New Research Shows High Desire Among Black Americans to Become Foster Parents, But Distrust And Discrimination Prevents Them
Black Americans have a disproportionate desire to become foster parents, but have been reluctant to try due to continuous racial discrimination in the foster care system, according to new research conducted by Kidsave International and Gallup.
The results, collected from March 22 to April 11 of this year, that one in three Black Americans have “thought a lot” about fostering a child, which is 10% higher than the average of other racial groups. 25% of Black adults have even seriously considered adopting a child from foster care or getting involved in a program to work with foster kids.
The interest is good because although Black minors only account for 14% of the U.S. population, 22% are in foster care. The overrepresentation in the system doesn’t translate to adoption rates, as they’ve been found to be re-homed more consistently and are less likely to be adopted than white children. Federal statistics and psychological research have found that paring Black children with Black parents increases the success rate of the adoption process, as it promotes a “culturally responsive foster care environment.”
However, as the statistics show, the number of Black youth who need a home dramatically exceeds those who will adopt, leading to many children falling through the cracks. The new research has exposed a severe need for more Black care providers.
The difference, explained by Kidave and Gallup, was characterized by the fact that Black Americans express a greater distrust in the foster care system than adults of other races; they also face more concerns regarding “age, stage of life, and finances.”
The new research results suggest that foster organizations should put more resources into addressing the mistrust and implicit discrimination between Black caregivers and the system to better support the Black youth who need homes.
While Black foster parents can positively impact a child’s life, the study suggests that more organizations should address these concerns to increase the number of caregivers available for Black youth.
Meet 5 Black Women At The Forefront Of The Green Movement
Conversations being green and Eco-friendly have continued to expand, and Black women in the green space are leading the charge to reach Black communities.
From the recycling hustle and Eco-advice gigs to rocking natural hair vibes and farming, these green queens are showing the world that, yeah, Black girls are all about that green life, too.
BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with five women at the forefront of the green movement.
Brandi Harleaux: Sustainability In Houston
More than a decade after leaving the corporate world to take over her family’s Houston-based business, South Post Oak Recycling Center, Brandi Harleaux is uplifting and empowering her community through sustainability and job creation. Her Fortune 500 corporate knowledge has helped her to not only level up her family’s legacy but to also create positive and measurable impact. When Brandi isn’t serving as director-at-large for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), she is using her unique platform to support and advocate for more women in STEM, sustainability, and the recycled materials industry.
“I’m proud of the contributions that my company makes to the community, specifically regarding the local economy,” Harleux told BE. “We are directly a part of the over 40,000 jobs that are created within Texas and the economic impact, which is $9.77 billion in this state.”
She added, “When people come and recycle their materials with us, they get money, and that money is then recycled right back into this community at gas stations, grocery stores, shopping malls, etc. We’re also local tax contributors who serve and give back to schools and churches, all with the hope of making the community more economically and socially sound.”
Chrystal Beasley: Helping Protect Global Ecosystems
The daughter of a chemical manufacturing employee, Chrystal Beasley was informed at an early age about the effects that toxic exposure and poor air quality have on minority neighborhoods like the one where she grew up. That’s why she centered her education around engineering, sustainability and environmentalism. Just over a decade into her career, she had already helped to mitigate sediments going into the Chesapeake Bay with the Maryland Department of the Environment, helped develop state permits and guidance documents for the discharge of oil and gas wastewater with the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration, worked on the BP Oil Spill Emergency Response team in Washington, D.C. and helped to reduce and recycle hazardous materials at Dow Chemical.
These days, Beasley is going back to the basics in order to prioritize sustainability. She is a farmer and beekeeper who assists with her family’s cattle ranching operations and timber trading on their heritage land. Learning from her own family’s challenges and triumphs, she was inspired to create BeAspire Enviro Consulting firm, where she uses her corporate expertise to empower Black businesses and landowners. Beasley exclusively serves Black families, many of whom are multi-generational heirs of land and property but need help generating income to clear property titles, finding resources to work the land, maintaining compliance, preserving safety and sustainability, and practicing conservation.
“I have a corporate, government, and consulting background. That just helped me to build an understanding of what Black people are unknowingly being exposed to and the knowledge on how to go about advocating for policies for change. Somebody’s got to be there to help mitigate some of these issues and figure out solutions that are beneficial to all parties,” Beasley told BE.
Karena Poke: Serving Marginalized Communities
According to Karena Poke, despite the perceived absence of Black women in environmentalism, she is part of a thriving movement of African-American women serving marginalized communities through urban farming and community gardens. In 2014, she decided to open Lettuce Live: An Urban Farm Project, which does more than simply provide fresh produce in an area with limited access to healthy food. Poke told BE that urban farm projects like hers are meant to strengthen communities and build engagement.
Lettuce Live sells various herbs, produce, and fresh-cut flowers to customers onsite, local grocers, and restaurants. The organization also helps high school students to earn community service hours for college admissions requirements, provides free food for any patron diagnosed with cancer, organizes community workshops, hosts supply drives and distribution, and facilitates Dudes and Donuts, a monthly male mentoring event where sons of single mothers learn how to use common tools.
“When I consult with people who are building community gardens, I say, find out what the needs are and figure out the different ways that you can serve that community,” Poke said. “The vision is bigger than food. Talk to the people. Who are you serving? What does that look like? For me, that’s what a community garden is; we don’t focus so much on growing food as we do growing people.”
Tamika Fletcher and Monique Mack: Clean Beauty, Natural Hair Care
Natural hairstylists Tamika Fletcher and Monique Mack noticed a void in the Black community and filled it with award-winning Earth’s Nectar Hair Care Products. Fifteen years ago, during the rebirth of the natural hair movement, the duo opened their first full-service natural hair salon in Houston. Not only did Fletcher and Mack want to improve the health and appearance of their clients’ hair, but they wanted to do so without the use of ingredients that were harmful to people and the planet. So, they launched Earth’s Nectar to advocate for healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable beauty options for all hair types.
Committed to the promotion of environmental sustainability, they have opened their first zero-waste beauty refillery, retail store, and natural hair care salon. Earth’s Nectar Hair Care Products sold in refillable, Eco-friendly packaging. The salon also features a DIY beauty bar where customers can purchase raw beauty ingredients by the ounce.
“Being a Black woman has influenced my journey, driving me to challenge norms and fight for inclusion in spaces where our voices and beauty are still striving to be heard,” Fletcher shared with BE. “The strength and inspiration of Black women, especially my late mother, have shaped my professional journey. Their trailblazing spirit fuels my determination to overcome obstacles. Representation means more than just having a seat at the table; we deserve to (eat) actively participate and make an impact that benefits ourselves and our community.”
Homebuyers Must Earn $115,000 To Buy A Moderate-Priced Home, Redfin Says
According to a report released by Redfin this week, prospective homebuyers need to make $114,627 annually to purchase a moderate-priced home. This is a 15% increase from 2022 and a 50% increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
Monthly mortgage rates have reached an all-time high of $2,800. As of July, one-quarter of mortgage payers paid more than $3,000 monthly. According to CEIC data, the average monthly earnings of U.S. households were $4,654. On average, Americans are spending more than 60% of their earnings on mortgage payments.
“In a homebuyer’s ideal world, rising mortgage rates would push demand and home prices down enough to make up for high-interest payments. But that’s not what’s happening now: Although new listings are ticking up slightly, inventory is still near record lows as homeowners hang on to their low mortgage rates – and that’s propping up prices,” said Redfin Economics Research Lead Chen Zhao.”
Zhao encourages prospective homebuyers to look for less expensive options such as condos and townhouses, or consider moving to a suburb or a more affordable part of the country.
Renters are not faring much better. New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have seen significant increases in rent prices. In New York, landlords require renters to make 40 to 45 more than their rent to qualify. The average monthly rent in Manhattan is $4,400, meaning renters would need to earn approximately $176,000 annually to be eligible to rent.
“Renting is more affordable than borrowing to buy a home in most metro areas,” Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist, told Fortune.
According to Redfin, only four major markets are less expensive to buy than to rent: Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Houston.
Homebuyers Must Earn $115,000 To Buy A Moderate Priced Home, Redfin Says
According to a report released by Redfin this week, prospective homebuyers need to make $114,627 annually to purchase a moderate-priced home. This is a 15 %-year increase from 2022 and a 50% increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
Monthly mortgage rates have reached an all-time high of $2800.As of July, one-fourth of mortgage payers paid more than $ 3,000 monthly. According to CEIC data, the average monthly earnings of U.S. households were $4654. On average, Americans are spending more than 60 percent of their earnings on mortgage payments.
“In a homebuyer’s ideal world, rising mortgage rates would push demand and home prices down enough to make up for high-interest payments. But that’s not what’s happening now: Although new listings are ticking up slightly, inventory is still near record lows as homeowners hang onto their low mortgage rates–and that’s propping up prices,” said Redfin Economics Research Lead Chen Zhao.”
Zhao encourages prospective homebuyers to look for less expensive options such as condos and townhouses or consider moving to a suburb or a more affordable part of the country.
Renters are not faring much better. New York, Chicago and Los Angeles have seen significant increases in rent prices. In New York, landlords require renters to make 40 to 45 more than their rent to qualify. The average monthly rent in Manhattan is $4,400, meaning renters would need to earn approximately $176,000 annually to be eligible to rent.
“Renting is more affordable than borrowing to buy a home in most metro areas,” Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist, told Fortune.
According to Redfin, only four major markets are less expensive to buy than to rent: Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Houston.
Muslim Members Of Congress See Rise In Death Threats Amid Israel-Palestine War
Muslim members of Congress are fearful for their safety as there has been a spike in death threats since the start of the Israeli-Palestine war.
The threats mirror similar ones Muslims are facing across the country. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) condemned Hamas attacks, but her critique of Israel’s policy toward Palestinians and Washington’s support for the country has made her an easy target. Omar, whose family emigrated to the United States after fleeing the civil war in Somalia, was briefed about the rise in threats by the U.S. Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms. Other Muslim members, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), a Palestinian-American, were also briefed.
I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas. Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we’ve seen, which we cannot allow…
Omar released a statement citing that Muslim Americans have been victims of a “dishonest smear.”
“It directly endangered my life and that of my family, as well as subjected my staff to traumatic verbal abuse simply for doing their jobs,” Omar said. “More importantly, it threatens the millions of American Muslims. This toxic language and imagery has real-world consequences.”
Because of the rise in threats, several Congress members have been assigned security details. However, for Omar, the threats have become worse since the start of the war.
Omar isn’t new to receiving threats. During the summer of 2022, a man from Florida was sentenced to three years of probation and a $7,000 fine over an emailed threat to Omar, Tlaib, and fellow members of Congress known as “The Squad,” Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley.
Congress members on the other side of the aisle haven’t been as supportive of embracing Omar and her fellow Muslim Democratic lawmakers while dealing with threats. According to Now This News, controversial Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) has labeled them the “Jihad Squad” along with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) referring to them as the “Hamas caucus.” Advocacy groups like the Center for American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the country, say they have been overwhelmed with responding to violent incidents.
Research director Corey Saylor touched on specific attacks, such as a mosque in Oregon getting a message saying, “DIE MUSLIMS DIE!,”
Other anti-Muslim sentiment resulted in the death of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed 26 times by his landlord outside of Chicago.
Sunny Hostin, Co-Host Of ‘The View,’ Reflects On Humble Beginnings And The Power Of Confidence Over Arrogance
Sunny Hostin, lawyer, journalist, and co-host of “The View,” said she went through tough times growing up in the Bronx, N.Y., sometimes living without heat and hot water. She said, the experience made her confident and not arrogant.
According to Hostin, she was raised in poverty and saw her mom suffer from it. Her mother’s suffering gave her the motivation to want to get out of living that way, she said in an interview with celebrity vlogger Paolo Presta, The Daily Mail reported.
“It wouldn’t be the cycle for my children, no way. And I was gonna get my mom out of there too. My mom was suffering… my dad was strong, but my mom was suffering. We were all gonna get out of that situation,” she recalled.
Now, Hostin’s mother, Rosa, lives with her in Purchase, N.Y.
Hostin said that some people mistake her confidence for conceit, but she made a point to say that she isn’t arrogant. In fact, she admitted that she still has insecurities from being told that she wasn’t good enough to have her own show by a CNN producer, the outlet reported.
The 54-year-old said in the revealing interview, “I was not only told that I would never be able to anchor my own show, I was used to audition other people for the show I wanted to anchor.”
Hostin, who became a permanent co-host on “The View” in 2016, said auditioning others for the position she wanted also took a toll on her confidence, but she told Presta that she endured it so that she could take care of her family.
“And I did it for the money. I’ve got two kids in school, I’ve got a husband, who while he’s a surgeon, loves to do a lot of charity work, which is a great thing… and I just continued to do it, and every time I did it, it would chip away at my confidence,” Hostin said.
She added that she is confident in her faith, family, and the law.
“I’m only confident when I’m talking about the law, or the love that I have for my children and my husband, I’m confident there… always,” she said.
Sen. Laphonza Butler Confirms She Will Not Run To Keep Senate Seat In 2024
Democrat Laphonza Butler, the third Black woman to serve in the Senate, revealed that a 2024 seat is not in her plans.
The LGBTQ+ leader said she will not be running after she completes her term as interim in Dianne Feinstein’s seat. According to The New York Times, Senator Butler confirmed her plans on Oct. 19, to clear the seat.
“…This is not the greatest use of my voice,’ she said. In the time being, the 44-year-old is dedicated to giving her best efforts while she fulfills her current term as “the loudest and proudest champion of California.”
The California leader’s decision is not tied to any specific concern, but she has discussed it with her wife and daughter, according to the outlet.
“Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign,” Butler said in a statement as reported by NBC News. “I’ve spent the past 16 days pursuing my clarity — what kind of life I want to have, what kind of service I want to offer, and what kind of voice I want to bring forward. After considering those questions, I’ve decided not to run for Senate in the upcoming election.”
Governor Gavin Newsom clarified that no restrictions were attached to Butler, and the longtime West Coast leader is welcome to run in the 2024 election if she desires.
“Traditionally, we don’t see those who have power let it go. It may not be the decision people expected but it’s the right one for me,” Butler stated on Thursday.
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Butler was appointed to a senate seat by Gov. Newsom after Feinstein passed away in October. She was sworn in to represent California by Vice President Kamala Harris on Oct. 3, making her the second Black woman and the first openly LGBTQ+ to serve in the senate for the state.
Candidates in the 2024 election for Feinstein’s seat include Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee.
Book-loving Mom Launches Online Bookstore Beyond This February To Amplify Our Stories
A book-loving mom started an online bookstore to change how the next generation of Black children sees themselves represented in books.
For Tamika Thompson, the founder and owner of Beyond This February bookshop, it’s a place where people can find Black stories 365 days a year. According to Greenville News, Thompson operates the online bookshop along with pop-up sales for readers of all ages.
Thompson recalled being able to find a good number of Black narratives in bookstores during February for Black History Month. But the lack of Black stories in the months to follow inspired the name of her online bookstore.
Thompson said finding herself and her children represented in literature was hard to digest– to the point that she sometimes drew the characters to look like her in books she owned.
Even still, Thompson said, “But a lot of times, even if I loved the story, I couldn’t connect because it wasn’t culturally relevant. I didn’t find the books that I loved, and that stayed with me until I was an adult. And that only came from finally having access to authors who not only look like me but had experiences that match the context of my life.”
The mother found herself coming up against the same issue of not seeing Black people represented in books when she had children. She pointed out that many books that feature Black characters often center around trauma or some sort of historical prevalence.
“As a mother, I still experienced the same situation with my own children in finding books that were relevant to them – and here we are in the 2020s, and it was still pulling teeth to get stories that weren’t trauma-based.”
There aren’t any plans to launch a brick-and-mortar location.
Book-loving Mom Launches ‘Beyond This February’ Online Bookstore To Amplify Our Stories
A book-loving mom started an online bookstore to change how the next generation of Black children sees themselves represented in books.
For Tamika Thompson, founder and owner of Beyond This February bookshop, it’s a place where people can find Black stories 365 days a year. According to The Greenville News, Thompson operates the online bookshop along with pop-up sales for readers of all ages.
Thompson recalled being able to find a good number of Black narratives in bookstores during February for Black History Month. The lack of Black stories in the other 11 months inspired the name of her online bookstore.
Thompson said finding herself and her children represented in literature was a major challenge, to the point where she sometimes drew characters to look like her in books she owned.
Even still, Thompson said, “But a lot of times, even if I loved the story, I couldn’t connect because it wasn’t culturally relevant. I didn’t find the books that I loved, and that stayed with me until I was an adult. And that only came from finally having access to authors who not only look like me but had experiences that match the context of my life.”
After having children of her own, she found herself coming up against the same issue of not seeing Black people represented in books. She pointed out that many books that feature Black characters often center around trauma or some sort of historical prevalence.
“As a mother, I still experienced the same situation with my own children in finding books that were relevant to them — and here we are in the 2020s, and it was still pulling teeth to get stories that weren’t trauma-based.”
Thompson aims to launch a brick-and-mortar location of her shop.
Harlem Opens First Legal Adult-Use Cannabis Retail Store ‘Gotham Buds’
Legal cannabis has made its way to Harlem, New York, with the grand opening of the city’s first licensed cannabis store.
On Oct. 18, Gotham Buds had its grand opening in Harlem. Located on West 125th Street across from the historic Apollo Theater, the store serves as the first legal adult-use cannabis retail location in Harlem, Columbia Spector reports.
“We’ve got all-star shelves because our Harlem home deserves only the best. And we’re beyond ready to share it with you,” the retailer shared in an Instagram post last week.
While it’s the first location in Harlem, Gotham Buds is the seventh cannabis retail location in Manhattan since New York City’s Office of Cannabis Management began accepting applications for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses last year.
It’s been a long time coming for New Yorkers who have started to see an uptick in marijuana stores after the state passed the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act in March 2021 that legalized the recreational sale of cannabis.
Local residents have been sharing their excitement for Gotham Buds’ inception into the Harlem community.
In addition to the sale of cannabis, Gotham Buds also offers “luxurious clothing, mind-bending hip-hop music, and industry-leading cannabis smoking accessories,” according to its website.
“The people we service are educated, not only in the world of cannabis but in the world of quality,” it states.
“We provide what you deserve because we think like you. We’re NY born and raised, and we know what it’s like to grow up in Gotham.”
It was quite the process for Gotham Buds after facing opposition from community organizers who initially protested the store’s location near The Apollo, children’s stores, and schools.
“I think the people that were giving them pushback just didn’t understand this industry, the growth potential of it, and the opportunity,” Mitchell Greene, Gotham Buds’ director of business development and community advocacy, said.
“From a health standpoint, I don’t think that they realize that this can be an asset not just from a community, financial impact, but just in terms of job creation, and making sure that the cannabis that people are using is safe.”
Now that the store is open, business appears to be buzzing with locals who are happy with its inclusion in the predominantly Black community.
