protester,Trump, military. parade
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 21, 2023

Poll: Americans In Favor of Trump Ballot Disqualification In Colorado

A new poll shows that Americans are OK with Donald Trump being removed from Colorado's presidential ballot.

Voters have spoken, and it seems they have no problem with former President Donald Trump being off the ballot in Colorado.

A survey conducted by YouGov found that 54% of Americans approve of the state’s historic decision, while out of 3,500 participants, close to 38% strongly approve. Thirty-five percent of adults disapprove, and 28% strongly disapprove. The real shock came from the fact that 24% of registered Republicans approve, over a 66% disapproval.

On Dec. 19, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that Trump won’t be on the 2024 presidential ballot due to section three of the 14th Amendment that under the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause, that is the infamous Jan. 6 Capitol Hill attacks.

While President Joe Biden’s approval ratings aren’t good, the same could be said for Trump. Polls from the New York Times/Siena poll found 22% of MAGA supporters are against Trump being in office again. But some unlikely supporters have Trump’s back on the court’s decision.

GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy threatened to remove his name from the Colorado ballot if the decision wasn’t overturned. In a 2-minute video on Twitter, the outspoken businessman says the decision will have “disastrous consequences for our country.”

“I pledge to withdraw from the Colorado GOP primary ballot until Trump is also allowed to be on the ballot, and I demand that Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Nikki Haley do the same immediately…” he wrote.

DeSantis wasn’t too moved by his threats, saying shortly after that he had no plans to do the same.

Biden chimed in on the court’s decision, alluding it is evident that Trump incited violence in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election but doesn’t think he will have much luck with Colorado.

“Whether the 14th Amendment applies or not, we’ll let the court make that decision,” Biden told reporters, according to PBS. “But he certainly supported an insurrection. There’s no question about it. None. Zero. And he seems to be doubling down on it.”

Bronny James
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 21, 2023

Bronny James Finally Plays In HBCU Game

The freshman helped his team in a 20-point blowout victory against Alabama State.

Before Bronny James took his talents to USC, some people hoped he would take his talents to an HBCU.

Well, the closest thing for the time being happened: The much-hyped freshman played against an HBCU school, Alabama State, on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

James actually received two offers from North Carolina HBCUs, North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T in 2020. He shunned both, along with many others, to stay with his family in California, where his father, LeBron James, holds court for the Los Angeles Lakers. Maybe you’ve heard of him.

Bronny’s first game against an HBCU turned out well: USC beat Alabama State, 79-59. According to The Los Angeles Times, Bronny provided an immediate spark when he hit two quick three-pointers after the start of the second half.

Bronny James with back to back 3’s. pic.twitter.com/wwUJOtven3

“He’s a terrific shooter,” USC coach Andy Enfield said of the freshman. “He just needs to be able to shoot when he gets winded. Tonight, it was nice to see him because he was able to run up and down the court and was able to make a couple of threes when he was somewhat tired. He’s one of our better shooters on the team and he’s also a very smart player with the ball in his hands.”

Following a summer plagued with health concerns, the 17-plus minutes he played was a season best. He ended up with six points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal. It wasn’t all good: He also committed three turnovers, and the referees called a pair of first-half charges against him.

USC’s next game is Dec. 28 on the road against Oregon, followed by a game two days later against Oregon State.

RELATED CONTENT: Bronny James Finally Makes USC Basketball Debut

Former TSU Police Chief Claims She Was Unlawfully Fired For Disrupting Ex-President And Officer’s Relationship
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 21, 2023

Former TSU Police Chief Claims She Was Unlawfully Fired For Disrupting Ex-President And Officer’s Relationship

Texas Southern University is in the middle of a lengthy scandal involving the school's former president and its ex-police chief.

Texas Southern University (TSU) is in the middle of a federal lawsuit that features an alleged ill-advised romance featuring the school’s former president.

The HBCU is attempting to stop the release of text messages between Lesia Crumpton Young and a university police officer after TSU’s ex-police chief claimed she was unjustly fired for trying to stop the pair’s relationship.

The lawsuit, prompted by TSU’s ex-police chief Mary Young in October, requests the release of the conversations. According to the Houston Chronicle, Young’s legal team says the documents are crucial to her claims.

The Houston-based university has adamantly denied the allegations of a relationship between Crumpton Young and a school officer while arguing it has complied despite not releasing the texts.

Young’s lawyer, Benjamin L. Hall II disagrees.

“What should have taken no more than ten business days to produce public records has turned into nearly a year of costly litigation,” he said.

“Texas Southern University is cooperating with the attorney general’s office on these matters,” TSU said in a statement. “We are confident in our legal position. We cannot comment further on these confidential personnel matters.” 

Young first filed a lawsuit in the state district court in November 2022 to prohibit her termination after an investigation sparked by an anonymous complaint that she raised multiple officers’ salaries for unjust reasons, a claim she believes was fabricated on the grounds that she lacked the authority to do so.

According to Young, this investigation occurred after she had to intervene between the unprofessional behavior of the president and an officer, which included arriving at the academic leader’s house at late hours and the personal gifting of a handgun.

Young’s legal team has unsuccessfully pressed the university and its representation, the Texas Attorney General’s office, for the text message records to be made public.

RELATED CONTENT: Megan Thee Stallion Returns to TSU To Give Out Scholarships To Students

NAACP, Florida, roleplay. Rosa Parks, school
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 21, 2023

Florida Daycare Center Allows Toddler To Be Arrested In Rosa Parks Role Play

Building Brains Academy, a school in Florida, has been condemned by the NAACP for allowing a Black child to be arrested in a role play lesson on Rosa Parks.

A Florida school is under fire for allegedly letting a Black toddler be fingerprinted and arrested in handcuffs for playing Rosa Parks on December 1, an incident the NAACP calls “racially unethical.”

Building Brains Academy conducted the role play in one of its classes, comprised of 2- and 3-year-olds, who were taught about Parks’ role in the civil rights movement. According to the NAACP, the child, the only Black student in the class, was made to play the role and reenact the scene where Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on a segregated public bus.

According to photos released to NBC News by the NAACP, the girl was pretending to have her fingerprints taken by a classmate. Another shot displaying the child with her hands behind her back. The photos made their way to her parents, who swiftly removed from the child from school. Her parents said the school never apologized.

“Rosa Parks was a woman we would teach our daughter to look up to, but now our memory is stained. This is something we’ll have to grow around and see how we can tell her this story differently,” the girl’s mother said.

In light of the incident, the NAACP released a letter condemning the school for allowing the tone-deaf role play.

“We consider the activity an inappropriate trivialization of a significant historical event, insensitive to the struggles against segregation, and psychologically harmful to all students involved, especially Black students reenacting such a traumatic moment in American history,” detailed the justice organization.

In response to the letter, the school denied the total allegations of racism, stating that the narrative and photos do not show the “complete or accurate representation” of the lesson and that they promote the “importance of equality” within their educational environment.

However, the NAACP remains adamant that the incident is a result of the ongoing issue regarding the teaching of Black history in Florida schools, especially as the fight for its inclusion in the state’s curriculum wages on. The school has since said that the teacher has apologized and understands the harm caused despite the intention.

Sherri Shepherd On Health, Her Diabetes Journey, And Oprah Passing The Baton 
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 21, 2023

Sherri Shepherd On Health, Her Diabetes Journey, And Oprah Passing The Baton 

While diabetes is one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the United States, only 1% of people living with the disease are utilizing CGM technology.

Actress and television host Sherri Shepherd is getting real about her personal health and diabetes journey in hopes of raising awareness and expanding access to life-changing technology.

The Sherri host has proudly teamed up with Abbott to help expand access to and awareness of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology. As a Type 2 Diabetes patient and user of Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre sensor, Shepherd wants to get the community in the know about the affordable life-saving technology.

“I’m so passionate about health and when they let me know that somebody is newly diagnosed with diabetes every 23 seconds (in the U.S.), I was blown away because I am one of those people back when I was diagnosed,” she tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

November 14 was National Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day and Shepherd was busy with Abbott’s Countdown at a Crossroads campaign where every person who visited www.Crossroads.Abbott during the month of November, a $0.99 donation was provided to the American Diabetes Association’s Health Equity Now program.

While diabetes is one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the United States, only 1% of people living with the disease are utilizing CGM technology. Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2007, Shepherd is no stranger to the disease and is using her platform to discuss the uses and benefits of CGM technology and share how it has helped improve her life.

“One of the things that has helped me tremendously is a continuous glucose monitor that I have right above my elbow,” she shared. “And this is something that so many folks with diabetes are just not aware of. And literally, it transfers the information to my cell phone within seconds.”

It’s a personal fight for Shepherd who lost her mother to diabetes-related complications and has seen her sister and uncle battle the disease as well. For Shepherd, it’s not her story, it’s our story.

“I always heard the term ‘sugar,’ you know, that’s what my family would say: ‘Oh, you know, he just got the sugar,'” she recalled. “And that’s diabetes. And in the African American community, that’s what we use, ‘sugar.’ I think that that word is not a good word to use because it really covers how serious and detrimental diabetes can be.”

Shepherd has a lot of living to do. Her daytime talk show is the No. 2 talk show among women in the 25 to 54 age demo. Oprah Winfrey happily passed the baton to the daytime host, and Shepherd admits to crying tears of joy all day since the interview.

“It’s so important for me because this is a woman who looked like me and I would watch her,” she says. “To see someone who looked like me, to see the journey that Oprah went through and how she has triumphed. I just used to dream about that so much and being a struggling comic sitting on a bus stop.”

“Oprah saying, ‘I’m passing it to you’ in this aspect was a big deal for me,” Shepherd continues. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, you get me. You see me.'”

taraji p. Henson,
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 21, 2023

‘The Math Ain’t Mathing’: Taraji P. Henson Teary-Eyed Over Plans To Quit Acting

Taraji Henson became emotional when asked about previous comments she made expressing plans to quit acting after 25 years of celebrated work.

Taraji P. Henson broke down when explaining her financial situation despite being an accomplished Academy Award-nominated actor.

Henson was among three members of The Color Purple cast who sat down with Gayle King for Sirius XM in an interview that aired Tuesday, Dec. 19 promoting the new movie musical. In a clip being heavily shared online, Henson became emotional when asked about previous comments she made expressing plans to quit acting after 25 years of celebrated work.

“I’m just tired of working so hard being gracious at what I do getting paid a fraction of the cost. I’m tired,” she said through tears.

“I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over you get tired,” she continued.

Henson explained why she keeps herself busy with film projects throughout the year.

“I hear people say, ‘You work a lot.’ You have to: the math ain’t mathing,” she said before explaining the “big bills” that come with being a high-profile actor.

“We don’t do this alone…it’s a whole entire team behind us. They have to get paid,” Henson explained.

The Hidden Figures star touched on the millions that actors get paid and how it quickly dwindles before the talent can get their cut. Someone who might’ve gotten paid $10 million for a movie can end up walking away with just $4 million after paying taxes and their team.

It’s the real-life financial struggle Henson is facing despite her success in Hollywood which has led to her think of calling it quits. The money woes come as a result of the What Men Want actress receiving lowball salary offers despite the strides she’s made as a Black actress.

“I’m only human and it seems like every time I do something and I break another glass ceiling when it’s time to renegotiate I’m at the bottom again,” she said.

Henson admitted that she’s grown “tired” of the constant fight to get paid what she’s worth.

The confession garnered strong responses on social media once the clip surfaced on Twitter/X. Some believe celebrities like Henson should “live within their means,” while others say the Empire star deserves to be paid the same as white actresses like Julia Roberts.

“That breaks my heart for sure, @tarajiphenson because you’re phenomenal. You deserve your due as an Academy Award nominee,” one person wrote.

“She needs to create and start her OWN!!” added someone else “I’m sick and tired of this.”

This isn’t the first time Henson has spoken out about the pay disparities in Hollywood. She first addressed it in her 2016 memoir, Around the Way Girl, when she revealed she was paid “less than 2%” of her co-star Brad Pitt’s salary in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button via The Guardian.

She later revealed she was paid $150,000 for the role, a bump from the initial $75,000 offer and far less than the half a million she expected considering she was only the third actress booked for the film.

Now after more than 20 years fighting the same fight, Henson is tired but refuses to let the pay disparities steal her joy.

“Twenty-plus years in the game and I hear the same thing, and I see what you do for another production but when it’s time to go to bat for us they don’t have enough money,” she told King. “And I’m just supposed to smile and grin and bear it. Enough is enough! That’s why I have other [brands] because this industry, if you let it, it will steal your soul. I refuse to let that happen.”

RELATED CONTENT: Taraji P. Henson Was Offered A Meager $75K For Oscar-Nominated Performance In ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’

Princess Love, Ray J, Poker
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 21, 2023

Ray J’s Wife, Princess Love, Among Top 45 In World Poker Tour Championship

Princess Love took to Instagram on Tuesday, Dec. 19 to announce her placement in the Top 45 of the World Poker Tour Championship

Ray J might’ve had an issue with his wife flying out to Las Vegas to play poker. But it looks like her passion for the game is paying off!

Love & Hip Hop star Princess Love took to Instagram on Tuesday, Dec. 19 to announce her placement in the top 45 of the World Poker Tour Championship. It’s quite the feat, considering the thousands that join the world competition.

“Going into Day 5 of the $10,000 WPT World Championship Main Event with 45 people left out of 3,835 entries. By the way I made quads 3 times! Let’s go 🤞🏽🏆🍀 #PokerP @worldpokertour,” she captioned her post.

The married mother of two received swarms of support from her followers, including one comment from the World Poker Tour who told Princess “Let’s Go!!!!”

Her post came one day after 132 players returned to Wynn Las Vegas hoping to win the $5,678,000 first place prize, Poker News reported. However, by the day’s end, one-third of them were sent home, including popular contenders like Igor Kurganov (48th place for $111,300), Upeshka De Silva (76h place for $60,800), WPT ambassador Brad Owen (88th place for $53,500) and 2009 world champion Joe Cada (108th place for $41,900).

The last season of Love & Hip Hop: Miami followed Ray J and Princess Love’s marital woes as Ray J expressed his initial opposition to Princess playing poker in Las Vegas. But his feelings have clearly changed, as he’s been front and center in Las Vegas supporting his wife throughout the competition.

“She’s never played in this kind of atmosphere, so we here supporting,” Ray J said.

“I’m squatting in the room, coming down and coming back up. But, hey, she feels good, so we might be lucky this year.”

RELATED CONTENT: 7th Annual Spades Tournament Is Going Down In Hilton Head, South Carolina

Detroit Police Officer Charged With Manslaughter In Connection To Death Of 71-Year-Old Man
by Rafael Pena

December 21, 2023

Detroit Police Officer Charged With Manslaughter In Connection To Death Of 71-Year-Old Man

Detroit police officer Juwan Marquise-Alexander Brown, 29, faces manslaughter charges for allegedly punching a 71-year-old man, Daryl Vance, who later died.

Detroit police officer Juwan Marquise-Alexander Brown, 29, faces manslaughter charges for allegedly punching a 71-year-old man, Daryl Vance, during an incident on September 1. Vance, according to prosecutors, fell and hit his head, dying from his injuries weeks later.

During his arraignment Wednesday, Brown pleaded not guilty, with the magistrate entering the plea on his behalf. The charges stem from an incident at a Detroit bowling alley where Brown had been dispatched following a call about Vance being “disorderly,” according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors say a “verbal confrontation” between Brown and Vance escalated, leading the officer to punch Vance in the face. The man fell and hit his head on the pavement. Emergency responders transported Vance to a local hospital, where he died September 21. The Wayne County Medical Examiner attributed his death to blunt force trauma to the head from the punch.

“Police officers frequently deal with citizens who are disorderly and verbally unpleasant,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “However, the evidence in this case shows that the officer allegedly was the aggressor, and his actions went criminally beyond what was necessary in this situation. This behavior cannot be tolerated by our law enforcement.”

Brown, who pleaded not guilty, is facing a manslaughter charge that carries a potential 15-year sentence if convicted. The Detroit Police Department terminated Brown “as a result of his actions.” Though exercising his contractual right to appeal the decision, Brown will remain off the department’s payroll during the appeal process.

Brown’s attorney, Matthew Forrest, sought a personal bond during the arraignment, highlighting the defendant’s lack of criminal history, seven years of employment as a Detroit police officer, strong ties to the Detroit community, and having custody of his 7-year-old son.

Magistrate William Burton set a $100,000 personal bond for Brown, with restrictions that include not possessing any weapons and having no contact with witnesses or the victim’s family. A probable cause conference for the case is scheduled for January 3.

Draymond Green
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 21, 2023

Draymond Green Starts Counseling

Draymond Green's reputation in the NBA now has him in counseling.

Suspended Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has started counseling, according to The Athletic.

The veteran is expected to stay on the sideline for at least three weeks after he was ejected for spinning and hitting Suns center Josef Nukic in the face during a game on Dec. 12, his third ejection of the 2023-2024 NBA season and the 20th of his 12-year career.

Following the incident, the NBA suspended Green indefinitely due to his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” and that the four-time NBA champion would be expected to “meet certain league and team conditions before he returned to play.”

The terms of his counseling haven’t been released. Green reportedly “has been understanding and prepared to undergo the process required to return to the team in a full capacity.”

He claimed the attack on Nukic wasn’t intentional. Nukic simply said Green “needs help” and was glad he didn’t “try to choke me.”

Green’s former teammate Kevin Durant chimed said he couldn’t comprehend what he saw.

“I hope Draymond gets the help he needs. It’s been incident after incident,” Durant said. “I know Draymond, and that’s not—he hasn’t been that way when I was around him and coming into the league. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs to get back on the court and put all this stuff behind him.”

Green has already missed three games, but following his suspension, he will likely miss 10 games, including a Jan. 4 matchup against the Denver Nuggets.

Basketball fans had a field day with the incident once it reached social media. One fan even made a montage of the Warriors star making questionable plays and putting his hands on other players. Users labeled him as “thug life” and “the real menace to society” for some of the moves he made.

After the suspension was announced, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was for the best.

“The answer is to help Draymond, give him the help he needs. Give him the opportunity to make a change that will not only help him, help our team, but help him for the rest of his life,” Kerr said, according to CBS Sports. “This is not just about an outburst on the court. This is about his life.”

NASA, STEAM, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, Denna Lambert, Grant
by Daron Pressley

December 21, 2023

NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize: Recognizing Diversity In Space Technology Innovation

NASA's Denna Lambert talks with BLACK ENTERPRISE about NASA's diversity initiative.

The NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize recognizes and rewards individuals and organizations in the United States that employ effective strategies to engage underrepresented and diverse space technology innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs.

Winners will receive a $25,000 award, with the opportunity to share industry best practices at an in-person event hosted at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

The prize is currently open to teachers, mentors, individuals, universities, non-profits, and businesses. 

In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Denna Lambert, Early Stage Innovations & Partnerships (ESIP) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) lead at NASA, emphasized the critical role of diversity in propelling space technology innovation forward. 

The Selection Criteria

As NASA strives to learn from successful outreach efforts, this initiative aims to pave the way for future engagement and capacity-building efforts through diverse community contributions to cutting-edge space technology research and development.

“We want to see the work applicants are doing,” shares Lambert. “We are looking for impact, relevancy, strategy, and how well you integrate with the community you serve.”

Applicants are required to show NASA in a short-form video what actions they are taking in their field. 

“We do ask for a 2-minute video, and it does not have high-production value,” laughs Lambert. “Keep it simple. In a 2-minute video, tell us your story and then provide us with two references so we can verify the receipts.”

NASA’s Broader Goals Of Promoting Diversity And Fostering Innovation

NASA’s goal through the Space Tech Catalyst Prize is to see new people taking advantage of the opportunities NASA offers. NASA sets the requirements, but there is a push to add a balance of industry and academia.

“We have phase one opportunities, and now we are starting to have more of phase zero,” Lambert says. 

For Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), a technical assistance grant is available to help build a team to better propose your opportunities.

Lambert emphasizes that “it’s not only seeing where people propose but seeing new entrants win! The best indicator of our success is seeing new entrants win, be selected, meet the technical criteria, and show strong innovative concepts.”

Advice And Encouragement For Applicants

The Space Tech Catalyst Prize breaks down the wall for those who think their stuff is not good enough or needs testing.

  1. The number-one thing is do not opt out! Whoever you are, apply and bring your best stuff, advises Lambert.
  2. Think beyond the application. Join in with someone where it makes sense. “A lot of our missions have hundreds of people on their teams. It’s not just one person’s idea, it’s the contribution of the collective,” she says.
  3. Help spread the word. “I want everybody interested in this initiative to apply for the NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize and get involved,” stresses Lambert.

How To Apply

Applicants must use the link below to create a profile and access the submission form. Register no later than February 8, 2024, in order to submit proposals. Register Here.

RELATED CONTENT: First Black Astronaut Honored by the Kennedy Space Center

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