Toni-Michelle Williams Named Grand Marshal of ATL Pride Festival
Toni-Michelle Williams is taking the reins for Atlanta’s 2023 Pride Festival.
The executive director of SnapCo, an alternative justice organization led by Black trans people, has been selected as one of the grand marshals for the equality event, to be held Oct.14 and 15.
SnapCo, officially known as Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative, is dedicated to keeping Atlanta safe and developing safer alternatives to police interference for all its residents. Williams has been a founding member since the organization’s 2015 establishment.
The social justice organization is encouraging its “mafia” to join the march and be part of the cause to promote equality in all forms.
As grand marshal, activist Williams will help lead the march during the two-day festivities.
“For me, being chosen as a Grand Marshal is more than an honor; it’s a reminder of the power of resilience and unity,” Williams said. “Atlanta Pride represents our unwavering commitment to creating a safer, more inclusive Atlanta. Together, we’re turning dreams into realities, showing up and showing out one fabulous step at a time.”
The community leader was selected out of more than 50 nominees.
“Toni-Michelle embodies those attributes in her tireless commitment to giving voice to Black, Trans and Queer communities,” shared Steven Igarashi-Ball, director of equity & engagement for Atlanta Pride. “Year-round, she is always willing to ‘Show Up & Show Out’ in an effort to advance social justice and equality. Our community is fortunate to have her leadership and advocacy.”
The celebration of this inclusive community will be accompanied by performances from queer artists such as Saucy Santana. Williams’ participation in this year’s festival seeks to only spread more awareness of the work she is doing for the betterment of Atlanta.
‘Daddy Was A Number Runner’ Author Louise Meriwether Dies At 100
Activist and author Louise Meriwether has died at 100 years old.
On Tuesday, filmmaker Cheryl Hill revealed that Meriwether’s death was due to natural causes attributed to age, as reported by the Associated Press. Hill, an extended family member of the late activist, shared that Meriwether passed away in Manhattan’s Amsterdam Nursing Home.
The journalist, who was widely known for her 1970 debut novel, Daddy Was a Number Runner, was committed to telling the stories of Black people. The novel details a personal story about life in Harlem, a poor Black community during the 1930s. The story follows 12-year-old Francie Coffin, whose “daddy” becomes a number runner as he tries to find work.
An overview from Barnes & Noble describes the book as a modern classic and “a tough, tender, bitter novel of a Black girl struggling towards womanhood.” A line from the book reads, “We was all poor and Black and apt to stay that way, and that was that.”
The Associated Press reported that hundreds of thousands of copies of Meriwether’s novel, which depicted race, gender, and class during that era in America, were sold. The author was a major contributor to the enlightenment of Black women in literature. In a book review for The New York Times, the influential Black novelist Paule Marshall described Meriwether’s work as “a most important novel.” James Baldwin wrote its foreword.
The New York University graduate majored in English before receiving her master’s degree in journalism from UCLA in her 40s, The Associated Press noted. Meriwether wrote for major publications, including the Los Angeles Times. The notable essayist shared her knowledge as a creative writing teacher with students at Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Houston.
Her position as a story analyst with Universal Studios marked her as one of the few Black women working in Hollywood at the time. Meriwether returned to her childhood grounds in New York and became part of the Harlem Writers Guild.
The journalist was divorced twice, once from Angelo Meriwether and then from Earle Howe. Pushing through tough times landed the novelist prestigious recognitions and honors. In 2016, she was awarded for her literature with a lifetime achievement granted by the Before Columbus Foundation. A Louise Meriwether First Book Prize for “debut women/nonbinary writers of color” was launched by the Feminist Press and TAYO Literary Magazine.
DJ Khaled Boasts Having Best-Selling Jordan Sneaker Release—And He’s Right
DJ Khaled says his We The Best x Air Jordan 5s is the best-selling collaboration sneaker release in the Jordan Brand universe.
Initially offered for $225 through the Nike SNKRS app and at select retailers in November 2022, the sneakers quickly became the subject of sneakerheads’ desires. The charismatic music producer discussed the extraordinary success of his collaboration on Complex’s Sneaker Shopping.
The We The Best 5s, the Jordan 5s, was the biggest release number-wise in Jordan collaboration history,” DJ Khaled proudly revealed.
He encouraged others to research and delve into the figures.
“We’re talking numbers because when I put these [Crimson Bliss] out and the Coconuts, I wanted to make sure we did a worldwide thing. And we did it big,” DJ Khaled continued. His mission was to ensure that this collaboration would go down in history.
The Jordan 5s “Sail Edition” paid homage to Khaled’s hometown of Miami, Florida, with an upper layer crafted from a sleek, milky leather. The midsoles featured vibrant, Miami-esque spring colors, including shades of violet and powder blue, adorned with a splash of yellow.
A luxurious satin inner lining ensured a smooth and comfortable fit, while 3M reflective touches on the tongue and window areas added to the overall allure of these sneakers. They also featured a bold reminder of Khaled’s trademark phrase, “WE THE BEST.”
Reggie Saunders, Jordan’s VP of entertainment marketing, confirmed DJ Khaled’s claims. “Khaled made brand history,” Saunders told Complex in the Sneaker Shopping episode. “This is the largest launch of any collaborator we’ve ever worked with.”
The story doesn’t end there. DJ Khaled hinted at a new sneaker project in the works. He revealed ongoing discussions with Michael Jordan, Saunders, and the Jordan team. However, a release date for this upcoming collaboration remains shrouded in secrecy, keeping sneaker enthusiasts eagerly anticipating what’s to come.
Two Los Angeles Police Department police officers were terminated in 2018 because they reportedly lied to investigators about ignoring a request for backup due to playing the Pokémon Go game in April 2017. Now, dashcam footage from that day has been released for public consumption.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the LAPD released video footage that reveals the action the officers took, or failed to take, when they were summoned to assist a fellow officer.
Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell were fired in 2018 after a disciplinary panel ruled that they broke department policy when they ignored the backup request on a robbery call. According to the Times, the two officers then lied about playing the popular game at the time of the incident when they spoke to supervisors and investigators from Internal Affairs.
Two LAPD officers were fired in 2018 for failing to backup a colleague on a robbery call because they were playing Pokemon Go and for lying about it after the fact.
The incident took place in the Crenshaw area of Los Angeles on April 15, 2017.
The officers could be heard in the video after their police captain requested backup for a robbery in progress call that involved several suspects at the Crenshaw Mall Macy’s department store. Lozano is heard saying “I don’t want to be his help” while they were parked less than 200 yards away, the LAPD said.
After an investigation, the police officers were charged with multiple counts of misconduct, including failing to respond to a robbery call and making misleading statements to department officials.
Lozano and Mitchell pleaded guilty to not responding to the radio call but not guilty to the other counts. Although they denied playing Pokémon Go at the time, they did acknowledge that they’d left their footbeat to find the Snorlax, one of the creatures connected to the game. They also said they did so as part of a “social media event” related to the game, as part of an “extra patrol,” and to “chase this mythical creature,” according to court records.
In closed-door disciplinary hearings, the disciplinary boards ruled unanimously against them. They stated that Mitchell and Lozano were “disingenuous and deceitful in their remarks” to investigators. They also said that the officers playing the game while on duty “violated the trust of the public” and represented “unprofessional and embarrassing behavior,” according to court records.
Carlee Russell, Alabama Woman In Kidnapping Hoax, Found Guilty
Carlee Russell shocked the nation when the widespread search for the Alabama nursing student turned out to be a kidnapping hoax. Now, Russell has been found guilty in the July incident, as a Hoover municipal court judge is not only recommending thousands of dollars in restitution, but potential jail time as well, AL News reported.
Russell’s lawyers argued that the year-long sentence was too harsh for the Class A misdemeanor the woman was found guilty of committing, the outlet reported. Although content with the order to pay more than $18,000 for the wrongdoing, a member of her defense team, Emory Anthony, shared their concerns over placing the first-time offender in jail for it.
“If you can find where someone was put in jail for that, bring the file to me and I’ll look at it,’’ shared the lawyer. “Generally, they’re not put in jail. Restitution, we don’t disagree with that, but to lock her up and put her in jail, we disagree.”
This opposition to the full sentencing terms has led the attorneys on behalf of Ms. Russell to appeal the verdict, who are trying to protect her mental state by avoiding jail at all costs, as she goes through trial.
“We’re dealing with issues with Carlee, and we want the best for Carlee,’’ revealed Anthony. “We realize a mistake was made but we don’t want to just pile on right now.”
Despite insistence from the Attorney General’s office to speak in front of a grand jury, her team declined the offer, as they are also waiting to find out if more charges are will be filed.
Russell made headlines due to her alleged disappearance on July 13, after she called the police to report a child walking alongside the highway, prompting a national search for her. However, upon returning to her family home two days later and originally telling authorities that she was kidnapped, it was later revealed that there was no abduction.
As to why the 26-year-old did it and where she was for the more than 48 hours she was missing, Anthony believes that Russell’s true story will come to light in due time.
Black Texas Teen Sent To Alternative School Because Of Locs
A Black high-schooler in Texas will be removed from his current school and sent to an alternative education program due to his natural hairstyle. The administration believes that the young man’s locs violate the school’s dress code, which is why the high school junior has been suspended since late August.
According to the Associated Press, on Oct. 11, Darryl George was formally removed from Barbers Hills High School and placed in EPIC, alternative education program.
George was informed of the move via letter from the school’s principal, Lance Murphy. The letter explained the student was removed due to his “failure to comply” with the school district’s regulation regarding hairstyles for male students.
George is set to attend EPIC until the end of November, when he will be allowed to return to his original school. However, he may come back earlier if willing to discuss his actions regarding his hair.
The teen’s family maintains that his “violation” is actually a form of discrimination against Black natural hairstyles. They have filed a federal lawsuit, stating that the school’s action toward the high-schooler is not aligned with the newly established CROWN Act, which prohibits hair discrimination.
The CROWN act is not a federal law, but it is the law in Texas, thanks to two students at Barbers Hills High school who were ordered to cut their locs in 2020. Their families’ successful lawsuit against the district ruled the policy as discriminatory. The law was put in place to prevent such discrimination from reoccurring.
Currently, the school insists that their enforcement of a dress code, in which the length of George’s locs falls under, is still in accordance with the legislation. The Barbers Hills School district has also filed a lawsuit in state district court asking a judge for clarification on the matter.
Jeannie Mai Shares ‘Healing’ Post On Instagram After Shocking Jeezy Divorce News
Jeannie Mai is on a journey of self-care after the shocking news that her husband of two years, rapper Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins, has filed for divorce. Mai, who has been silent on social media since the reveal in September, briefly returned to Instagram with a message of healing.
The television personality shared the subtle post to her 3 million followers, with the caption only featuring a black heart emoji.
“Sometimes, you need to take a break and disconnect to heal,” detailed the post, which was written on a note.
According to “Page Six,” the mother of one is “devastated” at the demise of her marriage. The tabloid also claimed that Mai is committed to try and save her family. The couple began seeing each other in 2019 and were married at a ceremony in Atlanta in 2021.
“Even though Jeezy has filed, Jeannie is holding out hope that he would be willing to sit down and works things [out],” a source shared with the news outlet. “She is hoping for a resolution and wants to remain as a united family unit.”
Days before the news broke, Mai released a video of herself and their daughter celebrating the rapper’s new book, Adversity for Sale, making the New York Times Bestsellers list. Within the caption of the video, the 44-year-old expressed how “endlessly grateful” she was for his voice.
As for Jeezy, while he has not made mention of the divorce, he has been active on social media and in real life. Not only is the Atlanta native still promoting his memoir, he is also performing at shows in the midst of his marriage drama.
The Emmy winner, however, remains booked and busy as well. Her latest hosting gig, alongside Damon Wayans Jr., is for the new game show “Raid the Cage,” which is set to premiere Oct. 13 on CBS.
Texas Kindergarten Teacher Resigns After Giving Melatonin Gummies To Students
A kindergarten teacher at Pine Forest Elementary School in Humble, Texas, has resigned after a school investigation revealed that she gave melatonin gummies to special education students without the consent of her students’ parents or guardians.
Humble Independent School District spokesperson Jamie Mount told CNN via email that the district became aware of the unnamed teacher’s distribution of the sleep aid on Sept. 28.
“The teacher’s actions were unacceptable,” Mount said. “We are appalled that the teacher made this decision.”
Results from the district’s investigation found the teacher at fault of giving out the melatonin and “acting on her own and without obtaining parent permission. The teacher also did not notify campus administration nor the nurse.”
Mount told the outlet that the teacher’s resignation was the quickest solution to “separate employment” since “terminating a teacher’s contract can be a longer, drawn-out process.” The school’s principal has notified all parents of the students in the teacher’s classroom of the incident. Police, the State Board for Educator Certification, and Child Protective Services were also notified by the district.
According to ABC 13, a parent of a 5-year-old student who was given the melatonin reported that the school’s principal notified her via phone call. The parent, who noted that her son is nonverbal, shared that the teacher was looking for ways to calm down her son.
“She called me a few times asking, ‘What do you do at home? What do you suggest to calm him down?'” the parent said. “He’s very active, and we sometimes have a hard time getting him to focus back on the task at hand.” The teacher asked if the boy liked gummies.
The parent said the boy came home “completely lethargic, stumbling to get off the bus” on a few occasions. “It’s a breach of trust,” the parent said.
In an overview of working with students with special needs, National University noted that the work environment for special education teachers can be highly stressful as they attend to students with a wide range of personalities and developmental struggles.
“Patience is a virtue,” the university emphasized. “It’s a must.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that melatonin, an over-the-counter sleep aid regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, is used for primary sleep disorders in children. According to ABC 13, the study found possibilities for children to overdose on the dietary supplement. The National Institutes of Health reported that “melatonin is commonly recommended to treat sleep problems in children with developmental disabilities.”
Media Mogul Mona Scott-Young Returns to Film with ‘Love & Murder’ On BET+
Media mogul Mona Scott-Young is back in the film world with her newly produced BET+ original film, Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy.
Starring Taye Diggs, Apryl Jones, and familiar faces from her Love and Hip Hop franchise, the two-part film follows the real-life murder investigation of Lance Herndon, a successful Atlanta businessman renowned for revolutionizing the city’s 911 system and his womanizing ways, who is found murdered in his own home.
The BET+ original film follows who might have wanted Lance dead in an investigation that reveals the truths and suspicions behind his professional and personal life.
The made-for-TV movie was perfect for Scott-Young’s transition into the industry with her Love and Murder film series being made under her production company, Monami Entertainment. The Love & Hip Hop creator saw the script as a “passion thriller” that follows a wild love tryst while also highlighting the gains of a Black tech entrepreneur who served as a pioneer in the field in the 80s and 90s.
“This was a story, and I think it’s played out on some of the crime shows that just checked a bunch of boxes,” Scott-Young tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“This guy was this man whose money made him sexy to a lot of women and he was out there doing his thing.”
She adds, “I think when you look at the circumstances surrounding his life and his death, it just made for a compelling story.”
“And the idea is that hopefully we’re able to do more of these under this ‘Love and Murder’ banner. but this was just a great first story to tell.”
Along with Diggs and Jones, who dated while filming the movie, others on the cast include Keesha Sharp, Ciera Payton, and Ernestine Johnson. Scott-Young applauded Diggs and Jones for remaining professional during filming and not making their budding romance at the time overshadow the moviemaking process.
Making the movie was a labor of love for Scott-Young, who has wanted to make movies for years.
“I hate that it’s taking off at a time of a strike,” Scott-Young says, who started her moviemaking plans coming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the time to dig in and expand the horizons,” she shared. “What do I want to do next and of course scripted was a natural progression.”
Her first film for BET+, B Boy Blues was directed by Jussie Smollet. The pair is also in pre-production on a second film.
After managing some of hip-hop’s biggest acts, including Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes, Scott-Young has been proud seeing how far the music genre has come in its 50 year anniversary.
“It’s been a blessed life,” she says, noting the “major milestones” in recent months with artists: Missy’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Busta receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards in June.
When she isn’t busy producing her hit reality television franchise, Scott-Young is making films and managing artists now that she’s back in the game. She recently took rising rap star Scar Lip under her wing on the encouragement of Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz.
“I’m working with an artist by the name of Scar Lip, who is making her own noise. She’s incredibly talented,” scott-young says.
When it comes to her work in reality television, Scott-Young is no stranger to backlash and strong responses from fans and critics. But it’s criticism she takes in stride as she continues producing quality work that garners reactions from the viewer.
“Anything that elicits a response means that you’re having an impact,” she says. “I take it all. It comes with the territory.”
While talent management, television and film production are at the core of Monami Entertainment’s business, Scott-Young’s background in marketing led her to brand and consumer product development as part owner and chief marketing officer of Myx Fusions, a fruit-infused premium, ready-to-drink moscato beverage that’s been taking the spirits industry by storm.
Despite her packed schedule, Scott-Young has learned the importance of work-life balance and shared how she’s transitioned to a more remote life that includes more time with her family and loved ones. Press play below to hear from the media mogul.
Black-Owned Grocery Store Opens In Indianapolis Food Desert
Indianapolis now has a Black-owned grocery store which was unveiled Sept. 27.
Located on 6160 E. 38th Street near Sheridan Avenue, Indy Fresh Market is located in the middle of a food desert, where residents previously had to shop at convenience shops for their everyday needs due to a scarce number of grocery stores, WISH-TV reports.
That’s all about to change. With the opening of Indy Fresh, Marion County residents will now be able to access healthy and affordable foods without having to travel three miles to the nearest market.
Owners Michael McFarland and Marckus Williams, both Arlington Woods natives, started their business venture two years ago.
“Feeding low-access and low-income citizens is a passion of mine,” Williams toldWISH-TV.
For many residents, the two men are changing lives, but to them, they’re just doing what’s right.
“As a veteran of foreign wars, I have seen hunger and insecurity in many forms, and I will no longer be on the sidelines, especially in my neighborhood,” McFarland said.
Now that their vision has reached fruition, the pair has expressed plans to expand in the near future, all part of a community revitalization initiative led by Cook Medical Group in partnership with Goodwill Commercial Services. The project, called 38th and Sheridan, centers on community engagement and development. According to the Public Policy Institute at Indiana University, the project hopes to economically improve the community without pushing out its existing residents. The Indy Fresh Market is set to have a substantial economic impact upward of $4 million in wages, according to Cook’s predictions.
Open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., the new market offers the convenience of long operation hours, home delivery, and in-store pick-up options. Indy Fresh Market will hold its official grand opening ceremony later this month, on Oct. 24 at 11:00 a.m.
