• Celebrity News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 29, 2023

North West Channels Dad Ye, Rocks Bear Mascot Costume For Halloween

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North West is “graduating” this Halloween. However, instead of a cap and gown, the eldest West child is dressing up as her dad Kanye’s famed “Dropout bear” mascot, featured on his Graduation album cover. 

The 10-year-old shared what fans can assume to be the original costume to celebrate the spooky holiday weekend. In her TikTok account shared with her mother, Kim Kardashian, North posted the costume on Oct. 28. The elementary schooler wore the famous mascot and flashed poses to some of Kanye’s tracks from the classic album, including “American Boy, “I Wonder,” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” 

North West also wore a grey letterman jacket similar to the one that was featured on the cartoon cover art for the 2007 release. According to People, the imagery was created by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, as the notable work became part of West’s brand for that era of his artistry. 

A prior iteration of the “Dropout bear” was worn by the rapper for his The College Dropout LP cover, with the project released in 2004. The bear made its real-life appearances with West as he did promotional appearances.  

The artist’s first child has frequently made references to her famous father through her TikTok. Having access to the timeless pieces associated with the multi-Grammy winner, North has also worn the long-sleeve, blue and orange striped Ralph Lauren polo that also became a staple of her father’s public image. 

While North has been making her social media presence known, her Halloween outfit this year is sure to tap into the nostalgia of Kanye West fans everywhere. A consistent favorite of North’s is the song “American Boy,” a song by Estelle featuring West. She consistently supports her father’s music in her previous posts, often including her mother in videos featuring the throwback songs.

RELATED CONTENT: North West Let The Whole Internet Know She Has Dyslexia

• Entrepreneurship

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 29, 2023

Black Entrepreneurs Face Increasing Opposition From Conservative Groups

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As Black entrepreneurs already face an uphill battle getting their business off the ground, accessibility to loans from investors is becoming even harder to obtain due to legal blocks by conservative groups. 

This rising issue, as detailed by CNN, attempts to stunt the strides already made in diverse entrepreneurship, especially in investments and capital funding. For example, the Fearless Fund, a venture capitalist firm dedicated to investing in the ideas sparked by women of color, is facing a legal challenge by a conservative nonprofit, the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER). 

The AAER’s motion to thwart the Fearless Fund from awarding its grants to Black and other women of color recipients was approved by a federal appeals court. The case claims the firm promotes racial discrimination in its applicants violates the Civil Rights Act of 1866. AAER was founded by Edward Blum, known in the legal sphere for his action against affirmative action in college admissions, as well as lawsuits against law firms’ diversity fellowships.

“Our nation’s civil rights laws do not permit racial distinctions because some racial groups are overrepresented in various endeavors, while others are under-represented,” shared Blum in an effort to twist whom the legislation was intended to protect. 

In the past, the Fearless Fund would bestow 20,000 grants to Black women business owners in a quest to bring their entrepreneurial ideas to fruition. One Black female CEO, Cathleen Trigg-Jones, launched her media company, iWoman TV, which focused on putting women in the forefront with the help of a substantial grant. 

“Every little bit helps when you’re a Black female trying to start from scratch to build a business in a world that is not designed to see you succeed,” Trigg-Jones told CNN. “The barriers are expansive.” 

The risk of a lawsuit has firms fearful of enacting or continuing their diversity initiatives. However, these programs are still vital to dismantling the racial wealth gap through entrepreneurs, despite Blum’s willingness to go to trial over their existence. 

“We just want an equal playing field,” said Rashae Barnes of Evals Equity, an investment fund for female entrepreneurs of color. “If we were incorporated, to begin with…we wouldn’t have to create programs or funds to help people who look like us.“

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Injunction Denied!’: Fearless Fund Wins ‘Round 1’ Of Discrimination Lawsuit

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 29, 2023

Woman Arrested After Police Discover Her Mother’s Head In Trash Can

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Police in California claim a woman slashed her mother’s throat so severely that she threw the head in the trash

According to Law & Crime, Kimberly Monique Gonzalez was arrested after police officers arrived at the home she shared with her mother around 5 p.m. in El Monte, CA. They discovered her mother, Jacqueline Perez, suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead by paramedics. The possible murder weapon was found at the scene. 

Jacqueline Perez’s head was found in a trash can.

The victim’s brother, Julio Lopez, who lives nearby, told KABC that he heard his 11-year-old nephew scream before he came out of the house in a blood-soaked shirt. He said he was not sure what happened.

Residents and family members revealed there was a trail of bloody footprints on the driveway. Decorations were still up from a recent child’s birthday party.

“There’s blood on that side, there’s blood on the floor,” said Hector Manzo, a neighbor.

When police officers appeared at the home, an El Monte police sergeant saw the 25-year-old Gonzalez outside the home covered in blood. She was taken into custody shortly after. She has been charged with one count of murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.

Gonzalez, she is being held on $2 million bail, and if convicted of the crime, she is looking at a maximum sentence of life in prison.

“My heart goes out to the family and loved ones who have been shattered by this unimaginable tragedy. The pain and grief they must be experiencing is unimaginable,” Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said in a written statement. “This was an extraordinarily violent act which has had a profound impact on our community. We are fully committed to seeking justice on behalf of the victim, and our dedicated team will work tirelessly to bring clarity and closure to this heartbreaking case.”

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• Fashion & Beauty

by Mary Spiller

October 29, 2023

UNESCO: Africa’s Fashion Industry Rising, Lacks Global Investment

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A UNESCO report released during Lagos Fashion Week on Oct. 26, predicts Africa’s fashion industry is growing quickly to keep up with the international and local demand for its art but warns that the global lack of investment in African art could stunt its potential. 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization reported that Africa currently has around $15.5 billion in annual exports. Still, the proportion of earnings from the fashion industry could easily triple in just a decade if proper investments are made, the Associated Press reported.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said Africa’s population of 1.3 billion people, which is is predicted to double in size by 2050, means the fashion industry will only grow as an accessible and “powerful lever for the promotion of cultural diversity [and] also a way to empower young people and women.” 

UNESCO has identified the push in the fashion industry being propelled by the history of the Africa being expressed further in movies and through textiles, garment pieces, fine art, and accessories. 

With the accessibility and demand of e-commerce, African fashion bands have been in greater demand around the world, according to UNESCO. Africa leads in mobile device web traffic usage globally, so young people who highlight African culture through their fashion brands can advertise via social media and get traction.

Lagos Fashion Week has been an example of the popularity of cultural fashion. Founder of the Fashion Week, Omoyemi Akerele, told the AP, “Africans want to wear Africa. It’s really beautiful to see because it hasn’t always been like this.”

Although Lagos Fashion Week began in 2011 to spark more people to buy and wear Nigerian pieces, it’s grown into a bigger cultural movement than Akerele expected. 

“Fast forward a decade after, that’s all people want to wear.”

The show puts various designers across the continent front and center by making space for a fashion show, followed by an open market for people to purchase from local brands that uplift and exhibit African cultural styles. 

Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, a designer who participated in Lagos Fashion Week, said she uses her brand to celebrate “the sophistication, class, and uniqueness of every woman [in African stories].”

“With more exposure, people are coming to realize that there is a lot of culture in the Nigerian culture, particularly in the fashion industry. So Africa is really the next frontier,” she continued. 

The show is only one example of the unwavering desire and drive of new young African designers to push their work into the global market, Azoulay explained.

“A new breed of young designers is causing a stir in the international scene, reinventing the code of luxury while simultaneously reconciling them with the demands of sustainable, local fashion and heritage.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Brides-To-Be Going Gaga Over New Hanifa Bridal Line

• Uncategorized

by Mary Spiller

October 29, 2023

Usher Gave Dr. Dre An Epic Tribute In Recent Vegas Show

The touching moment between Usher and Dr. Dre was caught on camera and posted to social media. 

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At his My Way Las Vegas residency on Oct. 20, Usher devoted the spotlight to a hip-hop legend in the audience—the one and only Dr. Dre. The touching moment between the two pop culture titans was caught on camera and posted to social media. 

Usher gave a shout out to the influential music powerhouse: “He is an amazing contributor to this music industry for all the artists he has broken, as well as the amazing artist that he is, ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the one, the only Dr. Dre.”

Dr. Dre, 58, stood up from his seat to wave to the audience and salute the R&B crooner before heading to the stage to hug Usher, where the King of Las Vegas shared a few quick words of appreciation. 

“Yo, Dre! I’m giving you your flowers tonight, my man,” Usher said, before beginning to play a medley of some of Dr. Dre’s biggest hits for the crowd. Most notably, the tribute included haymakers like “Forgot about Dre,” “Still D.R.E”, “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang,” and “Ain’t No Fun (If The Homies Can’t Have None).”

Usher had the whole crowd at the Park MGA going as he danced along to the medley and grooved alongside Dre to his own hits. The “OMG” singer immortalized the moment by sharing a video of it onto his Instagram. He captioned the post, “THE West Coast Legend @drdre was in the house so U know I had to give him his flowers !! 🙌🏾,”

Other big names were present that night and received a shout out from the performer, whose show has become a hot ticket. Usher showed some love for Los Angeles rapper Doja Cat and Fantastic Four’s Jessica Alba. According to People, Usher serenaded the women with his song, “There Goes My Baby.”

• News

by Mary Spiller

October 29, 2023

‘My Way Of Supporting Her’: Texas Father Dancing With Daughter’s Cheer Team Goes Viral

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Texas dad Andre Simmons went above and beyond to cheer on his daughter, Jazlyn, from the stands of a Temple High School football game. His wife, Cecelia Simmons, captured all his moves in a TikTok video that quickly went viral, amassing over 312,000 views since it was posted on Sept. 30.

The video shows Jazlyn performing with her cheer team, and Dad joining in the fun, mirroring the cheerleaders’ moves with infectious enthusiasm.

Cecelia captioned the video with a smiling face emoji, and text that read, “Everyone always asks Andrè Simmons about the boys continuing his football legacy little do they know he’s waited his whole life to be a cheer dad.”

Andrè recently sat down with Good Morning America to recount the moment. He said that although he’s not the best dancer and it took him a few days to pick up on the routine, he stuck with it because “he wanted to create a lifelong memory with [Jazlyn].”

The dad of five admitted that he’s away from home often because of his job as an infantryman and knew that her game performing on the Temple High School varsity cheer team was a great opportunity to support her. 

“She thought she made the varsity cheer team so my way of supporting her and kind of trying to make up that time lost is doing things that she loves and surprising her by joining her in the cheer during the football game,” Andrè explained. “Once I got it down pat, I just jumped up there when I heard the band finally bring the song up, and I got up there and did it with her.”

Andrè’s show of fatherly support was a success with Jazyln and all of her cheer team friends. He told GMA they were surprised by his joining in and glad that the had fun.

“I love to try to be a super dad when I’m here and create those lifelong memories, and it’s something for us to look back on and enjoy together,” he said.

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• HBCU

by Daniel Johnson

October 28, 2023

HBCU Alumni Collaborate With Maker’s Mark For Limited Bourbon Honoring Morehouse and Spelman

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Following their successful collaboration with Howard University alumnus Josh Mercer in 2022, distillery Maker’s Mark has announced two offerings from its new Private Selection bottling program. As Essence reported, they have tapped two alums from two of the most prestigious HBCUs in America, D’Angela Proctor from Spelman College and Harold H. Montgomery, Jr. from Morehouse College. 

In a continuation of the seed planted through their initial collaboration with Mercer, the bourbon distillery will use these distinct drinks created by the pair to honor the history and heritage of their respective collegiate experiences. Proctor named her drink “Undaunted 1881” in a nod to the founding of Spelman as well as her consulting firm and content creation company, Undaunted Content, which she formed in 2019. Proctor chose notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and nutmeg in an attempt to express the grace, tenacity, and complex nature of the ladies who called Spelman home over the institution’s near century and a half of service.

Montgomery, who is a Morehouse graduate and business owner, called his creation “1867 The House Standard,” which pulled inspiration for its taste profile from his favorite cigar brand. Montgomery also sought to respect the culture of leadership exemplified by Morehouse and its vaunted past alumni through his bourbon composition. The Private Selection program allows for restaurant or retail partners as well as everyday customers to create their unique blends of bourbon similar to Proctor and Montgomery Jr.

According to the Maker’s Mark website, the program “is a first-of-its-kind barrel program. It allows our retail or restaurant partners to purchase a barrel and explore their own taste visions of Maker’s Mark – much in the way our past-and-present Maker’s distillers defined theirs.”

The two Makers Mark Private Selection bottles will retail for around $75 and like their previous limited-time HBCU bottle created to honor Howard University, will be made available just in time for the two college’s homecoming celebrations. At the present time, they will only be available for purchase in a select quantity at Atlanta’s My Friend’s Bottle Shop starting on Oct. 27. 

RELATED CONTENT: SiriusXM And Pandora Turn Up The Volume At HBCU Homecoming Events

• Celebrity News

by Daniel Johnson

October 28, 2023

Colin Kaepernick And Nike Announce New Apparel Collection

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Colin Kaepernick and Nike are expanding on their partnership via a collaboration with British mixed media artist Joy Yamusangie. According to Sports Illustrated, Kaepernick’s collection, billed by the apparel giant as one built on hope and change, currently includes a hoodie and a T-shirt. Both items feature designs that tell the story of the NFL quarterback turned activist and author. 

On Kaepernick’s website, a video announcing the collaboration, voiced by Yamusangie is featured, just above a trailer for Kaepernick’s latest venture, an arcade-style football game called Wild Card Football. The video features Kaepernick in various poses as Yamusangie describes what drew her to the collaboration as well as what inspired her design choices.

Yamusangie says, “It was easy to draw inspiration for the designs for the collection, we blended our different approaches and our visions. Through each of the illustrations, I look to capture the core themes of Colin’s work and life. Each drawing represents hope, ambition, and aspiration.” 

Kaepernick has been busy during his post-NFL life, even though he is still very much interested in attempting to return to the league when he sees an opportunity. Following an Achilles injury to the New York Jets future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Kaepernick penned a letter to the Jets GM Joe Douglass asking for a chance on the team’s practice squad. Rapper J. Cole, who is a friend of Kaepernick, shared the letter via Instagram on Sept. 26. The letter spells out Kaepernick’s belief that he can still help a team, even as an older quarterback.

“Worst case scenario, you see what I have to offer, and you’re not that impressed,” Kaepernick wrote. “Best case scenario, you realize you have a real weapon at your disposal in the event you ever need to use it. In either of these scenarios, I would be committed to getting your defense ready week in and week out, all season long, and I would wear that responsibility like a badge of honor.”

Kaepernick created a publishing house, called Kaepernick Publishing in 2019, which he uses to publish books related to the struggle for Civil Rights in America led by Black and other people of color. His most recent project, titled Our History Has Always Been Contraband: In Defense of Black Studies, was co-published by Haymarket Books and is a response to the current movement to delegitimize the field of African-American or Black Studies, led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

According to co-editor Robin D.G. Kelley, “We are not surprised that fascists want to ban our work. Black studies was born of resistance and grew up in a state of fugitivity as a critique of a world that built counterfeit democracies on slavery, dispossession, colonialism, racism, and violence. And we remain, seeking hard truths, refusing indoctrination, and creating knowledge intended to free us all.”

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Vice President Kamala Harris, in collaboration with the U.S. Treasury Department, recently unveiled the Freedman’s Bank Forum on Oct. 25, a critical initiative aimed at boosting federal suppliers and small businesses owned by Black, brown, and under-resourced individuals. Harris highlighted the importance of private sector collaboration with the government to address financial disparities, emphasizing that this partnership creates opportunities for millions of Americans seeking to own businesses.

“To bridge the financial disparities that hold so many of our communities back, we must continue to work together to combine the capacity of the private sector with the reach and the scale that only the government can provide.” Harris said at the Department of the Treasury during the Freedman’s Bank Forum 2023, reported Forbes.

“When we do, we create opportunity and prosperity for millions of Americans,” Harris added.

The original Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company was established in 1865 to aid newly freed African Americans, but it closed within two years due to mismanagement. Since then, Black people and businesses have encountered systemic discrimination in accessing capital and banking, which are the discrepancies VP Harris referred to. Despite progress over the years, a 2023 Brookings report revealed that Black people, constituting 14.2% of the U.S. population, represented only 2.4% of employer businesses, largely due to limited access to capital, credit, and investments.

Christopher Weaver, the executive director of the EOC, commended the historic public-private partnership, emphasizing that this effort aims to address economic disparities and accelerate opportunities in underserved communities. The EOC, which includes nearly 30 private sector companies and foundations, achieved a significant milestone by securing over $1 billion in deposits for community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions. Their new commitment targets $3 billion in deposits.

“The new private sector commitments announced today will maximize the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in expanding access to capital in low-income, rural, and other underserved communities, which increase long-term productivity and economic growth,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at the Oct. 25 forum.

The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Treasury Department, has awarded $70 billion in federal contracts to small and disadvantaged businesses. Additionally, they have invested $12 billion in community lenders, including Black and brown banks. These investments are expected to result in an increase of over $80 billion in lending to Black communities and $50 billion in Latino communities across the U.S.

Other federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, are launching initiatives to channel capital into clean energy projects, reduce pollution, and enhance climate resilience in low-income neighborhoods and Black and brown communities.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner praised these efforts and emphasized the importance of ensuring that small and disadvantaged businesses reap the benefits of significant legislation passed during the Biden administration.

The Freedman’s Bank Forum and similar initiatives underscore the federal government’s potential to address economic disparities and drive positive change when utilizing a comprehensive approach.

RELATED CONTENT: U.S. Treasury To Host The Freedman’s Bank Forum

• Sports

by Daniel Johnson

October 28, 2023

Valdosta State University Baseball Coach Cleared Of Racial Discrimination In Hair-Length Controversy In Georgia

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Valdosta State University in Georgia concluded an investigation sparked by a viral video posted on Aug. 22 in which a coach can be heard telling a player, Asher Akridge, that his hair was too long to play baseball for the university. Coach Greg Guilliams was eventually allowed to return to his duties after it was deemed that his conduct towards a former player did not constitute racial discrimination or harassment.

According to WCTV, the university found that the coach was in violation of other guidelines–“the requirement to act as a good steward of VSU’s resources and information entrusted to its care” and also the requirement “to treat fellow employees, students, and the public with dignity and respect.”

Though the judge investigated the university for five weeks, it was determined the allegations against Coach Gulliams were inconsistent. What was found, however, was that the coach applied the team hair length policy not to every player, and, in fact, certain students of various racial backgrounds were allowed to skirt the policy for months at a time. The university will be reviewing the policy, extending an invitation to the affected student to return to the program, and requiring Gulliams to participate in leadership training focusing on interpersonal and multi-generational communication and conflict management. 

The Valdosta Daily Times reviewed the report and concluded that “At the time of the video, Mr. Akridge shared that he had cut his hair. The picture that he took when the video was posted indicated that his hair was off the ears and neck. Further, when he met with HR on Aug. 23, his hair was off his ears and neck. While some of the other team members (both minority and non-minority) did have hair that was on their neck (untapered) and touching their collar, Mr. Akridge’s hair was in regulation at that point. While the decision could have included other reasons, including his belief that Mr. Akridge had quit the team, Coach Guilliams made it almost entirely about the hair length.”

According to WCTV, the university released a statement once the investigation had reached its conclusion.

“VSU is a special place for all students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and it was critical that this investigation be given the time and attention it deserved,” the university said. “VSU remains dedicated to maintaining a fair, respectful, and non-discriminatory environment for all, and that work will continue.”

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