Broward County, jail, gay inmate killed, Cierre Wood, Gwinnett county jail,, Riker's,, doulla, pregnant, inmates, Councilwoman, Rosenthal
by Rafael Pena

December 6, 2023

Former Correctional Officers Denied Bail In Death Of Inmate Quantez Burks

A federal grand jury indicted five former correctional officers in West Virginia on Dec. 5 for the fatal beating of inmate Quantez Burks.

According to CBS News, a federal grand jury indicted five former correctional officers in West Virginia on Dec. 5 for their involvement in the fatal beating of Quantez Burks in 2022. The U.S. Department of Justice has also charged the ex-officers, including a former lieutenant, with attempting to cover up their attack on Burks after arresting him on wanton endangerment and obstructing an officer.

The officers, Mark Holdren, 39; Cory Snyder, 29; and Johnathan Walters, 35, pleaded not guilty to the charges they face. Former officer Ashley Toney, 23, was not denied bail. All four officers, including Jacob Boothe, 25, and their lieutenant, Chad Lester, 33, are facing potential life sentences and are set to go to trial in January.

As detailed in court records, Quantez Burks made an attempt to maneuver past a correctional officer within his housing unit. Following this incident, Burks was ushered into an interview room, where correctional officers allegedly subjected him to physical blows while he remained restrained and handcuffed. Subsequently, he was forcefully relocated to a cell in a different housing unit, where he fell victim to another assault.

Quantez Burks died as a result of the injuries sustained during the brutal encounter less than a day later.

BET reports that West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mark Sorsaia stated that the state collaborated with federal law enforcement to secure indictments against the ex-corrections staffers. Sorsaia emphasized that the department has “no tolerance for abuse of any kind to be inflicted on inmates that are housed in our state facilities.”

The Southern Regional Jail has perviously faced scrutiny for its treatment of inmates and the conditions of the facility. West Virginia settled a $4 million class-action lawsuit filed by inmates last year, alleging inhumane conditions, lack of access to water and food, overcrowding, and delayed intervention by correctional officers during inmate fights.

Barbados School That Shirley Chisholm Attended Renamed In Her Honor 
by Stacy Jackson

December 6, 2023

Barbados School That Shirley Chisholm Attended Renamed In Her Honor 

Vauxhall Primary School located in Barbados, was renamed Shirley Chisholm Primary School on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Vauxhall Primary School in Barbados was renamed in April 2023 after Shirley Chisholm. Chisholm became the first Black woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968 and again in 1972. 

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and other distinguished guests witnessed the school’s renaming on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Barbados Today reported. According to the news outlet, the educational institution, which opened on July 8, 1976, took on the new name Shirley Chisholm Primary School. 

In an address at the renaming, Mottley said, “When the Congressional Black Caucus was here last year, we indicated that we wanted to celebrate the life of Shirley Chisholm in an appropriate way,” the outlet reported. “It is not an accident, I believe, that our Independence Day, our Republic Day, is the birthday of Shirley Chisholm. It’s an amazing coincidence.”

Simone Walker, the chief executive officer of The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation, said, “In fact, we are here today, renaming this school because this school is the place where Shirley first pulled up her chair.”

“She took that chair from Vauxhall and unfolded it in the most powerful rooms in the world where she fought for women’s rights, civil rights, and expanded access to food, education, and healthcare,” Walker added.

Among the guests in attendance were Kay McConney, Barbados’ Minister of Education, and Linda Taglialatela, the United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. 

Chisholm, who passed away in 2005 at 81, received her primary education at the Christ Church school when she was a child, Essence reported. The woman who was the first Black woman of a major party to run for president first attended school at the age of three after being sent to the Caribbean island to live on a farm with her grandmother.

The politician and teacher has ties to the island country in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea on her mother’s side. Chisholm’s mother was from Barbados, and her father was from Guyana. 

Disabled Veteran Fights City of Baltimore After Family Home Sold Over Unpaid Property Taxes
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 6, 2023

Disabled Veteran Fights City of Baltimore After Family Home Sold Over Unpaid Property Taxes

Imagine losing the family home for which your father paid a dollar ... over $12,000 in taxes?

Tony Smothers is gearing up to battle to city of Baltimore after his family home was sold due to unpaid property taxes, CBS News reports.

Smothers’ attorney, Thiru Vignarajah, says the house was sold to a Philadelphia-based company due to $12,000 in unpaid taxes dating back to May 2021. Now, with the support of his neighbors, the 61-year-old veteran is pleading for help to get the house his family has ever been able to call home back.

“My father bought this house for a $1 for me and my siblings in the hopes we would be living here forever,” Smothers said. The home was built and purchased by his father for $1 decades ago as part of the “dollar homes program.”

Smothers has cerebral palsy but lives independently and works as a chef for Towson University. He says he was heartbroken when he found out the house, worth $200,000, was sold at auction for less than $80,000. Vignarajah has vowed to get it back for his client.

“Here we are some 50 years later, Tony Smothers, who, along with his siblings, inherited this house from his father, is on the brink of having this house stripped away from him, ripped away from him through a foreclosure that followed a tax sale,” Vignarajah said.

“Until the City of Baltimore understands what they are taking away, for the precious goal of getting a few more tax dollars, they do not understand the fabric they are ripping apart.”

This has been a growing problem in the city of Baltimore, with other residents facing similar issues. According to WMAR 2 News, City Council President Nick Mosby has supported efforts to remove owner-occupied homes, especially when the owners are veterans, disabled or elderly residents, from tax sale foreclosures. Mosby believes the process should be revised to make it less of a predatory situation. In his tenure as a state delegate, Mosby passed legislation to end the practice of taking homes solely based on late water bills.

Elijah McClain, backpay, 200k, officer, police, acquitted
by Daniel Johnson

December 6, 2023

Nathan Woodyard To Be Reinstated On Job And Granted Over $200K Backpay After Acquittal For Elijah McClain’s Murder

Nathan Woodyard, one of the officers implicated in the murder of Elijah McClain, got his job back and received $200,000 in back pay following his acquittal in November.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Nathan Woodyard, one of the officers implicated in the murder of Elijah McClain, was acquitted of the charges. Now, compounding matters, Woodyard has not only gotten his job back, but has also received $200,000 in back pay, according to The Guardian. 

 On Nov. 27, the Aurora Police Department announced via a spokesperson that due to city law, Woodyard was required to be offered his job back and paid the amount of $212,546 to cover the two years of salary he missed while he was placed on leave. Ryan Luby, an Aurora, CO city spokesman, told The Guardian in an email, “[Woodyard] has elected to reintegrate with the APD and is currently on Restricted Duty (not in uniform, no public contact, and no enforcement actions) pending next steps in the reintegration process.”

The killing of McClain in 2019, along with the murder of George Floyd in 2020, served to galvanize protests in opposition to police brutality across the country and spurred conversations about changes in policing. According to PBS Newshour, following the release of a revised coroner’s report in 2021, forensic pathologist Stephen Cina laid the blame for the death of McClain on the erroneous administration of ketamine, a powerful sedative, saying that McClain died because he had been given an excessive dose of the drug for a person of his size. Cina said in the report, “I believe that Mr. McClain would most likely be alive but for the administration of ketamine.”

However, Cina also said that the stress of being held down by the police officers was also at least a contributing factor to his death. 

Cina also testified on Dec 5 during the trial of the two paramedics who injected McClain with ketamine. Aurora Fire Rescue Paramedic Jeremy Cooper and Lt. Peter Cichuniec are charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and several counts of assault. Cina testified for three hours, telling the court in the process of his testimony, “To me, seeing that footage of a guy who looks worn out but alive to one that looks like he’s about to stop breathing and die, with the only thing being the ketamine injection in between, I felt we couldn’t ignore that, so I determined the cause of death to be complications of ketamine administration following restraint.” 

Defense lawyers attempted to question why Cina’s story appeared to change, but the forensic pathologist maintained that he believed that the ketamine administration was what led to the death of McClain, saying, “I didn’t call it an outright ketamine overdose because it wasn’t at a lethal level, but even this therapeutic level was just too much for this person at that time.”

“He just did not tolerate it well, and he stopped breathing.”

An attorney for the defense asked Cina if he believed that any amount of the drug would have triggered McClain’s response, to which Cina replied, “I don’t know if it was ‘any amount,’ but even this amount, which shouldn’t have killed most of us, sent him into a tailspin, which lead to his respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, and brain death.”

RELATED CONTENT: Officer Involved In The Death Of Elijah McClain Found Not Guilty

Jay-Z, jerseys, roc-a-fella, the black album, 20th, anniversary, Mitchell, Ness, Tony Buzbee
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 6, 2023

Jay-Z to Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of ‘The Black Album’ With Re-Released Roc-A-Fella Jerseys

Jay-Z's "Black Album" is turning 20. To celebrate, Roc-A-Fella is re-releasing the classic jerseys Hova helped to popularize.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Jay-Z’s Black Album, Roc-A-Fella will re-release the classic jerseys Hova helped to popularize in the early 2000s.

Roc-A-Fella Records and Mitchell & Ness have teamed up to release a variety of the New York Knicks-styled Shawn Carter jerseys Jay-Z wore for the release of his 2003 album that served as his retirement at the time.

“Originally released in 2003 to celebrate JAY-Z’s career and forthcoming semi-retirement, the Roc-A-Fella Records x Mitchell & Ness Authentic Jersey is now available in its original and re-imagined variation,” the company shared on Instagram.

Mitchell & Ness shared a few additional posts announcing the limited-edition collection.

“Mitchell & Ness is proud to reintroduce the Authentic Roc-A-Fella Records Jersey in collaboration with rap legend, @JAYZ,” they captioned one post.

“For its 20th anniversary, we are only releasing 2003 of each style of these iconic New York collector’s pieces. Shop the NY colorway from the limited-edition release now.”

Images showed a model posing for photos in the jersey outside Jay-Z’s hometown in Brooklyn, NY’s Marcy Projects.

“The 20th Anniversary of The Black Album. Immortalize one of the most quintessential albums and artists in history with the reimagined @Rocnation x @JAYZ jersey,” the company captioned a third post.

The Black Album was released in November 2003 and served as Jay-Z’s retirement announcement. Meant to be Hova’s final rap album at the time, the 14-track LP went on to be regarded as one of the rapper’s best albums.

With classics like “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “Change Clothes,” and “Encore,” the album sold 3.5 million copies in the States and became Jay-Z’s sixth consecutive number-one on the Billboard 200. Despite his announced retirement, The Black Album‘ commercial and critical success instead furthered his influence in hip-hop and solidified his status as one of the G.O.A.T.s.

RELATED CONTENT: “The Book of Hov” Draws Crowds During Its Last Days At Brooklyn Public Library

Women's Basketball, Johnetta Hayes, Alabama State
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 6, 2023

After Being Shot Multiple Times Last Year, Aaliyah Gayles Plays First USC Game

The former McDonald's All-American was shot at a Las Vegas house party in April 2022

In April 2022, a Las Vegas high school basketball player, Aaliyah Gayles, who was ranked No. 8 in the nation by ESPN at the time, was shot multiple times while attending a house party in North Las Vegas. Last month, nearly two years later, she finally started her collegiate career when she entered the game at the University of Southern California’s victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Friday, Nov. 10.

The victory was a good one for USC but an even bigger one for Gayles. The former McDonald’s All-American was a senior at Spring Valley High School, where she averaged 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 3.3 assists when she was shot multiple times, resulting in 18 bullet wounds.

She entered the game with 1:40 left in the game and received a much-deserved standing ovation.

“It felt good,” Gayles said to ESPN. “It boosted my confidence a little bit. I feel like I was back to my old self.”

ESPN reported that Gayles had recommitted to USC before she got shot. After USC basketball coach Mark Trakh retired last year, she rescinded her commitment. But she then recommitted to the Trojans under the current coach, Lindsay Gottlieb.

After going through the process of getting her body back from the trauma and injuries she suffered, she had gotten back to being comfortable enough to pick up the sport she fell in love with. After arriving at USC last year, she took a seat on the bench as she continued to work towards realizing her dream of getting on the court to play for the Trojans.

Before this season started, the comfort level had been elevated.

“I am more, I would say, cautious about the things I do now,” Aaliyah said. “When I’m playing against contact, the way I explode up to the basket, I think about that more than what I used to. I could just explode and score. Now, I wouldn’t say I’m scared, but I think about it more than usual.”

When the season started in November, she was medically cleared and deemed eligible to play. The season started on Nov. 6 in her hometown of Las Vegas against Ohio State. Although she didn’t play, she had the support of her family and friends at that game.

“Her suiting up in a uniform is incredibly important,” Coach Gottlieb said. “Coming out and warming up, it is important to acknowledge. It is not her endpoint.”

Gayles scored her first point on Nov. 28 in a game against Cal Poly that USC won 85-44.

RELATED CONTENT: High School Basketball Player Aaliyah Gayles Shot More Than 10 Times at Las Vegas House Party

content, visibility, increase, hack
by Jeff Shuford

December 6, 2023

Is Your Content As Visible As It Can Be? Here’s 4 Ways To Make It Pop

Regardless of your background or educational level, you too can become a more influential blogger, contributor, or contributing writer. Here are a few hacks to increase visibility.

Originally Published Nov. 27, 2018

My professional writing journey started approximately three years ago while attempting to discover ways to increase my impact and influence online. I didn’t earn a degree in journalism like most of my colleagues. I didn’t have connections with publishers and editors, and I generally had no idea how to contribute content and pitch newspaper editors. Fast forward to the present day, I am not only honored to contribute to BlLACK ENTERPRISE (a life-long aspiration), but I am also one of the youngest African American nationally syndicated columnists in the nation. Regardless of your background or educational level, you too can become a more influential blogger, contributor, or contributing writer (and possibly syndicated writer). As an award-winning columnist, I have four rules to increase content visibility that I have developed through writing content for brands such as Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, The Business Journals, and many other global publications. Check out my top four content rules and leave a comment below and share your best tips and tricks to increase content visibility.

Increase Distribution Physically

Newspapers are not dead, they have simply expanded. While contributors and bloggers shy away from writing for physical newspapers, I have expanded my content to them. This has not only helped me make history, but it also brings more eyes to my content. I write for traditionally non-diverse publications, anytime a reader sees an African American writing content in their trusted business publication they investigate online. Sometimes out of curiosity or simple plain amazement. After all, who would imagine that a “young black guy” could write business content for their prestigious online publications? I do, and it plays well into the increase in my online visibility.

Stay Hyperfocused

I try to stay in my lane. My content both in print and online has remained aligned. Google (smaller search engines) and my readers know what to expect when they see a Jeff Shuford article, this also helps when pitching editors. I see too many contributors writing about anything at any time, it not only can confuse a reader but it also doesn’t let a writer’s voice develop through consistent content (Google Searchability is key).

Personal Blogs (For Me) Are A No-Go

I don’t run a personal blog; I believe that it would do a disservice to my print and online publishers. I also don’t send people through a funnel on my personal website; it keeps readers searching for content through search engines and utilizes my website simply for validation and information gathering. When readers stumble upon my personal and business website, they are redirected to my published articles and not to a personal blog section. Simply put, the views are redirected to the individual publication that I contributed the piece to. Major Key Alert: Editors and publishers appreciate the effort to keep readers on their website as opposed to yours!

Becoming Legendary

My goal has always been to be memorable and to build a legacy. Last year I discovered the power of sticking to my content roadmap. Having my content named one of the top articles on LinkedIn Business (No. 3) was a great learning experience. It has also led to more people searching for my content, this helps my editors more than myself due to the fact that I don’t monetize my readers. Publications like the Jacksonville Business Journal and other publications in my network of syndicated partners bring me in to speak at their events, also increasing my digital footprint. I maintain great relationships with newspaper and digital editors throughout the 44 regions that I write for, they teach me a great deal about distribution, networking, and content market strategy. My marketing team emails editors and influencers about my new content (Thanks Celeste Everett & Cher Davis!). I am not saying that this strategy works for everyone but it sure works for me.

National Syndication is Key

It all boils down to distribution points and brand footprint. A Google search of my name (Jeff Shuford) yields a ton of results, all pointing back to me and my content. The newspapers do a great job of generating interest for my name, and with 44 regions with an average readership (of the physical newspapers alone) of 100K (3.6 million readers total), I do very well (and you can too!).

RELATED CONTENT: 4 Reasons How Your Content Marketing Strategy Can Benefit From AI

Sha'Carri Richardson, track, Nike
by Stacy Jackson

December 6, 2023

Did Sha’Carri Richardson Snag A $20M, 5-Year Nike Deal?

Sha’Carri Richardson is reportedly set to rake in $20,000,000 with the athletic footwear and apparel corporation.

Sha’Carri Richardson, officially the world’s fastest woman, may be set to rake in $20 million with one of the biggest Nike track and field endorsement deals ever – if the reports are true.

According to Pulse Sports, the 23-Year-old Olympian’s deal could be spread out over five years and the outlet claims Richardson will co-create a signature line that reflects her personal style. 

The line is reported to be for women of different shapes and sizes, which would bring inclusivity to the forefront of athletic wear.

Richardson has been known to celebrate women, especially Black women. She once said during a visit at the University of Connecticut, “Black women are the backbone of this country. We are doing so much and given so little credit,” The Daily Campus noted. 

The sprinter, who took gold at Budapest in 2023 with a time of 10.65 in the 100 meters, will also have a say in Nike’s development of sprinting gear that enhances an athlete’s performance, the outlet reported.

Mental health advocacy is another part of Richardson’s deal with Nike. According to Equity Atlas, the runner will be featured in campaigns, at events and more to bring awareness to mental health in sports. 

Richardson, who lost her mother in 2021, previously opened up about her mental health struggles. Marca reported the Olympian admitted to attempting suicide when she was in high school.

“Not having that bond of my biological mother during the transition of me getting older,” Richardson recalled about the trying time. “I think that’s what really got me. She was supposed to be my world and now that she wasn’t there I usually asked myself ‘Why I’m I here?’ It really took me to a very dark place.”

Details about Richardson’s line have not yet been released. But it will likely include shoes and athletic wear, according to Equity Atlas. If the deal is in the works, it will not have any impact on her eligibility to compete in the Olympics as it would be a product development deal and not payment for her track skills, the outlet also noted. 

RELATED CONTENT: Latto, Sha’Carri Richardson, Ice Spice, Druski, And Others Make Forbes 30 Under 30 2024 List

MC Lyte Wants To Inspire Tech-Savvy Kids As A Celebrity Judge For Black Girls Code’s ‘Build A Beat’ Contest
by Stacy Jackson

December 6, 2023

MC Lyte Wants To Inspire Tech-Savvy Kids As A Celebrity Judge For Black Girls Code’s ‘Build A Beat’ Contest

The rapper and DJ wants girls to have the opportunity to learn how to use technology through the lens of music.

Rapper and DJ MC Lyte partnered up with Black Girls Code as a celebrity judge to encourage kids to make beats by learning to code. 

The nationwide ”Build a Beat” challenge by the nonprofit organization and celebrity-judged by MC Lyte, Rock the Bells President James Cuthbert, and others, invites youth to explore technology through the lens of music, AfroTech reported.

Technology has been a constant force in MC Lyte’s career, she said to the outlet.

“Well, every bit of recording for my musical projects were done with the aid of technology,” the hip-hop icon said. “Most of my first album was done using a Tascam Drum machine. We definitely explored new technology with drum machines, programmers, and sequencers. We experimented with echo chambers, modules, and gates. It’s always been exciting to hit the studio and learn about what’s new to tinker with.”

Now she wants to make sure young Black girls have the opportunity to learn how to use technology that is relevant to the music scene, but can be applied in other ways.

“The kids of this generation are bubbling with lots of new ideas. This challenge will awaken the creativity of those who love coding and who are inspired to make music,” MC Lyte told AfroTech.

Black Girls Code CEO Cristina Jones — who is a fan of the rapper and DJ — said about selecting the DJ as a celebrity judge, “Again, what we really wanted to do was when you look across all of the judges is we’re very intentional with who we’re picking.”

Combining music and technology could be a game changer for young girls learning to code.

Jones told AfroTech, “Here at Black Girls Code, we want to meet the girls where they are.”

She added, “When you think about the numbers, we have only 3% of Black women in these tech roles. It’s clear that they’re not seeing themselves in this space. There is not enough representation for them in this space. So we decided that we’re going to start meeting them where they are, and we are going to start showing them that technology is fun and it can be a catalyst in helping them work in areas that they love like gaming, film, sports, and of course music.” 

The contestants will code a song using Infosys Foundation USA’s Pathfinders Online Institute and the winner will get a video call from artist Ciara. Contest applications close on Dec. 31.

RELATED CONTENT: Congressman Hakeem Jeffries Pens Hip-Hop 50 Essay For ‘African Voices’ Magazine

Eddie murphy, david Spade, SNL
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 6, 2023

‘He Never Paid Me’: Eddie Murphy Claims Richard Pryor Still Owes Him $100K

Richard Pryor might be long gone. But Eddie Murphy is still holding the late comedian to a $100,000 bet he lost.

Richard Pryor might be long gone. But Eddie Murphy is still holding the late comedian to a $100,000 bet he lost.

The year was 1985 and Murphy just released his musical debut album “How Could It Be.” It turns out, his idol and friend in comedy Richard Pryor didn’t think the young rising comic could release an album that didn’t include any jokes.

Pryor was so doubtful that he bet Murphy $100,000 that he wouldn’t release a music album.

“When I told him I was doing a musical album, he bet me $100,000 that I wouldn’t put out a music album where there’s no jokes or nothing, it’s just all music,” Murphy revealed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”.

“He said, ‘You’ll never do it.’ And I bet him $100,000. And then I did it, and he never paid me.”

One of the dedications Murphy included on the album cover, was one to Pryor that made a nod toward their bet.

“To Richard Pryor, my idol, with whom I have a $100,000 bet. No motherf—–, I didn’t forget.”

Pryor likely felt like he made up for it by co-starring in Murphy’s 1989 comedy classic “Harlem Nights.” The film had a domestic opening of $16,096,808 and went on to earn $95 million at the box office for a film that reportedly cost $30 million to make.

Richard Pryor passed away in December 2005 from a heart attack at age 65. The comedy legend is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most important stand-up comedians of all time.

Murphy has opened up about his first time meeting Pryor on an airplane during his 1980 to 1984 run on “Saturday Night Live.”

“I went over and I gave it. I said, ‘Mr. Pryor, I’m Eddie. Will you listen to my–‘ He said, ‘Oh yeah, I know who you are,'” Murphy recalled.

“He put the cassette in, put on the headphones,” Murphy shared on “The Late Late Show With James Corden”. “I was sitting behind him, watching him listening to my record. That was my first time meeting him.”

Murphy recalled hearing Pryor laughing at his album with his “weird laugh” and when the plane landed, Pryor offered Murphy a ride home.

“He had his driver [meet] him at the airport with his car. He said, ‘Which way are you going?'” Murphy said. “He drove me to the house I was staying at. That’s the way I met my idol, like that.”

RELATED CONTENT: Eddie Murphy Returns As Axel Foley For ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Alex Foley’ Slated For 2024 On Netflix

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