BEYONCÉ, cowboy carter, tour, economy — Beyoncé Gisselle Knowles has made a name for herself. She found fame as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, but after launching her solo career in 2003, she became a global icon. As a solo artist, she has earned most of her wealth from music and live performances. In 2008, she established Parkwood Entertainment, a production company that handles her music, film, and fashion projects. At the moment, Beyoncé's net worth is estimated at $760 million: (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 24, 2024

Beyoncé Celebrates Breaking Barriers And Elevating Black Country Artists With ‘Cowboy Carter’: ‘Thrilled My Fans Trusted Me’

'When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift.'

Beyoncé shocked the world in a way that not even her fans anticipated when she dropped a full country album, “Cowboy Carter.” Although country radio tried to block her entry into the genre, the backlash from fans and the strength of the music forced their hand and catapulted “Queen Bey” to become the very first Black woman to hit the top spot (with “Texas Hold ‘Em”) on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She gave a statement acknowledging the barriers broken and achievements achieved by other country artists of color after she released her album.

When Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” was dethroned, a song released by an artist she featured on her “Cowboy Carter” project, Shaboozey had the distinction of taking that spot away from her. Her song went to No. 2 due to Shaboozey’s song, “A Bar Song (Typsy),” knocking her from the pinnacle. That feat was the first time in Billboard history that two Black artists held consecutive No. 1 hits.

“When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift. But when I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me,” Beyoncé told the media outlet.

She went on to say that after the rise on the charts and sales from her albums motivated her, challenging herself pushed her to reach the success she is now facing.

“There was a time in my life when charts and sales excited and motivated me. Once you have challenged yourself and poured every ounce of your life, your pain, your growth and your dreams into your art, it’s impossible to go backward. I’m very grateful and humbled for the extraordinary success of the new album.”

With the success she has had in the past with her accession in her music, especially with her last album, “Renaissance,” released in 2022, blending multiple genres like dance, house, disco, R&B, and hip-hop, Beyoncé said she understands the barriers she has broken through her art.

“I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m so thrilled that my fans trusted me. The music industry gatekeepers are not happy about the idea of bending genres, especially coming from a Black artist and definitely not a woman,” Beyoncé said.

Black Barbie, documentary, Netflix — Photo via Netflix

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 24, 2024

‘Black Barbie’: A New Documentary Showcases Doll’s Creation And Impact On Diversity

The documentary was released on Netflix and produced by Shonda Rhimes' Shondaland.

The creation and impact of Black Barbie is now on display in a new documentary. Black Barbie details the doll’s representation and influence on diversity.

Netflix released it on Juneteenth. The documentary began with its director, Lagueria Davis, and her familial ties to Black Barbie. While lacking an affinity for the toy, Davis noticed her Aunt Beulah’s appreciation for the dolls. Beulah Mitchell’s untold story of her role in creating the first-ever Black Barbie doll led the writer-director to uncover its history.

Mitchell started on the assembly line at Mattel, the company behind Barbie, in 1955. At the beginning of the ’60s, Mitchell proposed the idea of a Black doll to Barbie’s creator, Ruth Handler. While Handler responded, “We’ll see,” the dream came to fruition for Mitchell—albeit two decades later.

The film features the stories of fellow Black Mattel employees and includes diversity pioneers such as Shonda Rhimes, whose Shondaland produced the documentary, Misty Copeland, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

The first Black Barbie, which debuted in 1980, featured a doll fully immersed in her identity. Designed by Kitty Black Perkins, the doll had an Afro to complement her red dress and gold jewelry. Moreover, her facial features, such as a wide nose and larger lips, further signified her Blackness.

“When I designed this doll, there was a need for the little Black girl to have something she could play with that looked like her,” explained Black Perkins in the documentary. “I wanted her to reflect the total look of a Black woman.”

To doll-lovers around the world, Black Barbie had arrived.

“Barbie is such a ubiquitous and iconic brand. It’s important to know that (the) Barbie brand could be attached to a non-white doll,” shared producer Aaliyah Williams to CNN. “Having Black Barbie (dolls) just reinforces the fact that being Black is fly and amazing—and that Black women are gorgeous.”

The Barbie marked a new era of diversity for the toy brand. Its impact spread amongst consumers, typically young girls, while boosting their self-esteem. For young Black girls, seeing a doll that looked like them was an acknowledgment of their existence. Furthermore, it also emphasized their own beauty.

The initial success of Black Barbie also led to more dolls in its line. Its present-day celebration through the documentary uplifts diversity in all forms.

“It’s a beautiful legacy story. It shows how representation can work — and we’re talking about a time when there weren’t any DEI initiatives,” stated Davis to the news outlet. “Black Barbie is validation for my aunt and Kitty and Stacy, being seen and heard at a company where they were oftentimes silenced. Black Barbie is also validation for us filmmakers, everybody who worked on it, being seen and heard in this industry.”

Reparations, washington — Photo by Daniel Lobo/Flickr

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 24, 2024

California Assemblyman Tearfully Defends Reparations Bill

The bill advanced despite the criticisms of one Republican lawmaker.

A Democratic assemblyman in California went viral after tearfully defending a proposed reparations bill. A Republican lawmaker argued that nonwhite residents should not have to pay for reparations.

The bill, titled SB 1331, followed recommendations by the state’s reparations task force, per the New York Post.

Despite its advancement from a vote by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, the potential legislation still faces pushback, specifically from Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez.

Sanchez argued that minorities make up more than half of California’s population, specifically Latino and Asian. Sanchez identifies as Hispanic.

She stated they “had nothing to do with slavery, discrimination, Jim Crow laws” and did not need to pay toward reparations. According to economists, the cost of reparations for Black Californians could total over $800 billion.

“To pay for that, you’d need a major tax hike unlike anything this state has ever seen before,” explained Sanchez. “I recognize and acknowledge the painful part of our history, [but] the pains of our past should not be paid by the people of today.”

However, Assemblyman Ash Kalra teared up as he explained the necessity of reparations, especially in monetary form. Kalra made history in 2016 as the first Indian-American elected to California’s state legislature.

“I understand that it’s hard to ask those of us currently sitting in the legislature to make those commitments, but no one asked Black families over generations, if it was OK to take their wealth, if it was OK to enslave them, it was OK to ….” he began to say as tears filled his eyes.

After regaining his composure, he added, “If it was OK to put their children in generations of poverty. This country became a superpower based upon free labor of African descendants over hundreds of years. We need to recognize it.”

According to its author, State Sen. Steven Bradford, the bill could extend reparations beyond monetary payments. Free healthcare and college tuition have emerged as potential measures.

It remains one of four reparations bills passed by the committee thus far.

NAACP, xAI, Elon Musk, lawsuit — (Photo: Towfiqu Barbhuiya/Pexels)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 24, 2024

Brewery Fires Black Employee For Whistle-Blowing About Discriminatory Treatment, Has To Pay $115K In Wrongful Termination Settlement

The brewery must pay its former employee for firing him after complaining about discriminatory behavior.

A brewery in Atlanta must pay $115K in a settlement for a wrongful termination lawsuit. The federal case also details racial discrimination and retaliation made by Iron Hill Brewery.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a federal lawsuit against the restaurant, located in the affluent Atlanta suburb of Buckhead. According to the EEOC, Iron Hill Brewery racially discriminated against and retaliated against a Black employee after he reported discriminatory behavior toward women, Black, and Hispanic employees. In the legal filing, the EEOC stated that Iron Hill Brewery fired Jerrell McGirt after he complained about the discriminatory treatment.

After alerting management of the problem, the company fired the sous chef-in-training, as reported by WSB-TV. The legal documents also claimed that McGirt overheard racial slurs used frequently at the establishment.

“He received an unwarranted disciplinary action and was then fired, the EEOC said. Such alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits retaliation for engaging in protected activity and discrimination based on race,” the EEOC said in a release.

Despite attempts to settle out of court, the case proceeded to a trial and subsequent settlement. Now, Iron Hill Brewery must pay McGirt the over $100,000 relief payment. It also will provide a positive employer reference for McGirt as he pursues other opportunities.

“The EEOC brought this lawsuit to defend an employee’s right to speak up about workplace discrimination,” explained Atlanta District Office Regional Attorney Marcus G. Keegan in a statement. “This settlement sends a strong message that the EEOC will continue to vindicate the rights of individuals with the courage to come forward to report discrimination against themselves or others in the workplace.”

Moreover, Iron Hill Brewery must train its employees on a racial discrimination and retaliation ban. For the next three years, it must provide examples of illegal retaliation in the workplace and establish an anti-retaliation policy.

The brewery, a nationwide chain, has yet to comment publicly.

Lonnie Phelps, Cleveland Browns — (Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 24, 2024

Lonnie Phelps Released By Cleveland Browns After Being Arrested For DUI

The defensive end was charged with DUI and damaging property when he was arrested.

After being arrested for driving under the influence in Florida, defensive end Lonnie Phelps is without a team as the Cleveland Browns released him.

According to NFL.com, the NFL team announced that it waived Phelps but made no mention of his arrest in its press release.

We’ve waived DE Lonnie Phelps

📰 » https://t.co/ydEYkQM3y7 pic.twitter.com/1OlM22tpg5

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 20, 2024

Phelps was charged with DUI and damaging property when he was detained and arrested on June 19. Police officials said he drove into an outdoor lounge area at Red Shoe Island Bistro in Key West. He refused to take a breath test and reportedly refused to cooperate with police officers on the scene.

NBC News reported that the 23-year-old football player was with his 21-year-old girlfriend when officers arrived on the scene.

In the police report, police said Phelps was slurring his words and had a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his mouth, bloodshot eyes, and droopy eyelids.

Phelps appeared to be “very agitated,” the report states, and “kept throwing his hands in the air and rushing us to ‘do what we have to do.'”

The former Browns player was arrested and booked at the Monroe County Detention Center on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and causing property damage.

Red Shoe Island posted a statement on its Facebook page letting patrons know that no one was hurt and “Thankfully, we were closed” when the accident occurred.

“UPDATE: Thank you, Key West for a fast & fantastic opening!

“No one was hurt by the car that drove into our restaurant tonight. Thankfully, we were closed. It could’ve been really bad…Angels were looking out for us all.

“We will reopen as soon as possible. Thanks for your support and patience,” the post read.

The 23-year-old Phelps played his collegiate career at Miami (Ohio) before playing at Kansas. The Cleveland Browns stated that he was an undrafted free agent when he joined the team in May 2023 and spent the season on the practice squad. He was then signed to a reserve/future contract in January 2024.

Phelps is scheduled to appear in court on July 2.

North Carolina A&T, Biotechnology, merck — (Getty Images)

by Stacy Jackson

June 24, 2024

North Carolina A&T Launches Biotechnology Learning Center With Merck

The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center will offer N.C. A&T students advanced training and insights into the biopharmaceutical industry.

A new initiative to foster talent in the biotechnology sector has been launched through a partnership between multinational pharmaceutical company Merck and research HBCU North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T).

The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center, a 4,025-square-foot facility, offers advanced training and discovery opportunities for N.C. A&T students pursuing careers in biotechnology. An April 22 press release by Merck revealed that the center, equipped with cutting-edge biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, a process laboratory, and classroom space, is strategically located near Merck’s Durham and Wilson manufacturing sites.

The collaboration aims to strengthen academic programming and provide hands-on experience for students. Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president of Merck Manufacturing Division, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We’re pleased to launch this new collaboration with an institution that precisely aligns to our company priorities to invest in the growth and delivery of innovative health solutions and strong values around diversity and inclusion.”

The partnership invests in the local community’s future and supports broader bioeconomy initiatives across the state. It addresses the critical need for diversity in the biotechnology industry, where Black professionals remain underrepresented. According to a 2022 report by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, despite their representation in society, Black employees only constituted 6% of the biotech workforce.

Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson, provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs at N.C. A&T, highlighted the significance of the collaboration with Merck, describing it as “a union between academia and industry, and a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the advancement of scientific knowledge.”

The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center offers N.C. A&T students valuable insights into the biopharmaceutical industry, helping them envision potential career paths. Additionally, the facility provides vaccine manufacturing process training for both new and existing Merck employees, further strengthening the company’s workforce development efforts.

National Basketball Players Association, PLYRS UNTD — Photo by raymondclarkeimages/flickr

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 24, 2024

Detroit Pistons Terminates Head Coach Monty Williams A Year After Signing Him To Largest Contract In NBA History

Last year, Williams signed a reported six-year, $78.5 million contract with the Pistons.

A year after being issued the largest coaching deal in NBA history, Monty Williams has been terminated by the Detroit Pistons after only a year of service to the team.

The team announced its decision on June 19.

“Decisions like these are difficult to make, and I want to thank Monty for his hard work and dedication,” said Pistons owner Tom Gores in a written statement. “Coaching has many dynamic challenges that emerge during a season and Monty always handled those with grace. However, after reviewing our performance carefully and assessing our current position as an organization, we will chart a new course moving forward.”

“I have great respect for Monty as a coach and as a person and I am certain he will be successful in his future endeavors. I sincerely wish him and his family the very best.”

“I have great respect for Monty as a coach and as a person and I am certain he will be successful in his future endeavors”

The #Pistons announced today that Monty Williams will not return next season as the team’s head coach: https://t.co/8a4e7hHeOW

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) June 19, 2024

In June 2023, Williams agreed to take on the head coaching position with the Pistons for a reported six-year, $78.5 million contract. The agreement was the largest coaching deal in NBA history.

Williams won NBA Coach of the Year in 2022 as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. A year after winning the award, he was fired by the Suns after they were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals. He had a winning record as a head coach with a total of 194 wins against 115 losses (.628) in regular season games. His playoff record for the Suns stands at 27-19. The team made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 and won a franchise-record 64 games in 2021-22.

Williams played his collegiate career at Notre Dame from 1989 to 1994 before becoming the New York Knicks’ 24th NBA first-draft pick in 1994. He played for the Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets, the Orlando Magic, and the Philadelphia 76ers during his NBA career.

Sha'Carri Richardson, Paris, Olympics — (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 23, 2024

Sha’Carri Richardson Qualifies For Paris Olympics After Winning 100-Meter Race

Richardson clocked her fastest time this year.

Sha’Carri Richardson has won her latest race and now qualifies for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

According to USA Today, Richardson won her latest race by clocking the fastest time this year for the women’s 100 meters with a time of 10.71 seconds.

Sha’Carri Richardson runs the fastest 100m in the world this year to qualify for the #ParisOlympics! pic.twitter.com/ke9xz7EZ7H

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 23, 2024

CNN reports that Richardson accomplished the feat on June 22 at the Olympic trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Although Richardson didn’t have an explosive start, she bypassed the other sprinters at 60 meters and defeated her opponents with no ease when she crossed the finish line first.

“This time around, I feel as if it was more — definitely still confident, still my exciting, normal self, but more so the overwhelming feeling of joy,” Richardson said after she completed the race, according to USA Today.

She easily passed Melissa Jefferson, who came in behind Richardson when she ran a personal-best 10.80. Twanisha Terry came in the No. 3 spot with a time of 10.98. All three sprinters, who train together, are heading to the Paris Olympics.

“It definitely confirmed the year we’ve been training for. We’ve been preparing for this moment; it’s a full circle moment,” Richardson said. “We’re grateful and appreciative and I’m super excited to grow and build from this momentum that we’ve already established.”

Richardson previously qualified for the Olympics but was suspended after a failed drug test and was left off the roster for the team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“Everything I’ve been through is everything I’ve been through to be in this moment right now,” Richardson said. “And I would say going into the (Olympics), I don’t put a time on myself; I just know that if I execute and run the race that I trained and prepared for, the time comes with it. I’m just excited to go out there and run a well-executed race.”

police shooting, SWAT, Black man, Protector app — Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-a-handgun-7714766/

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 23, 2024

Family of Man Killed By SWAT Officer Call For Murder Trial

The family of Kilyn Lewis, who died after a SWAT officer shot him in May, urge for the officer to be charged.

The family of Kilyn Lewis, a Black man killed by a SWAT officer while holding a cellphone, are urging for a murder trial against the officer. The request comes as body cam footage revealed more of the shooting that occurred on May 23.

Lewis died after the police arrived to arrest him at a condo parking lot in the Denver suburb of Aurora. The 37-year-old had an arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred weeks prior and left a man injured.

According to AP News, the footage revealed officers yelling at Lewis to get on the ground. Shared with the public by interim Police Chief Heather Morris, the clip showed an officer shooting at Lewis as he began to bend his knees. Lewis held a cell phone while raising his hands in the air.

“I don’t have nothing,” Lewis yelled repeatedly in the video.

His family calls for justice, as his mother touched on the police brutality problem in the area. Elijah McClain, who resided in the Denver suburb of Aurora, died while detained by a police officer in 2019. The officer, alongside two paramedics, was convicted for his involvement. McClain’s death also sparked Black Lives Matter protests nationwide.

“This is not just about one officer or one incident. It’s about a broken system that devalues Black lives,” shared LaRhonda Jones, Lewis’ mother, during a press conference on the matter.

Jones called upon Denver’s local prosecutor and Colorado’s state attorney general to charge the officer and go to trial. The family’s lawyer, Edward Hopkins Jr., also stated that Lewis probably felt ambushed by the police’s approach, which he compared to gangs. Moreover, he argued that the video placed the police involved in a more favorable light.

“They wanted to start the conversation the way they wanted to,” explained Hopkins.

The officer’s identity remains under wraps as an investigation into the incident continues.

Saint Augustine's Black Woman, Board — (Photo: Saint Augustine's University)

by Mary Spiller

June 23, 2024

Saint Augustine’s University Board Chair Addresses Lawsuit Against Trustees

The Saint Augustine University Board of Trustees was sued by the SAU Coalition.

The Chairman of the Saint Augustine’s University Board of Trustees, Brian Boulware, has spoken out against the allegations against him and the other seats at the Raleigh, North Carolina, HBCU. According to ABC 11, he responded to the backlash the board received from the SAVE SAU Coalition.

Boulware and the Board of Trustees found themselves the targets of a lawsuit headed by the SAVE SAU Coalition, which is comprised of Saint Augustine University alumni, parents, students, and others who have expressed interest in maintaining the university’s core values and future.

The lawsuit stated that the HBCU “now teeters on the edge of chaos, brought to its knees by the utter neglect of its board of trustees and especially its most recent chairmen, Defendants Brian Boulware and James Perry.”

The lawsuit continued, “It goes on to state that “the board is led by a dictatorial and vindictive chairman who is more concerned with lining his own pockets than leading the university.”

Boulware responded to the accusations in the lawsuit by penning a letter to Falcon Nation. He defended against the allegations and described the lawsuit as being nothing but “lies and deceptions.”

Boulware made another suggestion about why the SAU filed the lawsuit. He accused a group of local business heads of participating in a meeting to try to force the SAU and Shaw University to merge. The merger would allow real estate developers to tear down Shaw’s campus and use the land to build new projects on the property.

He claimed that the owner of a local television station — Capitol Broadcasting CEO Jim Goodmon — said in the meeting: “Raleigh doesn’t need two Black universities. We need the two to merge. I don’t care what you call it. However, we need them both on SAU’s property because we need downtown land to expand the development footprint.”

In the letter, Boulware said that the push for the merger has caused all the issues brought about by the SAU and the accreditation problems Saint Augustine University has faced.

Boulware said, “This unwarranted attention has disrupted our operations, leading to delays in meaningful projects and the need for additional resources. It has also jeopardized the trust of our community, with some stakeholders questioning our financial management.”