally, not eliminating these gaps shortchanges the broader economy and the full potential of both Black Americans and the country as a whole.

The McKinsey report states there is virtually nowhere in the United States where outcomes for Black residents are equal to those of their white counterparts, and most places that are close to racial parity are small rural counties where the outcomes are poor for all residents, regardless of race.

In the report, McKinsey looked at more than 3,000 counties nationwide and sorted them into 13 community profiles based on economic metrics, size, and other characteristics to examine geographic variation in the economic, social, and physical well-being of residents in general and of Black residents.

The community profiles range from megacities (New York, Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles) to trailing rural economies (Danville, VA, Coahoma, MS).

According to the report, less than 0.1% of Black Americans live in a county that is close to racial parity.

The study determined outcomes for Black Americans are generally better in suburban and high-growth areas (Austin, TX; Charlotte, NC; Minneapolis, MN.). In these areas, Black Americans lead in metrics including median household income, workers in management roles, and bachelor’s degree attainment. However, Black residents are also underrepresented in these areas.

On the other side of the spectrum, stable rural counties and trailing rural counties, which are home to about 15% of Black Americans, rank at the bottom for outcomes of Black Americans due to poverty, food insecurity, and lack of health insurance. Although they rank highly in housing due to a lower rent burden and higher homeownership rates.

Black Americans are overrepresented in megacities, where more than 30% live. These areas have strong economies, above-average Black household incomes, high college degree attainment, and workers in management roles. But the positives come with high costs of living, long commutes, and outsize rent burdens that make it hard for Black Americans to attain and pass on wealth, unlike their white counterparts.

The McKinsey report does show that outcomes for Black Americans have improved over the last decade in most counties across the country but adds that quality of life is improving for everyone and progress is taking significantly longer to reach Black Americans as the gains have not been fast or substantial enough to make up for disadvantaged starting points.

The report was authored by McKinsey & Company partners JP Julien, Duwain Pinder, and Shelley Stewart III, a senior partner who leads the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility.

by Daniel Johnson

February 12, 2024

Louisiana Voting District Maps Ruled Unlawful For Diluting Black Residents’ Voting Power

A federal court ruled that Louisiana’s House and Senate voting district maps violated Section Two of the Voting Rights Act and diluted the voting power of Black residents in the state.

On Feb. 10, a federal court ruled that Louisiana’s House and Senate voting district maps violated Section Two of the Voting Rights Act and diluted the voting power of Black residents in the state. According to The Pelican Post, the plaintiffs, a group of voters along with the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, and the Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Louisiana ACLU, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Law Firm of Cozen O’Connor, and attorneys Ron Wilson and John Adcock.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, the Supreme Court allowed a case concerning the House maps to be subject to review by a lower court in June 2023. The Supreme Court passed the case to a lower court, which ultimately decided that the practice of packing and cracking Black communities needed to be condemned. According to The Post, the court also mandated measures aimed at fixing the discrimination that the previous maps engendered.

Megan Keenan, a staff attorney with the ACLU Voting Rights Project, said in a press release, “This decision sets a powerful precedent for challenging discriminatory redistricting efforts across the nation, confirming that attempts to dilute Black communities’ votes and their power will not be tolerated.”

Keenan added, “This win would not be possible without the commitment displayed by our clients and generations of Black Louisianians who have spent years organizing and fighting to receive the Voting Rights Act’s promise of fair representation. We commend the court for bringing our clients one step closer to justice, and we will continue our work to protect the voting rights of all Americans.”

Dr. Dorothy Nairne, one of the plaintiffs, said in the press release that the ruling gives her hope. “Today, hope surges through Louisiana,” Dr. Nairne said. “Fair maps ignite a spark of empowerment in our communities, opening opportunities to elect and be represented by candidates of our choices. This is our victory, shared by every Louisianian who yearns for a brighter future. I am revitalized to build on this momentum and keep working toward transformation.”

Sarah Rohani, a redistricting fellow at the Legal Defense Fund, stated, “Today’s decision is a victory that affirms the voices and votes of Black voters in Louisiana. Voting rights and political participation are under attack across our country. This win is a testament to the strength and resilience of Black communities across the state that fought to be fairly recognized, represented, and heard. LDF will continue to work with its partners to protect the rights of Black voters across the country today, and for the foreseeable future.”

The case survived a frantic late challenge from a group of non-Black voters who argued in another lawsuit that the redrawn state maps violate the 14th and 15th Amendments. “The State has engaged in explicit, racial segregation of voters and intentional discrimination against voters based on race,” according to the lawsuit. “The State has drawn lines between neighbors and divided communities. In most cases, the lines separate African American and non-African American voters from their communities and assign them to Districts with dominating populations far away.”

National Parks, Kameron Stanton, Chevon Linear, Chicago, online, platform, outdoor, business, heritage, outdoor activities

by Jameelah Mullen

February 12, 2024

This Online Platform Inspires Black People To Become One With Nature

Kameron Stanton and Chevon Linear are encouraging Black people to enjoy the great outdoors with their online platform.

Kameron Stanton and Chevon Linear are the creators of Black People Outside, a digital space that showcases the Chicago-based couple’s outdoor adventures.

Stanton and Linear began visiting Thatcher Woods, a nature preserve just outside of Chicago. With its picturesque views and beginner-friendly hiking trails, Thatcher Woods is home to the Trailside Museum of National History. The pair’s popular online platform results from a life-changing trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

“Kam actually is the culprit, because he planned the trip. That is why Black People Outside was able to exist,” Linear told CBS News.

They admit to being nervous about venturing into unknown territory.

“Honestly, we were really scared when we first started. I think there was this little bit of fear that was in both of us because we had never done anything like that before,” Linear said.

Stanton said they experienced “joy” while on the trip that they wanted to share with others. But it was impossible for him to ignore the elephant in the room.

“We also noticed, like, there wasn’t too many folks like us,” he said.

According to a report released by Black In The Park, only about 6% of Black people visit national parks each year. Some of the reasons cited included safety concerns, lack of representation (not seeing staff and other Black visitors), Black history being excluded, and not feeling welcome. Linear said that she hopes to change this by introducing Black people to outdoor activities.

Black People Outside hosts monthly hikes where they invite fellow Black Chicagoans to join them on some of the Midwest’s scenic trails. Their Instagram page has amassed more than 45K followers on Instagram and highlights several camping sights and outdoor trails located within hours of the city.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Black People Outside | Travel, Camping, Outdoors (@blk.people.outside)

The newly engaged couple recently created a 501c3 nonprofit agency where they aim to provide free outdoor gear to people in their community.

by Daniel Johnson

February 11, 2024

Black Acres Roastery Brews Up Coffee And Community In Baltimore

Black Acres Roastery coffee is also found in Trader Joe's.

A Black-owned coffee shop in Baltimore is brewing up Black history and culture with every cup they serve. Black Acres Roastery takes its name from Spike Lee’s production company, 40 Acres and a Mule. The coffee shop’s owner, Travis Bell, is a huge Spike Lee fan, and his coffee shop reflects both his respect for Lee as well as the unfulfilled promise of reparations. As Bell told CBS Baltimore, “Black acres were plots of land in the south that were supposed to be provided for reparations, so that name, the farming aspect of it, the agriculture, just really sat with me, so I felt Black Acres was appropriate.”

Bell also says that his desire to open a coffee shop was born out of a want for easy access to coffee. This led him to roast his own beans. Since 2018, Bell has ethically procured and roasted coffee beans from South America and Africa, culminating in a contract with Trader Joe’s.

“We have a huge contract with Trader Joe’s, so currently, that is our biggest wholesaler right now,” Bell said. “We are in 60 stores across the Mid-Atlantic.” The shop also has a local delivery platform covering most of the city. Through the platform, orders for coffee deliveries can be placed, and it is in keeping with Bell’s desire to provide quality coffee to his community.

Bell was formerly an occupational therapist, and before that, he did travel therapy, something which he told CBS Baltimore is a marked departure from what he is currently doing. According to the coffeehouse’s website, its mission is to bring access to quality coffee to all, as well as to build relationships and a sense of community. “Our relationships from producers to customers make us who we are. We believe that making time to engage with one another in meaningful ways is crucial for building relationships and growing communities. We aim to provide an opportunity for all to have access to great tasting coffee.”

Oakland, Police chief, lawsuit, Florida,

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 11, 2024

Former Oakland Police Chief Files Lawsuit Alleging Wrongful Termination And First Amendment Violation

Ex-Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city and Mayor Sheng Thao, in an effort to return to his role.

A former police chief in Oakland is suing the city and its mayor on the grounds of wrongful termination. LeRonne Armstrong has now entangled his former work-home and its Mayor Sheng Thao in the lawsuit.

Armstrong and his lawyer claim that he was unlawfully let go from his position in the force in February 2022, allegedly for his critique of the federal government monitoring the department, as reported by ABC7. According to his attorney, Billie Wenter, he was specifically targeted and punished for speaking out about this overseeing of their operations.

“Chief Armstrong was illegally terminated,” explained Wenter, who stated that the firing violated the ex-chief’s First Amendment Right to free speech. “In particular he was retaliated against.”

The lawyer also expressed Armstrong’s passion for his old job and the love he held for his community, but noted that the lawsuit also seeks to expose the “improper purpose” behind the federal monitor, which Oakland has been under for two decades. Currently, the monitor is Robert Warshaw, who the lawsuit names as someone trying to profit off the city through his role.

“The other goal and among others are to continue to reveal and shed some light on the improper purpose behind the monitor continuing to assert these false criticisms against the Oakland police department,” continued Wenter.

However, Armstrong’s chance to return to the force seems extremely slim. Mayor Thao spoke back in October that, despite Armstrong being listed under the Oakland Police Commission’s recommendations for the position he was axed from, she would not approve his reinstatement to the role.

“My direct answer in regard to Mr. LeRonne Armstong is that I am determined to get us out of the federal oversight, which we have been under for the last 20 years, that is not only costing us dollars that we could be spending for our parks and libraries, but it’s also about time we get of it so we can actually do policing work,” she explained. “With that being said, the next police chief is going to have to be able to work with the monitor and with the federal judge as well. And I do believe that, in this case, it will not be LeRonne Armstrong in this case. I do not have the belief that he can lead this city out through that process.”

However, the City Attorney’s Office has released a statement in regards to the suit, stating that they have yet to be served the complaint.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 11, 2024

Baltimore Police Captain, Once Charged In Death Of Freddie Gray, Promoted To Public Integrity Bureau

Freddie Gray, 25, died in 2015 of injuries suffered while in police custody.

Capt. Alicia White, the Baltimore Police Captain who was charged for her involvement in the 2015 arrest and death of Freddie Gray, has been promoted to the department’s Public Integrity Bureau. She is set to take on the position, overseeing misconduct allegations, on Feb. 11.

On April 12, 2015, Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man, was detained by the Baltimore Police Department for possessing a knife within legal limits. During his time in police custody, Gray suffered severe injuries and was transported to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Gray passed away on April 19, 2015, with his death attributed to injuries sustained to his cervical spinal cord.

According to The Baltimore Sun, White’s appointment was reviewed by an interview committee, which selected two commanders of the force to take on this next level of duty and were formally approved by the city’s police commissioner. White will be part of the Investigative section, where fellow officers or the general public can complain about the police.

White, who was a lieutenant at the time of Gray’s death, was a supervisor who saw Gray after his arrest, at a point in which he was already injured. According to the city’s then-state attorney Marilyn Mosby, who launched a case against six officers in the matter, White did not properly investigate the arrest or his injuries. White has maintained that when she asked Gray about any issues, his lack of response led her to believe he was uncooperative and no further assistance was needed.

“Unfortunately, that day someone lost their life,” White said in 2016. “But I feel like everything I was trained to do, I did.”

Despite the claims by Mosby that White inadequately handled Gray’s arrest and ultimately played a role in his death, former commissioner Kevin Davis dropped White’s charges in 2017. She was promoted to her role as Captain in August 2022.

In the aftermath of the controversial case, the Baltimore Police Department was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2016, which determined that the agency failed to uphold proper training and accountability toward officers for not abiding by guidelines. Upon changes being made to their processes, the Public Integrity Bureau will undergo a compliance assessment to ensure systemic improvements are enacted.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 11, 2024

Willow Smith First In Star-Studded Family To Achieve A Billion Music Streams

The 2015 track was released simultaneously as the second and final single of her debut album "Ardipithecus."

Willow Smith is the first member of her A-list family to achieve achieve one billion Spotify streams, thanks to her hit song “…Wait a Minute!”

The 2015 track was released simultaneously as the second and final single of her debut album Ardipithecus.

In celebration of his daughter’s accomplishment, Will Smith shared a photo of Willow’s Spotify Artists profile, complete with the 1 billion streams and counting for the song.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Will Smith (@willsmith)

“@willowsmith is the first person in the family to have a song with a BILLION streams,” captioned the proud dad. Willow is his only daughter and youngest of three.

Willow commented below her father’s congratulatory post, stating, “love u daddy,” alongside a heart emoji. The 23-year-old is the younger of Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith’s two kids; her older brother is a fellow musician who goes by his first name, Jaden. Will has another son., Trey, by his first wife.

Willow now belongs to the famed billions club, a part of the cohort of successful artists such as The Weeknd, Drake, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift. Spotify also has a playlist deemed “Billions club” which features the hit songs that have crossed the significant finish line.

However, the honor should not come as a surprise to fans, as music runs in one of Black Hollywood’s most famous families. The patriarch himself got his start as a rapper, receiving the first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989 as part of rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. He later performed as a solo artist.

Pinkett-Smith also has a background in the music scene, with her daughter’s alt-rock style potentially stemming from her own experience as lead singer of nu metal band Wicked Wisdom. Jaden, on the other hand, has taken after his father’s footsteps with his dive into rap.

Willow boasts 12.3 million monthly listeners on the app, with her second biggest hit, “Meet Me At Our Spot” with The Anxiety and Tyler Cole, reaching over 500 million streams.

by Daniel Johnson

February 11, 2024

After Contract Buyout, NBA Star Kyle Lowry Expected To Sign With Hometown 76ers

Kyle Lowry has agreed to a contract buyout, clearing the way for him to play for his hometown Philadelphia 76ers.

After coming to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the trade that sent Terry Rozier and a first round pick to Miami, NBA star Kyle Lowry has agreed to a contract buyout, clearing the way for him to play for his hometown Philadelphia 76ers.

As CBS Sports reported, since the Hornets are currently rebuilding, so they didn’t see a need to retain Lowry, an 18-year veteran. The 76ers are not. In 2021, the tem pursued him at the trade deadline, but couldn’t secure a deal.

A hype video featuring Lowry, who played his high school ball in Philly before going on to a decorated college basketball career at Villanova has been making the rounds on Twitter/X. Fittingly, the video opens up with Skylar Grey’s version of “I’m Coming Home” while featuring highlights from Lowry’s high school games and a shot of the Wells Fargo Center, the Sixers’ home court.

Kyle Lowry hype video to announce he’s coming home to Philadelphia #Sixers

pic.twitter.com/R9qZX9onZf
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) February 11, 2024

The Sixers, currently without the services of MVP candidate Joel Embiid due to a knee surgery, are hoping the recent acquisitions of Buddy Hield and Lowry can help keep them afloat in the Eastern conference while they wait for their franchise player to return.

Though Lowry, 37, is well past his prime, he should be able to provide defense and leadership to the team’s second unit. Despite only averaging 8.5 points on the season, his lowest total since 2011, he remains an efficient shooter, posting a three-point percentage of 38.5% for the Miami Heat.

The move also reunites Lowry with head coach Nick Nurse, with whom he won an NBA championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Lowry has great respect for Nurse. “Nick was the (Raptors assistant coach) I shot with, worked out with; he was in the system when I first got here,” he told reporters in 2022.

“So me and him had a great relationship prior to him even being the head coach,” Lowry added. “We always had this same type of mantra about winning…and trying to be innovative. Nick’s a friend of mine, and we got closer and closer. And as the years went on, we trusted each other more and more.”

It remains to be seen exactly how much playing time Lowry will get. The team also has Cameron Payne and Terquavion Smith, who is signed on a two-way deal, which gives the team more flexibility in using Lowry.