by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 5, 2024

Lewis Hamilton Announces Split From Mercedes

'After an incredible 11 years at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.'

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Lewis Hamilton announced that he will be leaving Mercedes after the 2024 season, after being with them for over a decade.

According to The Associated Press, the racing champion will be taking his talents to rival Ferrari. In August of last year, Hamilton had finalized a two-year contract extension with Mercedes. The company stated that the race car driver activated a clause in his contract that allowed him the opportunity to sign with Ferrari.

The driver took to his Instagram to make the announcement official and explained to his followers the change that will take place next year as he moves forward with his career.

“It’s been a crazy few days, which have been filled with a whole range of emotions.

“But as you all now know, after an incredible 11 years at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life, and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.

“I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfill another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.”

He went on to say that Mercedes had “been a huge part” of his life since he was 13 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)

Ferrari followed up by releasing a statement of its own to confirm Hamilton’s move to their company.

Team Statement

Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract. pic.twitter.com/moEMqUgzXH

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 1, 2024

Hamilton, who is very successful behind the wheel, is also successful when he is not driving.

Less than six months ago, the Formula 1 champion announced the debut of Almave, the world’s first-ever non-alcoholic blue agave spirit, alongside his business partner, Casa Lumbre Co-Founder Iván Saldaña.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)

In April 2023, Hamilton also introduced a plant-based restaurant, “Neat in Nolita,” which is located in Manhattan.

RELATED CONTENT: Lewis Hamilton Becomes Driving Force In Spirits Industry With First-Ever Distilled Non-Alcoholic Blue Agave Drink

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 5, 2024

Florida Investigator Accused Of Stealing Credit Card Info From Dead Victims

A Broward County investigator has been arrested for allegedly stealing the credit card information of numerous dead victims.

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An investigator from Florida has been accused of stealing the credit card info of multiple dead victims. Darrell Fernando Reid was arrested on Jan. 19 and is accused of taking advantage of his position at the Broward County’s Medical Examiner’s Office.

Reid allegedly took the banking information from a man who was found dead at his home in Coral Springs back in October, whose body was only found after two weeks inside the condominium. According to the police report obtained by NBC Miami, while it is typical for wallets to be examined upon the initial police search of the scene, the deceased man’s daughter noticed his debit card on the kitchen counter days later. Upon investigating further, she noticed that it had been charged numerous times.

The charges amounted to nearly $500 across three separate transactions of $150 each. The money was sent to the CashApp account belonging to Reid and a woman named Shanika Wright, who was revealed to his girlfriend by KIRO7. Police uncovered more accounts sending funds to Reid’s CashApp, with 27 different cards dating back to 2020. Authorities also discovered Reid inserted the credit card information from another deceased Broward County individual in November, committing the act upon inspecting his home 90 minutes prior.

The investigator’s alleged scheme also extends to different cities outside of Florida. While working under the Medical Examiner’s office in New York City in 2022, Reid is accused of inserting another deceased man’s credit card into his CashApp in December of that year.

The 38-year-old has since been charged on four counts, three for the criminal use of a dead person’s identification and a single count for credit card fraud. Reid has since posted bail, and his girlfriend has yet to be arrested in the matter. A court date has yet to be announced.

RELATED CONTENT: Houston Authorities Investigate Alleged Scam: Man Accused Of Posing As Funeral Director And Exploiting Grieving Families

by Daniel Johnson

February 5, 2024

California Makes Progress On Reparations But Leaves Out Cash Payments

The bills introduced, however, seek to limit cash payments, which some, like Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, say is only a small piece of the pie of reparations.

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Reparations are a complex political issue, but California appears to be making notable progress toward making them a reality. As NBC San Diego reported, on Jan. 31, California became the first state to introduce a comprehensive reparations package. In California, during the Gold Rush of the 19th Century, in addition to being brought to California as enslaved people to work the mines prospecting for gold, Black people also came of their own free will in search of greater opportunities for themselves. During the Great Migration, Black people relocated to California for much the same reasons that Gold Rush era Black folks did; after the end of WWII, the number of Black Californians began to explode.

 However, much like Black residents in other states that did not enact Jim Crow laws, Black people in California would still be subject to second-class citizenship in different ways. In October 2020, historian Lynn M. Hudson chronicled this history in her book, West of Jim Crow: The Fight Against California’s Color Line. Hudson traces the history of discrimination in California from the 1850s through the Reconstruction Era.

As Hudson told High Country News, “I think there’s a tendency to read back this progressive mythology. But at the California Constitutional Convention (which coincided with the Fugitive Slave Law’s expansion West in 1850), Black men were saying, “This is worse here than being in a slave state.” When interviewed about her fight against segregation in Pasadena while president of the NAACP, Ruby McKnight Williams said that when she arrived in the ’30s, ‘I didn’t see any difference in Pasadena and Mississippi except they were spelled differently.’ I think we have to take those words seriously.”

This history spurred the State of California to commission a task force to examine reparations from all angles, including how much it would cost the state and what form it would take. After the task force’s in-depth review, it recommended the next steps via an extensive report. According to Ellen Nash, president of the Black American Political Association of California, “Reparations are so important because it rights the wrong in how we were treated, in terms of coming here as slaves to this country and how we were treated with the worst of the worst kind of slavery that could happen to an individual.”

Dr. Shirley Weber, who authored the bill to create the task force formally known as Assembly Bill 3121, told NBC San Diego, “As the author of AB 3121, I am pleased that the California Legislative Black Caucus has picked up the baton and is moving the state forward in addressing the recommendations delivered to them seven months ago.” The bills introduced, however, seek to limit cash payments, which some, like Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, say is only a small piece of the pie of reparations. “While many only associate direct cash payments with reparations, the true meaning of the word, to repair, involves much more! As laid out in the report, we need a comprehensive approach to dismantling the legacy of slavery and systemic racism.”

This omission of cash payments has led to mixed reactions, including from Erika D. Smith, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, who called it “one of the most half-baked packages of bills that I’ve ever seen” before eventually saying, “I hope this gets better. It HAS to get better, right?”

As The Guardian reported, other cities have formed task forces to study reparations as a result of California’s bill, even though this bill seems to have left out a major recommendation from the task force, which stipulated that descendants of both enslaved and free Black Californians receive financial payments because of multiple generations of unequal treatment. For comparison, Ja’Han Jones notes in his summary of the bill that during WWII, Japanese Americans received cash payments because of the practice of placing them in internment camps, and slaveholding Americans were compensated following emancipation. The latter practice begs the question, if reparations via cash payments were fine for slaveholders, why is it so controversial regarding descendants of the people turned into property? 

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 5, 2024

Spike Lee, Fabolous, Victor Cruz, And More Attend Michael B. Jordan’s Boardroom x Legacy Classic Brunch

Media, sports, and business powerhouses gathered together to support Michael B. Jordan's HBCU basketball-focused QQQ Legacy Classic weekend.

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Media, sports, and business powerhouses gathered together to support Michael B. Jordan’s HBCU basketball-focused QQQ Legacy Classic weekend.

On Friday, Feb. 2, prominent figures like Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee, The Huffington Post Founder Arianna Huffington, NFL alums Victor Cruz and Justin Tuck, and radio personalities Angie Martinez and Ebro Darden, among many others, gathered at the Zero Bond in New York, for an intimate invite-only sit down brunch hosted by Michael B. Jordan and Rich Kleiman, CEO of Boardroom, the media brand he co-founded with Kevin Durant.

Held as part of Jordan’s annual Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic weekend, the Boardroom x Legacy Classic Brunch allowed for a select group of HBCU alumni to further their careers and professional networks by meeting with esteemed NYC executives, founders, and personalities in sports, entertainment, and business. The brunch also included a formal conversation with Jordan and Kleiman aimed at providing HBCU alums with opportunities for connection and engagement with highly successful and influential professionals in New York City.

“The kernel of the idea for the Legacy Classic came from watching the Maui Invitational. I wanted to create that environment and chemistry with HBCU culture and bring it back to my hometown of Newark,” Jordan said, as captured by Haute Living.

“With rooms like this, we can bridge the gap between the HBCU community and the corporate world to find new opportunities.”

“I’m a proud third-generation Morehouse man,” Spike Lee added. “You have to remember – Black schools were formed because we weren’t allowed at white colleges and universities. We must support the institutions that supported us and got us where we needed to go when we were shunned by everywhere else.”

Other attendees included journalist Taylor Rooks, American Express National Bank CEO Anré Williams, Lazard President Ray McGuire, co-anchor of CNBC’s Squawk Box Andrew Sorkin, Primetime Partners Co-Founder and Chairperson Alan Patricof, rapper Fabolous, designer Ronnie Fieg, artist and designer KAWS, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, Apollo Partner Reed Rayman, Tribeca Enterprises co-Founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal, and Zero Bond Founder Scott Sartiano.

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 5, 2024

Ayanna Pressley Accuses Walgreens Of ‘Racial And Economic Discrimination’ Amid Closures In Boston District

Some points were made.....

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Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) called out pharmaceutical conglomerate Walgreens after the company announced another store in a predominantly Black and brown neighborhood would be closing.

She is accusing the pharmacy of “divesting from Black and brown communities” in the Roxbury, Massachusetts, community — where 85% of residents are Black and Latino. In June 2023, the company announced that over 150 stores would shut down nationwide due to low earnings. However, alongside Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (D-MA), Pressley pointed out the closures are housed in predominantly urban neighborhoods, making it harder for residents to secure needed items and prescriptions. “

“When Walgreens leaves a neighborhood, it disrupts the entire community, and it takes with it–baby formula, diapers, asthma inhalers, life-saving medications, and, of course, jobs,” Pressley said on the House floor. “These closures are not arbitrary, and they are not innocent. They are life-threatening acts of racial and economic discrimination.”

In a letter to Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth, the Democratic legislators accuse the company of shutting down stores in Black and brown neighborhoods with no outside alternative. According to a 2021 study from the University of Southern California, it was found that there were fewer pharmacies in Black and Latino communities within 30 United States cities than in white neighborhoods between 2007 and 2015. 

The three legislators argued the closures add to the severe issue of racial and economic discrimination, including food deserts and the lack of reliable transportation.

“Why was there no community input? No adequate notice to customers? And no transition resources to prevent gaps in healthcare?” Pressley asked. “Shame on you, Walgreens.”

Closures are partly due to “unprecedented levels” of lost inventory at retailers nationwide. A study by the National Retail Federation found in 2022, shrink rates increased to 1.6% from 1.4% the previous year, resulting in $112.1 billion in losses.

However, the politician’s calls didn’t go unanswered. Right-winged podcast hosts and former CEOs responded to the congresswoman’s accusations, using racist undertones.

“Maybe tell your friends to stop robbing the store, and Walgreens won’t leave the neighborhood,” Kevin Smith, host of the “Loud Majority Live” podcast, tweeted. 

Former presidential hopeful Larry Elder chimed in as well. “Okay @RepPressley, pass the hat, raise money and put a store in the Walgreens location,” he tweeted. “Let’s see how the race card works when people steal from you.”

Others, like former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, blamed Pressley’s defund the police stance as the reason for store closures. “Maybe we should defund the police some more. Yeah, yeah, that will probably help,” he said. 

A Walgreens spokesperson responded, sharing that the company alerted customers of the closure two weeks before on Jan. 1. After the closing was delayed, they said another alert was sent out on Jan. 29.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience,” the spokesperson said. “We know that our customers and patients rely on our stores and trust our team members for their healthcare needs. And, when we must close a store, it affects them and their community. Our priority is to ensure a smooth transition for our customers and team members during this time.”

Walgreens also provided customers several options to make the transition easier, including allowing prescription transfers and free same-day prescription delivery for 90 days.

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 5, 2024

U.S. Capitol Police Subpoenaed By Grand Jury In Rep. Cori Bush Security Investigation 

This all surrounds a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., asking questions about Bush’s security and the alleged misuse of campaign funds.  

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U.S. Capitol Police are now involved in the grand jury investigation involving Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), CNN reported. 

Officers received a subpoena looking for materials that relate to direct threats towards the elected official. They are also seeking communications from her office, campaign, or her husband with Capitol Police. This all surrounds a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., asking questions about Bush’s security and the alleged misuse of campaign funds.  

The congresswoman, who represents the St. Louis district, said she hired her husband as part of her security team and can prove his services are at or below market rate. “Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,” Bush said. “As a rank-and-file member of Congress, I am not entitled to personal protection by the House and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services.”

Ethics rules for members of the House of Representatives grant permission for family members to be paid from campaign funds for “bona fide services” as long as payments don’t go over “fair market value.” Bush said no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented.

Other witnesses have been sought out by federal investigators – some involved in the personal security business. In a statement, Bush reiterated her full cooperation with the investigation. “First and foremost, I hold myself, my campaign, and my position to the highest levels of integrity,” Bush said. 

“I also believe in transparency which is why I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaign’s spending on security services. We are fully cooperating in this investigation, and I would like to take this opportunity to outline the facts and the truth.” 

On top of an ongoing investigation, Bush is facing more scrutiny after being outraised by her primary opponent, attorney Wesley Bell. According to Fox News, which described Bush as a “defund the police advocate,” Bell raised $492,149 in donations in comparison to $487,000 from the Bush campaign in the 2023 third quarter. 

The fellow Democrat looking to unseat Bush accused her of not showing up for her district in times of need. “Missouri’s 1st District deserves a representative who shows up, does the work and gets things done,” Bell said. “I’m honored by our fast-growing list of endorsements from community members and local officials, and energized by the incredible momentum of support driving our campaign.”

RELATED CONTENT: Cori Bush Investigated By Department of Justice For Hiring Husband As Part of Security Team

by Rafael Pena

February 5, 2024

Atlanta VA Employee Raises Concerns Over Alleged Unfair Pay Deductions, Prompting An Internal Investigation

An employee at the Atlanta VA Medical Center has brought attention to unfair pay deductions, raising concerns about his financial well-being.

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An employee at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, Maurice Robertson, has brought attention to what he perceives as unfair pay deductions, raising concerns about the impact on his financial well-being, according to 11Alive. 

As a pharmacy tech at the Atlanta VA, Robertson expressed frustration with consistent pay discrepancies, emphasizing that despite diligently working 40 hours a week, his paycheck fails to accurately reflect his hours.

“Only way you can be AWOL is if I have left and went to North DeKalb Mall up the street and I’m sitting there shopping when I’m supposed to be at work. That’s AWOL — because you’re not on the property, not when you’re on the property, and you’re working,” Robertson said. 

In collaboration with 11Alive, Robertson provided insight into the persistent issues by examining his paystubs and confirming multiple instances of AWOL listings. He explained the functionality of the VA’s “leave in attendance” system, designed to allow employees to utilize accrued time for situations like running late. However, Robertson alleged that the system deviates from its intended purpose, as he is listed as AWOL despite having over 100 hours of available leave time. Instead of utilizing his accrued leave, Robertson claimed that his pay was deducted for various reasons.

The VA responded to the inquiry, stating, “The Atlanta VA Healthcare System takes employee concerns seriously and encourages our employees to raise any concerns.” The institution acknowledged reaching out to Robertson to address his specific issue while citing limitations in sharing further details.

Undeterred by the ongoing pay discrepancies, Robertson revealed that he filed multiple internal complaints. The financial impact on his life is substantial, with the incomplete pay affecting his ability to address accumulating expenses. Notably, on the day of the interview, Robertson faced additional challenges when his car broke down, underscoring the real-world consequences of the ongoing pay issues. As the VA grapples with internal complaints and strives to address employee concerns, the case highlights the importance of fair compensation practices in maintaining the well-being of dedicated staff members like Maurice Robertson.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Veteran Sues The VA Over Agency’s Denial Of PTSD Benefits To Black Soldiers

by Stacy Jackson

February 5, 2024

Jay-Z Checks The Recording Academy Over Beyoncé Grammy Snubs

Taylor Swift won album of the year, giving her four wins in that category.

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Rap icon Jay-Z boldly critiqued the Recording Academy in his acceptance speech for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the 66th Grammy Awards.

Accompanied on the stage by his 12-year-old Grammy-winning daughter Blue Ivy, the Roc Nation founder highlighted the “obviously subjective” nature of Grammy voting. During Jay-Z’s speech, which the Recording Academy shared on YouTube, the rapper and record producer questioned album of the year results and noted that his wife Beyoncé “never won” that honor even though she boasts “more Grammys than everyone.”

“So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys; never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work,” he remarked. The billionaire rapper held nothing back as he added: “Some of you are gonna go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed.”

Jay-Z even slammed some of the nominees. “Some of you don’t belong in the category,” he said before adding, “When I get nervous, I tell the truth.” The audience of industry voters and nominees appeared to have found humor in some of the rapper’s thoughts.

Pop and country artist Taylor Swift took home this year’s award for album of the year.

BLACK ENTERPRISE noted that Jay-Z and his wife, the most-nominated couple in the award show’s history, officially tied with 88 nominations each after the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 65th Grammy Awards. BE covered Beyoncé’s historic moment at the 63rd Grammy Awards after she broke the record for most Grammy wins by a woman and any male or female singer.

According to a timeline of Bey’s Grammy wins, People reported the Renaissance artist has won 32 Grammy awards, with her first being in 2001 for Destiny’s Child’s hit song “Say My Name.”

RELATED CONTENT: Shannon Sharpe: ‘Beyoncé Ain’t Moving The Needle’ In The NFL Like Taylor Swift

• Career

by Kandia Johnson

February 5, 2024

Be A ‘Female Boss’ In A Male-Dominated Workplace

From feeling isolated and dealing with unfairness in pay to struggling to gain the respect women face an uphill battle to success in male-dominated industries

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Originally Published Oct. 20, 2017

From feeling isolated and dealing with unfairness in pay to struggling to gain the respect they deserve at work, some women face an uphill battle when it comes to succeeding in male-dominated industries.

For tips on succeeding as a woman in business and excelling in a male-dominated workplace, we tapped human resources executive and entrepreneur Joan G. Wilmer for advice.

What’s the one thing many women do that may block their success in the workplace?

Taking things personally and managing personally are two things that many women do, which can block their success in the workplace. Remember, business is business. 

When it comes to career advancement for women, what do you think is the most overlooked or undervalued skill?

Women are great strategists. We tend to see things that others easily overlook and know what steps should be taken and when. In other words, women have a natural intellectual meter for carefully calculated movement. We are also great at driving for opportunities. We know how to find an opportunity within, especially in those environments where innovation is a key strategy for organic and future growth. Women have been regarded and stereotyped as emotional leaders by men. However, studies led by The Catalyst organization have found that women are more passionate about their work when compared to men, and our pursuit [of] perfection has positively impacted organizations around the world.

What’s the most important quality a woman needs to succeed in a male industry?

Relationship management and emotional intelligence are two important qualities women need to succeed in industries deemed a “boys’ club.” Men lead and manage according to the genuine relationships they can garner with their fellow leaders. This includes relationships and people they can trust. Emotional intelligence allows a woman to know her[self] and any personal triggers to effectively navigate among her peers and in complex environments.

RELATED CONTENT: How To Build A Successful Business With Your Spouse

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 5, 2024

T-Pain Removes His Name From Country Songs Due To ‘The Racism That Comes After’

When it comes to including his name in the country music he writes, T-Pain opts out to avoid "the racism that comes after."

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T-Pain is a lot more than autotune and R&B crooning. The Florida native has been letting the world see his prowess within other music genres during his live shows. However, when it comes to including his name in the country music he writes, T-Pain opts out to avoid “the racism that comes after.”

The “Bartender” singer, born Faheem Rashad Najm, took to Instagram on Tuesday, Jan. 30, to speak candidly about his love for other music genres. Particularly country and gospel, two genres he credits for influencing the “harmonies” within his own style of music.

“Good music is good music. I don’t give a fu*k where it come from or what style it come in,” he says to the camera. “All the people I know feel like it’s not cool to listen to other genres of music.”

In fact, T-Pain loves country music so much that he’s even penned a few country tracks for other artists that he opts out of receiving credit for due to racism.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by T-Pain (@tpain)

“I done wrote a lotta country songs. Stopped taking credit for it because as cool as it is to see your name in those credits and sh*t like that, the racism that comes after it is just like…..,” he shares.

“I’ll just take the check,” he added with a laugh.

Fans in the comments showed their support for T-Pain’s country music endeavors and requested to hear some of his country jams.

“Now i want to hear these Tpain country tunes,” one fan wrote.

“I need Chris Stapelton and Tpain to do a song together,” added someone else.

T-Pain performed live at the Sun Rose Room in West Hollywood, California, last year and went viral with his rendition of Chris Stapleton’s country music classic “Tennessee Whiskey.”

Elsewhere, he performed his rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s “War Pigs,” and received praise from the Prince of Darkness himself.

RELATED CONTENT: Grammys ‘Best African Music Performance’ Category Leaves Out Most Of Africa