• Uncategorized

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 16, 2023

Black Financial Consultant Seeks To Empower African Americans To Reclaim Lost Land Through Real Estate Crowdfunding

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*Originally published by Blacknews.com 

Nationwide — In a visionary quest to reverse the staggering loss of land and property faced by African Americans over the centuries, Kelvin Harris, a dedicated financial consultant, real estate investor, and author, has embarked on a mission that could redefine the trajectory of African American communities nationwide. With a profound vision of how crowdfunding can be a powerful tool for financial empowerment, Kelvin Harris introduces the Forbes Farmhouse crowdfunding offering, inviting everyone to participate in reshaping the future of our communities.

The Forbes Farmhouse project aims to restore a piece of history and empower communities, all while providing a unique opportunity for investors to contribute to a brighter future. Mr. Harris is on a mission to leverage crowdfunding to reverse the land ownership disparities that have plagued African Americans for generations, noting that approximately 90% of the 14 million acres of land owned by Blacks in 1910 has been either seized or lost.

“We believe that financial empowerment is within reach for all African Americans. With projects like the Forbes Farmhouse crowdfunding offering, we’re presenting everyone with a chance to invest in their financial future, create generational wealth, and support projects that will revitalize our neighborhoods,” Mr. Harris passionately states.
What is Real Estate Crowdfunding? A Secure Path to Investment

Regulation Crowdfunding came about as part of the JOBS Act under President Barack Obama back in April 2012. Real Estate Crowd Funding (aka Equity crowdfunding) is a groundbreaking approach to real estate investing, opening doors to a wider range of investors. What sets it apart is the rigorous oversight it undergoes from regulatory bodies like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), ensuring the validity and security of investment opportunities. Equity crowdfunding portals, like securelivingrei.com, where Forbes Farmhouse offering is listed, are meticulously vetted and regulated by the SEC and FINRA. This oversight ensures compliance with legal and ethical standards, providing investors with confidence in the legitimacy of investment opportunities.

Forbes Farmhouse: Passive Investment Opportunity

Forbes Farmhouse is a transformative real estate project dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, empowering communities, and creating wealth for investors. However, it isn’t just a real estate project; it’s an opportunity to be part of something innovative and unique. This multi-purpose vacation rental and event venue residential property goes beyond traditional real estate investments, offering an exciting and versatile opportunity.

Strategically positioned, Forbes Farmhouse taps into the thriving vacation rental market while also providing local residents with a luxurious venue for banquets, dinner parties, exhibitions and weddings, as well as corporate networking and training events. This dual-purpose approach not only enhances the property’s revenue potential but also enriches the local community by becoming a focal point for various social and corporate gatherings.

• Career

by Jameelah Mullen

October 16, 2023

McDonald’s Confirms ‘1 In 8’ Americans Have Worked At The Fast-Food Chain

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McDonald’s, which holds the spot for the largest fast-food chain in the world, conducted a survey and confirmed with Today that one in eight Americans have been employed by Mickey D’s at some point in their lifetime.

The fast-food giant announced its launch of the “1 in 8” initiative that will honor former and current employees. 

“The 1 in 8 initiative is shining a spotlight on the spectacular people that make up the Golden Arches. For the first time, McDonald’s is featuring a cast entirely made up of restaurant crew in its creative campaign – highlighting real stories and real people from local restaurants across TV spots, social media, and digital content,” according to its website.

Anyone who has ever worked for the company will have the opportunity to attend exclusive events that will provide mentorship from fellow alumni who have gone on to become experts in their fields.

“For 1 in 8 Americans, the McDonald’s restaurant experience offers critical life skills and creates opportunities for meaningful work and connections,” said Tiffanie Boyd, senior vice president & chief people officer at McDonald’s, in a press release.

On Oct. 11, Mickey D’s alums gathered in New York City to participate in its inaugural “Homecoming” celebration, where several former employees shared their experiences. Panelists included actress Alejandra Espinoza, chef Harold Villarosa, McDonald’s franchise owner Paul Hendel and Peloton fitness guru Cody Rigsby, who expressed his gratitude for convening with his fellow 1 in 8 members.

“It’s no secret that McDonald’s is my day one,” said Rigsby. “It’s a full-circle moment for me to be able to share my journey to inspire others – including those who had the same start as me and used their job at McDonald’s as a jumping-off point.” 

Artist and founder of Creative Minds Concept Kendall Hurns also served as a panelist at the event. Hurns collaborated with McDonald’s to create a limited edition 1-in-8 letterman jacket, which will be available for purchase on Oct 16 at 10 a.m. ET.

McDonald’s invites former employees to share their stories and join the 1-in-8 program by visiting the company’s website.

RELATED CONTENT: Terry Crews Made $150 Per Week In The NFL: ‘I Would Have Made More Money At McDonald’s’

• News

by Daniel Johnson

October 16, 2023

Detroit Police Sued—Again—For Reckless Use Of Facial Recognition Technology

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The Detroit Police Department’s use of facial recognition technology has come under scrutiny following three wrongful arrests made by officers who used the technology to solve crimes. A federal lawsuit has been filed against the city and Det. LaShauntia Oliver.

Facial recognition technology was used to investigate a pregnant woman, Porcha Woodruff, which resulted in her arrest. 

On Feb. 16, the detective targeted Woodruff, according to her attorney, Ivan Land. The expectant mother was accused of carjacking and robbery. Oliver knew that the suspect in the case was not a pregnant woman but failed to investigate the case properly.

Woodruff was detained in front of her crying children and questioned for 11 hours. Her phone was also searched. Woodruff, who was eight months pregnant at the time, suffered from severe dehydration and had contractions due to high stress levels.

She was taken to the hospital for treatment after she met her bond of $100,000. According to the lawsuit, charges against Woodruff were later dropped, and Oliver made no mention in her police report that the actual suspect in her case was pregnant.

Land wrote in the federal lawsuit, “The need for reform and more accurate investigative methods by the Detroit Police has become evident as we delve into the troubling implications of facial recognition technology in this case.”

Only six people say that they have been falsely accused by facial recognition technology, but all six have been Black. This outcome was a primary concern of the ACLU when it warned about the potential for harm in how facial recognition software would be deployed against Black citizens. The group took the Detroit Police Department to court in April 2021 after the police wrongfully arrested Robert Williams in 2020 using the same facial recognition technology that they warned could be used against Black people with impunity. 

Detroit Police Chief James White told the outlet that the allegations in the lawsuit concerned him, saying, “We are taking this matter very seriously, but we cannot comment further at this time due to the need for additional investigation. We will provide further information once additional facts are obtained and we have a better understanding of the circumstances.”

The use of artificial intelligence in policing has become a civil liberties issue. In September, Wired reported that the nonprofit civil liberties group Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) sent a letter to United States Attorney General Merrick Garland asking him to investigate whether or not cities using ShotSpotter are violating the Civil Rights Act. ShotSpotter, a technology that is supposed to be able to detect gunshots, is being placed in areas where Black people are abundant. Still, its compliance with the Civil Rights Act has never been seriously assessed.

According to EPIC’s letter, “State and local police departments around the country have used federal financial assistance to facilitate the purchase of a slew of surveillance and automated decision-making technologies, including ShotSpotter.” Ron Wyden, a U.S. senator concerned with privacy issues, told Wired that he would push Garland to accept EPIC’s recommendations, saying, “There is more than enough evidence at this point to conclude that technologies like ShotSpotter do essentially nothing to stop crime, but instead have a well-documented discriminatory impact on marginalized and vulnerable communities.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Man Wrongfully Arrested After Misused Facial Recognition Files Lawsuit

• Legal

by Daniel Johnson

October 16, 2023

Black Families In The South Wrestle Control Of Their Land

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In 2019, ProPublica profiled Melvin Davis and Licurtis Reels, two brothers from North Carolina who fought to keep their land out of the hands of white developers in accordance with the dying wish of their grandfather.

Mitchell Reels, who owned the land, did not leave a will but instead left the property to the pair as heirs’ property, a customary practice in the South.

Black land loss has been tied to this practice due to the assumption that even without a will the land will remain in the family. The reality, as the pair found out, is a lot more complicated than that. Davis and Reels eventually spent eight years behind bars after being found guilty of civil contempt stemming from their attempts to keep their family’s land in their hands.

A similar battle unfolded in 2012, as the Robinson family in Alabama used the same practice of heirs’ property. A stipulation in Alabama real estate law allowed anyone with any interest invested in a piece of land to sue the others to take control of the land via a sale.

According to Essence, the Robinson family was unaware that they even owned the land until they were notified of a lawsuit filed by James E. Deshler after he had purchased 1/15 of the family’s land. Like the Reels brothers, Michael Robinson’s grandfather, Joe Ely, had ceded the land to his heirs shortly before he passed away. 

According to Ray Winbush, Morgan State University’s director of the Institute for Urban Research, the desire for these tracts of land owned by Black people, particularly Black men, was a motivating factor in lynchings.

Winbush told ProPublica, “There is this idea that most blacks were lynched because they did something untoward to a young woman. That’s not true. Most black men were lynched between 1890 and 1920 because whites wanted their land.”

David Cecelski, a historian of the North Carolina coastal area, also told ProPublica that there was a history of legal loopholes and tricks deployed against Black people in that area, saying, “You can’t talk to an African-American family who owned land in those counties and not find a story where they feel like the land was taken from them against their will, through legal trickery.”

Legal trickery was deployed against the Robinson family in Alabama, but they found a way to fight back. Mitchell Robinson created a land retention committee composed of over 40 relatives which included his cousins, aunts, and siblings. This bought the family time as they fought the lawsuit brought on by Deshler.

Robinson told Essence his motivation was the future generations of his family. “I didn’t want three or four generations from now for some member of the family to say, ‘Didn’t we have over 100 acres of land?'” Robinson said. “I didn’t want someone to say, ‘That generation didn’t fight to keep the land in the family.’ So we adopted this motto of: Not on our watch.”

His determination, much like that of the Reels brothers, eventually paid dividends, as a judge threw out Deshler’s claim to the land in August 2023. The family took back the portion of the land Deshler once laid claim to a full 12 years after initiating the lawsuit.

“To me, it had even more meaning that people were enslaved on that land, and now we owned it, and we had the opportunity to change the narrative, the legacy, and the history on that land,” Robinson said.

“But it was so important for me to honor his legacy and the intent when he purchased that land. He could only dream or imagine where we are as people of color today. And I wanted to take the blood, sweat, and tears into that land and not let that die.”

RELATED CONTENT: L.A. County Officially Returns Ownership of Bruce Beach Resort To Heirs of Black Family

• News

by Daniel Johnson

October 15, 2023

Author James McBride Awarded $50,000 Kirkus Prize In Fiction For ‘The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store’

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Kirkus Reviews has awarded its highest accolade, the Kirkus Prize, to three literary works examining history and community. African-American author, musician, and screenwriter James McBride was one of the award recipients.

The Kirkus Prize is considered one of the richest literary awards in the world, with $50,000 given annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction, and young readers’ literature.

Kirkus Reviews publisher Meg Kuehn gave a statement regarding the three winning works to NPR, saying: “History and community emerged as central themes in the most outstanding works of literature published this year.”

Kuehn continued, “We see these ideas come to life in wildly different ways in all three of this year’s winners, each one compelling from beginning to end, begging to be celebrated, discussed, and shared.”

McBride won in the fiction category for his novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, which is set in the fictional town of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in a racially mixed neighborhood called Chicken Hill. McBride also won a National Book Award in 2013 for his novel The Good Lord Bird.

“James McBride has created a vibrant fictional world as only this master storyteller can,” the Kirkus Prize judges said in a citation. “The characters’ interlocking lives make for tense, absorbing drama as well as warm, humane comedy. This is a novel about small-town American life that is clear-eyed about prejudice yet full of hope for the power of community.”

Héctor Tobar won for his nonfiction book Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of Latino. Ariel Aberg-Riger won the prize for young readers literature for her debut, America Redux: Visual Stories From Our Dynamic History.

RELATED CONTENT: LeVar Burton Announced As 2023 National Book Awards Host

• History

by Daniel Johnson

October 15, 2023

Former Residents Demand Answers And Reparations For Cold War-Era Military Experiments In St. Louis Housing Complex

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In 2022, filmmaker Damien D. Smith’s documentary Target: St. Louis Vol. 1 chronicled the post-World War II secret military experiments on St. Louis residents of the predominantly Black Pruitt-Igoe housing complex. While Smith’s film was nominated for Best Documentary at the BronzeLens Film Festival, the stories the documentary told didn’t manage to generate much public interest.

Ben Phillips, one of the men who’d shared his experiences with Smith, is now telling his story and the stories of the families who lived at the housing complex to CNN. Phillips says that the U.S. Army had been conducting secret testing on the low-income housing complex, spraying a potentially carcinogenic chemical known as zinc cadmium sulfide, according to the National Institute of Health.

Phillips described the procedure to CNN.

“The majority of it was done at night. So, you know, you’re at home, it’s a summer evening, you got your windows opened up on the seventh floor because you don’t have air conditioning,” he said. “And it’s spewing this stuff off the roofs.”

Phillips said that this spray had a harmful effect, recalling, “I had a little sister who was having convulsions when she was about a year and a half old. It went on for about two and a half years, and then stopped.”

Phillips’ story reached the ears of United States Senator for the state of Missouri Josh Hawley. Hawley, a Republican, held a bipartisan rally at the U.S. Capitol calling for justice for Phillips and others with similar stories.

Hawley said during a press conference, “Dating all the way back to the Manhattan Project, the government used the city of St. Louis as a uranium-processing facility, as a major site, and then when that was over […] it allowed it to seep into the groundwater, it allowed it to get into Coldwater Creek, it allowed it get into the soil. Generations of Missourians—children—were poisoned because of the government’s negligence.”

He continued, “If the government is going to expose its own citizens to radioactive material […] for decades, the government ought to pay the bills of the men and women who have gotten sick because of it. They ought to pay for the survivor benefits of those who have been lost.”

The senator’s pursuit of compensation for the victims of nuclear radiation exposure culminated in an extension to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act in July, and his legislation received an endorsement from President Joe Biden. 

Filmmaker Smith, recounted what his grandmother, who hails from St. Louis, said she knew about the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex, and learned that cancer was a prevalent condition among ex-residents when he interviewed them for Target: St. Louis Vol. 1.

Smith shared with CNN, “I started doing some more research about it and it infuriated me that they can test on a population that they deemed to be basically sub-human.”

He said it “definitely stripped them of any constitutional rights.”

As for Phillips, he maintains that his ultimate goal is not motivated by financial gain. Rather, he wants the public to know about what he and others survived, telling CNN: “This happens so often to marginalized communities — African American communities — because they’re easier to prey upon because, at least back then, they hardly had a voice.”

RELATED CONTENT: Reporter Who Exposed The Tuskeegee Experiment Speaks Out 50 Years Later

• Events

by Daniel Johnson

October 15, 2023

New York City Proclaims ‘Biz Markie Day’

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The late rapper Biz Markie has a day of his own in New York City. Every Aug. 31 will officially be recognized as Biz Markie Day.

On Oct. 10, New York Amsterdam News reported that a ceremony at Marcus Garvey Park Amphitheater had recently been held to mark the proclamation. Fittingly, those whom Biz Markie inspired were featured performers at the event, including DJ Hollywood, D. Cross, and Oran Juice Jones, who reflected on Biz Markie’s influence on hip-hop, saying, “In life, it’s not the journey or destiny that’s important…what’s important is the people you bump into along the way, and I didn’t grow up with him. I bumped into Biz along the way, and every time I bumped into him, he was a beautiful cat.”

Biz Markie was born in Harlem, New York City, and raised on Long Island.

Laurie Cumbo, New York City’s commissioner of public affairs, read the city’s official proclamation of Biz Markie Day shortly before giving the stage to Tara Hall, Biz Markie’s widow. Hall told the crowd gathered for the occasion, “I’m so touched right now, I almost was in tears because of the love he’s receiving.”

Often referred to as the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop,” Biz Markie was known for his jovial manner and endorsement of acts like Roxanne Shanté, and especially for his 1989 song “Just a Friend.”

The artist struggled with health issues related to a decade-long battle with type 2 diabetes. His illness led to hospitalization in April 2020. In December of that year, it was reported that Markie entered a rehabilitation facility as a result of a stroke he’d had suffered after going into a diabetic coma. He died at a Baltimore hospital on July 16, 2021, at age 57. Hall was at his side when he passed.

Prior to his death, the rapper had spoken about the mismanagement of his type 2 diabetes. He told USA Today what his doctor informed him could happen as a result.

“They said I could lose body parts. A lot of things could happen,” he said.

RELATED CONTENT: Biz Markie Documentary Coming To Showtime On Hip-Hop’s 50th Birthday

Seems Drake is no longer boycotting the Grammys. The rapper has submitted Her Loss, his album with 21 Savage, for Grammy consideration. The decision proves surprising, as he had previously renounced the Grammys. 

Drake’s album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and several songs have been recognized for potential awards, according to Billboard. Her Loss, in its entirety, has been submitted for 2024 Album of the Year and Best Rap Album in the awards show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It includes Drake’s song with 21 Savage, “Rich Flex,” which is a submission for the Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song categories. 

Another popular song, “Spin Bout U,” was submitted for the Best Melodic Rap Performance, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year categories.

In 2020, Drake openly criticized the Grammys on behalf of fellow artist The Weeknd. When The Weeknd received no nominations for his successful After Hours album, 36-year-old Drizzy took to Instagram and wrote, “I think we should stop allowing ourselves to be shocked every year by the disconnect between impactful music and these awards and just accept that what once was the highest form of recognition may no longer matter to the artist that exists now and the ones that come after.”

He continued, “It’s like a relative you keep expecting to fix up, but they just won’t change their ways.”

Drake stressed the need for a new music awards organization.

“The other day, I said @theweeknd was a lock for either album or song of the year, along with countless other reasonable assumptions, and it just never goes that way. This is a great time for somebody to start something new that we can build up over time and pass on to the generations to come,” Drake wrote.

The Weeknd expressed his disappointment as well. He wrote on X, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…”

The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…

— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) November 25, 2020

Canadian-born Drake started withdrawing his submissions from the Grammys after the snubbing of The Weeknd. He also pulled back from the 64th annual awards in 2022 and this year’s awards as well. The next Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 4, 2024.

In addition to his own album, Drizzy has opportunities to be nominated with fellow rapper Travis Scott on his hit “Meltdown” as well as Young Thug’s “Oh U Want,” since both songs have been submitted in the Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance categories. Prior to his boycott, Drake had won a total of five Grammys.

RELATED CONTENT: Drake’s Dad Declares Critics ‘Hater Motherf**kers’ After Album Elicits Harsh Feedback

On Oct. 14, what would have been George Floyd’s 50th birthday, President Joe Biden urged members of Congress to “recommit” to police reform legislation in Floyd’s honor. Biden signed an executive order banning chokeholds not long after Floyd’s death at the hands of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020.

“George Floyd should be alive. He should be celebrating his 50th birthday with his young daughter Gianna, family, and friends. He deserved so much more,” shared Biden in a press statement.

Floyd was killed in Minneapolis by the Chauvin, who knelt on him for over nine minutes. The action prompted Floyd to yell “I can’t breathe” repeatedly as footage of the fatal incident sparked Black Lives Matter protests worldwide.

Floyd’s family received a $27 million settlement in 2021 after filing a wrongful death lawsuit, while Chauvin and three other officers were charged and sentenced for their misdeeds. Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges he was on trial for: second and third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 252 months in prison.

However, justice for George Floyd and those who have been impacted by police brutality continues on. So as to see to it that Floyd’s life and death will never be forgotten, Biden returned the issue to America’s conscience.

“Today, we join his family to honor his life and legacy. And we remember the tragedy and injustice of his death that sparked one of the largest civil rights movements in our nation’s history and inspired the world,” expressed the president. “George Floyd’s murder exposed for many what Black and brown communities have long known and experienced — that our nation has never fully lived up to its highest ideal of fair and impartial justice for all under the law.”

Biden continued to call on Congress to pass legislation that will support agencies at the state and local level to “make policing safer.” Biden emphasized that he will sign any “meaningful” police reform that seeks to earn the trust of communities across the nation.

“Let us recommit to changing hearts and minds while enacting policies and laws that ensure our nation lives up to its founding idea: that we’re all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” Biden said in the statement.

As the fight against police brutality remains prevalent, the remembrance of George Floyd brings the advocacy for justice reform to the forefront.

RELATED CONTENT: Former Minneapolis Cop Involved In George Floyd’s Murder Receives 57-Month Prison Sentence

For some wealthy Tupac and Biggie fans, the chance to own some coveted mugshots of the legendary rappers will be available soon. The photos, never exposed to the public, are expected to go for thousands of dollars at the GottaHaveRockandRoll auction.

TMZ reported the upcoming sale of the exclusive photos at the auction, which is set to be conducted from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10. The mugshots of both rappers are expected to be bought for around $20,000 to $40,000. The image of Tupac’s first arrest was taken with a Polaroid and was never before shown publicly. In addition to his own mugshot, the sale of Biggie’s picture will be accompanied by a thank-you note that includes the “Mo Money Mo Problem” artist’s signature.

However, the mugshots are not the only precious memorabilia being sold—a clear video of Biggie’s final performance in 1996 is up for grabs, too. The video shows the Notorious B.I.G. performing at a show during the Sting Festival in Jamaica on Dec. 26.

The video is especially sentimental to fans, as the 24-year-old died March 9, 1997. The video is estimated to be sold for well over a million dollars.

The hip-hop auction will feature other valuable items, including Biggie’s worn Bad Boy jacket and a signed flyer. Tupac also has a signed letter, known as his “First Friend in England” message, that will be available for bidders as well.

As the newly reopened case on who killed Tupac in 1996 gains traction,  the auction will surely raise attention into the rapper’s death. Recently, a retired Las Vegas detective told a grand jury that the murder of Biggie and Tupac are connected, as also reported by TMZ.

Those wealthy enough to participate in the auction will have the opportunity to own parts of the rappers’ history.

RELATED CONTENT: Tupac Shakur Protégé Claims Tupac Would Want Street Justice For Keefe D, Not Legal Justice