Magic Johnson, Kamala Harris, Black men, Flint rally
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 30, 2023

Magic Johnson Joins Michael Jordan, LeBron James And Tiger Woods As Fourth Athlete To Become A Billionaire

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson joins the elite class of athletes and former professional players who have become billionaires, which now has four members.

According to Forbes, the iconic businessman and NBA Hall of Famer has reached a level that only former Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan, golf’s Tiger Woods, and current NBA player, LeBron James have achieved. Johnson has been named the latest athlete billionaire by the media outlet.

Forbes estimated that Earvin Johnson has a net worth of $1.2 billion. Johnson owns several sports teams, businesses, and investments spread across his business portfolio.

After winning an NCAA championship while playing for Michigan State against Indiana State’s Larry Bird in 1979, Johnson and Bird took the NBA to a higher level with a newfound rivalry. As Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, following when Bird entered the league with the Boston Celtics, the league became more exciting and interesting with these two players leading the way.

He became the number one pick in the 1979 NBA draft, and became the first and only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player). He played his entire career in Los Angeles, becoming a three-time MVP and three-time NBA Finals MVP. He helped the Lakers win five championships between 1980 and 1988. After testing positive for HIV in 1991, he retired from the game he loved. He did return to play 32 games during the 1995-1996 season but left for good after the season ended.

Along with a plethora of businesses, Johnson, who owns three Los Angeles sports franchises, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, and the MLS’ LAFC, now has a stake in the Washington Commanders, making him the first Black owner of an NFL team.

Johnson also purchased a minority stake in a PepsiCo bottling plant outside Washington D.C. with BLACK ENTERPRISE founder, Earl Graves, in a $60 million deal in 1990.

Breast Cancer, diagnosed, diagnosis, before, expecting, after, living with breast cancer, women, breast cancer awareness week, Breast Cancer Awareness
by Black Enterprise

October 30, 2023

ADDRESSING BREAST CANCER DISPARITIES: GILEAD’S COMMITMENT TO BLACK WOMEN AND TNBC

Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day may only come around in October, but critical conversations, research and education are happening all year long to address and combat the disease. Advances in breast cancer screening and treatment have helped to reduce the overall breast cancer mortality rate in the United States, but not all racial groups and marginalized, underserved, or disinvested communities have benefited equally.

Q-Tip, Muhammad Ali
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 30, 2023

Q-Tip Serving As Music Producer and Co-Lyricist In Muhammad Ali Broadway Musical

Q-Tip has joined with other hip-hop acts to help in the formation of an official Broadway musical chronicling the life of the late great boxing champion and activist Muhammad Ali.

Q-Tip, the legendary A Tribe Called Quest member, has joined with other hip-hop acts to help form an official Broadway musical chronicling the life of the late great boxing champion and activist Muhammad Ali.

The hip-hop legend will serve as music producer and co-lyricist on the creative team behind Ali, an upcoming musical based on the life of the famed heavyweight boxing icon, Variety reports. Set to premiere in Fall 2024 in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the musical will reach Broadway by 2025.

Along with Q-Tip, the creative team consists of lead producer Richard Willis, composer Teddy Abrams, director and author Clint Dyer, associate music producer Casey Benjamin, and music supervisor Sean Mayes. It was an honor and privilege for Q-Tip to lend his musical prowess to the project as he grew up admiring Ali for his courage and strength in and outside the boxing ring.

“Muhammad Ali has been an inspiration for me my entire life,” Q-Tip said. “I look forward to working with Teddy, Clint, Casey, Sean, and the entire creative team in telling the great man’s story in this form.”

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The Broadway musical was inspired by the “multimedia opera-rap-oratorio mashup” Abrams wrote in 2017 entitled The Greatest: Muhammad Ali. It will serve as an ode to Ali through a carefully crafted combination of spoken word, verse, classical music, poetry, rap, and hip-hop, Deadline reports.

Getting the A Tribe Called Quest founding member to sign on to the project highlights what attendees can expect from the first official musical on the famed boxing legend.

“We are beyond delighted and grateful to have the living legend, Q-Tip, join this extraordinary creative team on ‘Ali,’” Willis said. “Q-Tip’s artistry, knowledge, and experience are unmatched. If that wasn’t enough, to also have the incredible Casey Benjamin and brilliant Sean Mayes joining the team makes this all feel a bit surreal yet fitting for The Greatest.”

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by Rafael Pena

October 30, 2023

Judge from Young Dolph Murder Case Ordered to Recuse Himself

According to Revolt, in a recent turn of events, the state appeals court has ordered Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee to step down from the murder case. This decision was reached on Friday, Oct. 27, following concerns raised by the defense team. The move to recuse Judge Coffee comes about a month after a lawyer representing one of the suspects, Justin Johnson, expressed doubts about the judge’s ability to preside over the case impartially. Notably, on Sept. 28, Judge Coffee had initially rejected a motion for a new judge.

According to the outlet, the lawyer, Luke Evans, contended that Coffee failed to inform Johnson about a communication and visitation order restricting Johnson from interacting with individuals outside of the jail, except for Evans. Evans further claimed that the judge issued this order without proper notification or a hearing. While Evans characterized the judge’s decision as “punitive,” Coffee argued that the communication restrictions were implemented to protect Johnson and maintained that he had not determined Johnson’s guilt or innocence.

The case involves Johnson and another suspect, Cornelius Smith, who were apprehended in Indiana and Mississippi in January 2022. Both men are facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and theft of property in connection with Young Dolph’s death, the outlet reports.

In November 2022, Jermarcus Johnson, a relative of Justin, turned himself into the police and was charged with conspiracy to first-degree murder for allegedly assisting Justin in evading the authorities. In June, Jermarcus entered a guilty plea for being an accessory after the fact as part of a plea deal, securing his release on a $25,000 bond.

The fourth suspect in the case, Hernandez Govan, was indicted in November 2022. He faces charges of conspiracy for allegedly orchestrating the hiring of Justin and Smith to carry out the murder of the Memphis rapper. The trial for Justin and Smith was originally scheduled to commence on March 11. It remains unclear whether Judge Coffee’s recusal will affect this trial date. The Criminal Court Clerk will oversee the reassignment of a new judge.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 30, 2023

Flavor Flav Low-Key Nailed The National Anthem At Milwaukee Bucks’ Home Opener

Sporting a Milwaukee Bucks jersey and his signature neck clocks, Flavor Flav gave his best jazzy rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Milwaukee Bucks’ home opener against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 29.

The clock-wearing personality took to X, the site formerly known as Twitter, to give his thoughts on his performance, admitting that doing so marked off an item on his bucket list.

Flav did get some feedback from X users on his unexpected performance. Some gave him credit for his efforts. Others, not so much.

Flav is known for being the hype man and occasional emcee with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, as well as his various runs on reality TV. Flavor Flave is a musical prodigy known to play 15 instruments, including the piano and bass.

The Bucks lost the game, 127-110.

Chicago, shooting, 15 people
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 30, 2023

15 Shot At Chicago Halloween Party, Suspect Arrested

Fifteen people were shot at a Halloween celebration in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood.

According to NBC Chicago, the suspected shooter was arrested Oct. 29 after allegedly shooting the victims just after 1 a.m. on the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road, police said. The suspect has not been identified nor have any charges been filed. The investigation is ongoing.

There were approximately 100 people at the party.

Police said the suspect was thrown out of the party and returned several minutes later with a gun and started firing.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement.

The Chicago Police Department said after receiving a call of shots fired officers apprehended the alleged shooter “short distance away” from the scene. Police officers retrieved a weapon and placed him in custody.

The shooting victims, nine men and six women, ranged in age from 26 to 53. Two victims were listed as critically wounded while the remaining persons were in good-to-fair condition.

William Betancourt, commander of the Chicago Police Department’s Ogden District, said the venue, Studio 1258, an art gallery, has a “history of throwing unlicensed events.” The place will be closed under the city’s summary closure ordinance.

An emergency assistance center will provide resources for anyone who may have been affected by the shooting. The center will open at the Young Men’s Educational Network, 1241 S. Pulaski Road, located near Studio 1258, on Oct. 31.

Becca Balint, marjorie Taylor Greene
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 30, 2023

Freshman House Democrat Makes Bold Move To Censure Marjorie Taylor Greene

Freshman House congresswoman Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) has had it with controversial congresswoman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

Balint made a motion to move on forcing a vote to censure Taylor Greene over her numerous polarizing comments, and as a response to Taylor Greene’s vote to do the same to Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), The Hill reports. First introduced in July 2023, Balint presented receipts of close to 40 grievance points against Taylor Greene, including specific comments and the dates on which she said them, as well as acts such as presenting images of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, to the House floor in July.

In a lengthy speech, Balint said Taylor Greene didn’t have the right intentions as a leader for the American people.

“This woman, Marjorie Taylor Greene — it seems to be her only purpose is to sic Americans after other Americans, to fend more hatred, to fan more dissention and fear-mongering,” Balint said. “We have got to have a bottom here.”

She didn’t stop at Taylor Greene. The newly elected lawmaker also went after new House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who brought up a motion Balint described as “privileged” to force a vote on censuring Tlaib, accusing her of “antisemitic activity” and “sympathizing with terrorist organizations.”

“The fact that on the very first day of his leadership, he lets Marjorie Taylor Greene bring to the floor a resolution that is riddled with lies and falsehoods on my colleague — it won’t stand,” Balint said of Johnson.

Taylor Greene has attacked Tlaib, who is Muslim, on numerous occasions, calling her an “Israel hating America hating woman who does not represent anything America stands for,” according to Newsweek.

Balint seemed to have triggered Taylor Greene. After allegedly seeing Balint’s tweet, she responded in a subtweet: “Slow down and breathe a little Becca. Geez and they call me a conspiracy theorist.” 

It’s a different tune from July 2023, when Taylor Greene said she didn’t even know who Balint was.

“I don’t know who this freshman Democrat is. They must have terrible fundraising numbers because they’re pulling some ridiculous stunt,” Taylor Greene said. “Looks like four pages of slander, because I looked at the first few lines and I was like, ‘That’s not even true.’”

While this isn’t her first time being chastised by House Democrats, Taylor Greene has yet to be officially censured.

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Rep. Jamaal Bowman, gun, fire alarm
by Rafael Pena

October 30, 2023

Congressman Jamaal Bowman Pleads Guilty To Fire Alarm Incident

According to Axios, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) has pleaded guilty to a local criminal charge after he triggered a fire alarm in a House office building last month. On Oct. 19, his office announced an agreement with the D.C. attorney general to drop the charges in three months in exchange for a formal apology and a $1,000 fine, provided Bowman adheres to the conditions of a three-month probation agreement.

According to the outlet, Rep. Jamaal Bowman expressed responsibility for the incident, stating, “I am responsible for activating a fire alarm. I will be paying the fine issued and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped.” The Capitol Police had previously completed an investigation and sent the case to prosecutors for consideration.

The charge filed by the attorney general’s office in the D.C. Superior Court was one count of a false fire alarm, as per court documents, which can result in up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine under the D.C. criminal code.

The D.C. attorney general’s office affirmed that Congressman Bowman was treated like any other individual violating the District of Columbia law. This incident, which took place in late September, led to an evacuation of the Cannon House Office Building as the House prepared to vote on a measure to fund the government through November.

Republicans accused Bowman of trying to delay the vote and initiated efforts to censure him, strip him of committee assignments, and potentially expel him, according to the outlet. Bowman defended his actions as an innocent mistake, explaining that he believed pulling the fire alarm would open a locked door while rushing to the vote.

According to the affidavit in the charging documents, a Capitol police officer who investigated the matter observed from security camera footage that Bowman had attempted to open the door before triggering the alarm. Subsequently, the footage showed Bowman trying to exit the building through various exits before making his way to the Capitol for the vote.

Bowman’s statement conveyed his gratitude to the United States Capitol Police General Counsel’s office for acknowledging that he did not obstruct or intend to obstruct any House vote or proceedings.

The D.C. U.S. Attorney’s office, which holds the authority to charge Bowman with obstruction, declined to comment on the matter. Bowman is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 29, at which point the charges are set to be dropped following the conclusion of his probationary period.

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Office aid, 16 year old, Miami, Florida, high school
by Stacy Jackson

October 30, 2023

High School Office Aide Arrested For Alleged Advances Toward A Student

Vanessa Vigil, an office aide at Miami Killian Senior High School in Miami, was arrested for allegedly making advances toward a 16-year-old student during her time working at the school.

The former Miami-Dade employee was charged with offenses against a student by an authority figure and five counts of battery, an arrest report read according to NBC News.

The report stated Vigil “knowingly and intentionally used her position of employment to solicit and pursue a relationship romantic in nature with the victim.” The report also revealed the teen accused the 35-year-old former office aide of being “… very flirtatious with him by asking for his telephone number and calling him handsome,” the report said.

According to the outlet, school surveillance caught one of the office aide’s encounters with the student on camera, supporting the accusations.

The 16-year-old said the ex-employee allegedly touched him and told him she loved him. According to the report, Vigil touched the student on multiple occasions. There were five different times the office aide made contact with the student against his will, the report said. One of the encounters led to the teen having a panic attack. 

The woman “knowingly and intentionally used her position of employment to solicit and pursue a relationship romantic in nature with the victim,” the report said.

The now former Miami Killian office aide reflected on the incident in a different manner than what was said by the student. When speaking with investigators, Vigil denied the version of events shared by the teen, saying he was the one who made the advances. She said the student was flirting with her and called her pretty.

Local 10 News reported that in one incident, Vigil allegedly caressed the victim’s face and told him, “I am in love with you.” The boy recalled a time he and the former office aide were in a “small and dark” room together. “You should get out of here before I do something I’m not supposed to do,” the woman told him.

Miami Dade County Public Schools released a statement to address the allegations. “Miami-Dade County Public Schools is deeply troubled by the disturbing allegations made against this former employee. M-DCPS cooperated with the authorities during the investigation of this former employee. This type of comportment will not be tolerated as it runs contrary to the professional conduct we expect from all employees,” the statement read.

On Oct. 19, Vigil told the outlet that the allegations were false.

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GRAMMYS, HIP HOP, 50 YEARS, CELEBRATE
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 30, 2023

‘Grammy Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop’ To Air On CBS In December

Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, and Black Thought will take to the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, to tape "A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop" special.

An official Grammy celebration of 50 years of hip-hop will close out the year on CBS.

On November 8, hip-hop legends Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, and Black Thought will take to the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California to tape “A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop” special, Billboard reports.

The two-hour special will air Sunday, Dec. 10, and continue the “50 Years of Hip Hop” segment that was featured in the 65th annual Grammy Awards.

Renowned acts slated to hit the stage include Big Daddy Kane, Cypress Hill, DJ Quik, and Warren G. Other history makers on the lineup include Arrested Development, the first hip-hop group to win the Grammy for best new artist, and Three 6 Mafia, the first hip-hop act to perform a nominated song on the Academy Awards and win an Oscar for their Hustle & Flow theme song, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.”

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of Two One Five Entertainment and LL Cool J are executive producing the special that includes appearances from Bun B, Common, De La Soul, and Jermaine Dupri.

Questlove is adding to the curator role he took when organizing the acclaimed 15-minute Grammy segment.

“For five decades, hip-hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy said. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated.”

The special highlights how long hip-hop has come since D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s hit “Parents Just Don’t Understand” became the first hip-hop recording to win a Grammy for best rap performance. However, Will Smith, Jazzy Jeff, and other rap acts boycotted the Grammys in 1989 after learning the category would not be televised.

A year later, Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff became the first hip-hop act to perform on the Grammys.

“We’d like to dedicate this performance to all the rappers last year that stood with us and helped us to earn the right to be on this stage tonight,” Smith said at the start of the performance.

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