Forget The Hairdo, Jimmy Butler Wants Wants To Be A Country Music Star
The NBA season is approaching, and the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler has kept his name in media publications and social media. After appearing at the Heat’s opening media session earlier this week with a new hairstyle that had the NBA world talking, he also recently revealed that he may try to join other athletes with dual careers.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, “Jimmy Buckets” told the media outlet that he surprisingly loves country music and has recorded songs that he is ready to release to the world. He states that he has already recorded 45 songs and has worked with “some real artists and songwriters.”
“I don’t want to tell anyone who I’ve been writing with because then it’ll ruin the surprise. Now, I’m in the lab writing and producing country music. We got some real artists and songwriters. We probably got around 45 tracks right now, and I hope to go write some more. Maybe a week before training camp, I’ll get down and do some,” he said.
He added that an album is coming, saying, “There’s definitely going to be an album. That’s the goal. I just don’t know when. The date I want to do it always gets pushed back because this other job that I have, playing basketball, kind of overshadows everything. [Laughs] And maybe some of the songs will be down the line for my second or third album. I can’t wait to get it to the people.”
Butler also stated that he is friends with Morgan Wallen, a. country music artist who was mired in controversy when he was seen and heard on video spewing out the N-word, which caused controversy among music lovers and Black people. Bulter said it didn’t bother him and that Wallen simply “made a mistake.”
“Wasn’t no controversy for me. I don’t even know what happened. I heard about it. I didn’t see the video. I didn’t look much into it, and I’m not going to look much into it. I don’t think he’s a bad human being in any way, shape or form,” said the NBA star.
“He is a friend of mine, and I don’t know what happened. Obviously, it was a mistake; I think he learned from it, I think he knows better, and I don’t know what was said and in what context, but I think he’s an incredible human being who made a mistake,” he added.
In fact, Butler said he wants to perform on stage with Wallen, even if it’s just one line, and if he is given the opportunity, he says he wants to sing just one line of Wallen’s song “’98 Braves.”
Social Media Gives Side Eyes To GoFundMe Started To Mourn The Death Of Ryan Carson
Daily Mail reports that the “working class” friends of late activist Ryan Carson started a GoFundMe so they can grieve properly.
Social media called his friends out for their insensitive wording, one user pointed out the money was for the friends and not a funeral. “This is incredible. I heard about the Ryan Carson GoFundMe and assumed it was for funeral costs. Nope,” @MattWalshBlog wrote. “His friends are raising money for themselves.”
This is incredible. I heard about the Ryan Carson GoFundMe and assumed it was for funeral costs. Nope. His friends are raising money for themselves. https://t.co/PhU87oZpiA
Another user called the fundraising plot “cringe.” “This is next level cringe. RyanCarson‘s friends setup a gofundme to enrich themselves because their “immediate needs are to offset the costs of working class people taking time off of work to properly mourn,” the user said. “Wow!”
This is next level cringe. Ryan Carson’s friends setup a gofundme to enrich themselves because their “immediate needs are to offset the costs of working class people taking time off of work to properly mourn.” Wow! #RyanCarsonhttps://t.co/mBFc3RgUDEpic.twitter.com/ImfDoi47TW
Describing the collective as “working class,” the fundraiser has raised over $70,000 to date on behalf of Carson’s mourning girlfriend, Claudia Morales. While most GoFundMe campaigns show a need for funeral costs or money for the victim’s family, this one has been listed to “offset the costs of working class people taking time off of work to properly mourn.”
With the help of kind strangers, the victim’s friends can have “space and time to grieve.”
In real life, Brooklyn has been mourning the loss. According to Brooklyn Paper, over 100 friends and family gathered at Brooklyn’s Herbert Von King Park with candles to remember him hours after the attack. As an environmental advocate, friends remembered him as a “beloved” friend and mentor. Lawmakers and colleagues familiar with his work took to social media to express the depth of his loss. Sen. Julia Salazar said his passion was apparent in everything he did. “I learned a lot from Ryan in a short time. I’m better for having known him, as so many of us are,” Salazar said.
“Let us dedicate ourselves to continuing his life’s work, cut short far too soon: to harm reduction; to humane drug policy; to creating a more caring society for all of us.”
Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher told CBS that Carson was always willing to talk. “It’s hard when the person that you go to to talk about grief is the one who died.”
Women Are Being Attacked At Alarming Rates In NYC, Evident In Disturbing TikTok Videos
An alarming number of videos have surfaced on TikTok about attacks on women in New York City.
The New York Police Department has reported that random men in NYC have been accused of multiple violent acts, such as groping and, in once instance, making an anti-gay remark to a woman waiting for the J train, before hitting her and breaking her nose.
In another case, a man allegedly choked and punched a woman on the Q train who would not talk to him. A 13-year-old was also punched in the head while riding a Bronx bus.
A video was posted to TikTok in reference to three young women who were randomly attacked on the streets of New York, according to Patch. All three women took to social media to share their stories of being punched in the face by men on Manhattan streets and in the subways.
Ellio Wagner, a 19-year-old college student, went viral after she recounted her attack on TikTok when she says a man randomly punched her in the face and ran away. This occurred near West 26th Street and Sixth Avenue.
“I wanted to talk about this, because this situation really shook me up,” Wagner said. “It was very traumatic and it makes me very scared to be walking around New York alone, which is not something I’ve really been scared of.”
“If you are a woman in New York City, please protect yourself,” she added.
User Cosette Richardson posted a video with detailed information about another attack confirmed by the NYPD. The Sept. 10th incident involved a 27-year-old woman who was waiting for an F train in the West Fourth Street station. The attack left her with a bloody nose, for which she received treatment at Bellevue Hospital. The man escaped and has yet to be identified.
“I don’t know what the hell is happening in the city, why there’s so much hate and violence,” she said.
“It’s because of lack of safety, lack of not having the right people there around us to take care of us when we need them,” Elizabeth Gomes, who lost her eye after she was attacked in a Queens subway station by a “career criminal” last September, told Fox News in April.
An NYC man pummeled a woman in a subway station.
The man had 7 prior arrests and killed his grandmother in the 1990s.
Patch reported that human rights advocates say the egregious acts of violence faced by women is a shared experience across the world – not just in NYC. Kathryn Travers, a policy specialist on ending violence against women with UN Women, expressed the various ways sexual harassment may present itself, such as catcalls and physical attacks, which shape the way women go about their daily lives.
“These are all very much guided by what we call a ‘sense of safety,’ really how safe do you feel in public spaces, which is directly linked to these experiences of sexual harassment that women face all over the world,” Travers said, according to Patch. Travers believes there needs to be social change and a shift in the culture where attacks toward women are unacceptable and seen as a violation of women’s human rights.
C-Suite Lessons From Kickstarter’s New CFO, Sindy Wilson
In July 2023, Kickstarter appointed Sindy Wilson as its new chief financial officer. This move made her the first Black woman in the company’s C-suite history. With 20 years of experience as a finance professional where only 5% of her peers are Black, Wilson has carved out an inspiring career path rivaled by few.
When Kickstarter launched in 2009, it immediately became a way to even the playing field for entrepreneurs and anyone with a vision who needed money to help make their dreams materialize but could not procure funds.
For Black and Brown founders, the platform was a one-stop shop for connecting to target audiences directly as well as subverting the often discriminatory avenues of investment in which their white peers often found success. However, at the executive level, the company still resembled other public corporations’ all too familiar look: overwhelmingly male and disappointingly non-Black.
But now it seems the company is moving toward change.
Before Wilson’s historic appointment, Kickstarter announced Everette Taylor as its new chief executive officer in 2022. With a Black man and a Black woman in two of the company’s most coveted positions, a new dawn has come for Kickstarter.
BLACK ENTERPRISE met Wilson to talk about journeying in uncharted waters, what she believes leads to success, and why she chose to join the Kickstarter team.
BLACK ENTERPRISE: What was your journey to the role of CFO for a major company?
Sindy Wilson: “I had a pretty traditional path, honestly. I knew pretty early on that numbers would be part of what I did in my career. I always had aptitude there. My career went up that trek. I went to B [business] school, I worked in finance consulting, and then worked my way up as a financial analyst through the ranks of various companies.”
BE: What drew you to Kickstarter?
SW: “I’ve worked with a lot of large companies whose missions and values centered around primarily capitalistic growth. It’s just, ‘We’re going to serve this gap in the market, and we’re going to put all of our resources at the expense of people.’ And sometimes, it’s even at the expense of the customer. I knew that at this stage of my career, I wanted what I loved to do to be married to a company that has a mission that I love. And Kickstarter’s ability to help people bring their creative passions and ideas to serve their communities to life let me know that this was the place I wanted to be.”
BE: Kickstarter has been a great resource for Black creatives, brands, and entrepreneurs to raise capital outside of traditional sources. What do you attribute that accessibility to?
SW: “The traditional routes of funding are banks and VCs. They determine who they’re going to give their money to by looking at total addressable markets as well as what the return on that will be. A lot of times with Black and Brown communities, they [investors] look at that as “niche.” Kickstarter stands out as a resource because it’s the passion, needs, and expressions of your communities that come to back you and help you get access to the capital you need. One, they understand the need, and two, they understand that you represent the expression they want to see in the world. Kickstarter’s secret sauce is that it helps you connect with your community. With Black and Brown people, the original businesses relied on their communities to support them. That same ecosystem is the ecosystem that Kickstarter is bringing.”
BE: In talking about community, as a Black woman with your title, what does your community look like? How are you able to be supported at the C-suite level?
SW: “In the role I’m in as CFO, I need to have community. That starts with a couple of things. The first thing is making sure you’re connected with all the resources, not just from other CFOs but anything related to what I do at the company. Are there new systems? New tools? You need always to be sharpening your skills, and having mentors, both internal to your company and external, helps with that. I am a part of several CFO groups and forums that can help me with any issues I need to work through. We have to work together as a network to ensure we’re showing up with a full scope of considerations for the companies we are CFOs for. We help one another do that.”
BE: When mentoring the next generation of those wanting to break into the C-suite, what have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned on your journey?
SW: “First, no matter where you are, you always need to make sure that you’re in the right culture—a culture where people give feedback and a culture where people give sponsorship. As a Black woman, I talk about this concept of intersectionality. I am a woman. I am Black. I am African. And I am going to communicate from a place different from the environment I am entering. I’m Nigerian, so we can be real direct. And that may not work in some places. You need someone in the room with you who can say, ‘Hey, that seemed really direct’ and give you valuable feedback.
As opposed to times when people will remain silent, and that ultimately impairs your success. The second thing is you need an advocate. There will be rooms that you’re just not in. That goes all the way up to the CEO, sometimes. There may be conversations at the board level that you may not be part of. You have to make sure every step of the way that you have advocates that can contribute to your growth and keep you informed. If you’re in a culture or at a company where you don’t have those two, it’s going to be really difficult to be successful.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you have to be authentically you. If you’re twisting yourself into something you’re not in order to fit in somewhere, you’re not going to be confident because you’ll always be second-guessing yourself. In addition to that, you won’t be seen as genuine. When you lead people, you have to lead from a place of confidence. People want to be connected to someone who is genuine, and they can’t trust you if they cannot connect to you. And if they can’t trust you, you cannot lead them.”
5 ‘Fingers’ Robot Shows Promising Results For Breast Cancer Detection
In a recent breakthrough coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the University of Bristol has introduced a robot designed to conduct breast lump examinations. Equipped with five silicone levers comparable to human fingers, the robot can detect abnormalities in a woman’s breast that warrant further review.
While the awareness campaign is especially highlighted every October, the push to get women to monitor their breast area regularly remains ongoing. The introduction of the robot would not only help promote this message but make it easier for women who often forget or feel unsure of what to look for exactly.
This advanced technology, however, is still in the early stages of development as part of project ARTEMIS, funded by Cancer Research UK. The scientists behind the project aim to have women be test participants for the robot’s accurate application within the next three years. If the robot proves efficient, its incorporation into stores and other facilities globally would be the ideal rollout.
“If this robot is found in further trials to be useful, we would aim to see it in shopping centers, pharmacists, and health centers, so women could pop in and get a rapid breast check,” shared George Jenkinson, an engineer on the project.
Currently, the robot has been tested using breast-like silicone objects to ensure they can cover the entirety of a woman’s bosom. It detects lumps within 10 minutes that are deeper within the skin’s surface than normally felt in an average human screening. The cost of creating the mechanical device is also a positive, only costing 200 euros ($210) to produce, with additional plans to make the test even quicker.
The robot’s implementation globally would potentially aid more disproportionately affected groups, such as Black women, in identifying their risk earlier. More aggressive forms of the disease are primarily found in Black female patients, as this year’s advocacy continues to promote equity in its awareness.
While its results are promising, human testing is still needed to ensure its viability for widespread use. Still, it remains an optimal source for a stand-alone device to promote more frequent breast cancer check-ups.
Nationwide — Terysa Ridgeway, a pioneering African-American computer scientist and celebrated children’s book author, is on a mission to ignite a passion for coding among children worldwide. With an impressive track record as a Technical Program Manager at Google and the creator of the popular Terysa Solves It book series, Terysa is now introducing an innovative educational toy robot aimed at teaching kids foundational coding skills and problem-solving techniques.
Titled “Terysa Solves It presents Alilo The Explorer,” this captivating toy robot bridges the gap between learning and play. Designed for children aged 3 and above, Alilo The Explorer helps young minds develop critical thinking and algorithmic programming skills. The unique aspect of the product lies in its versatility, offering both “plugged” and “unplugged” activities. Children can interact with the robot by programming it through an exclusive app, using the included floor puzzle pieces, or employing the directional buttons on the robot itself.
The inspiration behind Alilo The Explorer emerged from a direct request from children and parents who were captivated by Terysa Ridgeway’s earlier works, including her debut book “Think Like A Computer.” Parents were eager to find engaging and educational ways to extend the impact of storytime, leading Ridgeway to collaborate with Alilo, a prominent edutainment toy brand. This partnership has brought to life a learning tool that combines entertainment with technology, fostering creativity and imagination.
In Terysa’s own words, “Teaching children to code is like giving them a superpower: it unlocks endless possibilities and creativity. With the release of Terysa Solves It presents Alilo The Explorer, I hope to further inspire a new generation of young coders and show them just how exciting and fun the world of programming can be.”
Terysa’s journey from a rocket scientist developing code for Exoatmospheric Spacecraft to her current role at Google has been marked by her unyielding commitment to encouraging diversity and representation in STEM fields. Holding degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Southern University and A&M College, as well as completing Stanford University’s LEAD Executive Education program, Ridgeway’s remarkable accomplishments are emblematic of her dedication to inspiring young minds.
The success of Terysa Solves It book series underscores Ridgeway’s ability to communicate complex concepts in an accessible and creative manner. Her innovative approach not only engages young readers but also addresses the critical need to increase the participation of girls in STEM. Through her stories, Ridgeway showcases the untapped potential within aspiring young girls who aspire to become computer scientists.
For more information about Terysa Ridgeway and her mission to inspire young coders, please visit the official website at TerysaSolvesIt.com
About
Terysa Ridgeway is a distinguished computer scientist, children’s book author, and Technical Program Manager at Google. With a background in rocket science and a deep commitment to promoting diversity in STEM, Ridgeway’s work has earned her recognition and respect within the industry. Her Terysa Solves It book series and Alilo The Explorer toy robot exemplify her passion for inspiring young minds to embrace the world of coding and
problem-solving.
Nationwide — Cameron Davis is a 17-year-old high school senior from Los Angeles, California. She is an honor student at Brentwood School and has committed her time to helping the unhoused community in the city“I’ve been volunteering to help feed the unhoused community since I was very young,” Cameron tells us. “When I was 9 years old, I was crowned Little Miss California and I chose poverty alleviation as my community service platform. Los Angeles has one of the largest homeless populations in the United States and it is impossible to ignore this humanitarian crisis.”
Cameron first started volunteering with My Friends Place serving food on Skid Row. Throughout the years as well as during the pandemic she has also created meals and hygiene kits for the Hollywood Food Coalition and Midnight Mission. All her many hours of dedication and volunteer work have earned her the Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Growing up in a single-parent household she learned to cook and enjoys sharing her meals with those in need. Her favorite recipes are often the ones she finds on TikTok.
During her time working with different organizations, she discovered that there were other ways that she could give back. Jeans were often listed as an item that was in need since they are durable, unisex, and can be worn in all seasons. “Every fall my friends have the privilege to go Back to School shopping with their parents for brand new clothes. I wanted to help teenagers experiencing homelessness feel less stigmatized at school.” Her nonprofit Jeans for Teens collects new and lightly used denim jeans for homeless youth in the Los Angeles area.
She has collected hundreds of pairs of jeans since starting Jeans for Teens three years ago and she gets more donations every year.
“Now that I have my driver’s license, I can get to more community fridges,” he comments. Cameron also donates bottled water and Gatorade to the various community fridges around town.
Community fridges are refrigerators, run by a small business or neighborhood. Volunteers work to keep them stocked with snacks, drinks, and individually packaged fruits and vegetables. And it’s all free for anyone in the community to enjoy.
“This helps tremendously during extreme heat waves and helps keep unhoused individuals hydrated and prevents them from getting heat stroke.”
“Some people cast judgment and view the homeless as lazy or as a nuisance. But it’s extremely important for people to understand that homelessness is a complex issue with multiple causes including mental health, lack of affordable housing, substance abuse, domestic violence, and more.”
Cameron says, “I know that I alone am unable to solve this issue. But I believe that housing is a human right and if each of us does one small thing we can, at the very least make a difference in a person’s mindset and give them the faith to carry on until they ultimately find a place, they can call home.”
For more information, please email JeansForTeensLA@gmail.com
Teen In Tears After Being Arrested And Charged For Stabbing Community Activist
On Oct. 3, activist Ryan Carson was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack while walking down the street with his girlfriend.
Brooklyn teenager Brian Dowling is alleged to be responsible for Carson’s death. The suspect was arrested and pictured crying as he was escorted from the police precinct after being charged with the deadly attack.
According to The New York Post, Dowling was seen in hand and ankle cuffs at the 81st Precinct in Bedford–Stuyvesant after police officers charged the 18-year-old with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Investigators went to his apartment and found a knife and a sweatshirt that matched the one he allegedly wore on Oct. 3.
Dowling was apprehended by police officers at his residence on Lafayette Avenue near Malcolm X Boulevard.
Carson was attacked and killed several days before what would have been his 32nd birthday on Oct. 6.
The New York Post shared surveillance footage that captured the alleged attack on Carson, who jumped between the suspect and his girlfriend when Dowling approached them. The couple were heading back home from a wedding they attended on Long Island. Carson was a campaign organizer for the New York Public Interest Research Group.
The video shows Carson being stabbed three times and his girlfriend being spit on. Police said Dowling may have just fought with a woman friends said was his twin sister before the incident. Before the stabbing, he was seen kicking and damaging mopeds and scooters parked on the sidewalk. As he was doing that, he allegedly turned to Carson and said, “What the f**k are you looking at?”
Carson’s father, Ken, took to his Facebook page the morning of Oct. 5 to inform friends and family that Dowling was captured.
“Assailant has been caught,” before he added another statement, “More details will follow.”
With host Ebro Darden, the “Biggest Boss” discussed how he took charge as the oldest of the two after drugs led to medical complications that Ross wrote about on his 10th studio album, Port of Miami 2.
“That being little bro, it could be something that you walk into the studio, you walk into your homie, and you see your homie not all the way on his A game,” Ross said. “That’s one of the things that me and Meek most definitely had conversations about — vice versa, though.”
The Miami native shared that he used codeine—a medicine used to manage chronic pain, according to the National Library of Medicine—and admitted to mixing it to create a drink known as “lean.” Ross mentioned how he would have studio sessions with Mill and saw him dipping into similar habits, making him want to change.
“Me drinking lean at a time and now, I’m taking medication two times a day because of this. And then you walk into a session, you see your little bro, ‘Aye man, we gotta tighten up on this sh*t,’” Ross said.
“It’s a lot of different ways we can have issues or back and forth, but we always got the money.”
While promoting their new single, “SHAQ & KOBE,” Mill reminisced on his heavy use of lean at the beginning of his career. After Ebro hyped up his weight loss, he thanked his 2019 prison stint for helping him kick the habit, suffering from severe withdrawals.
“My stomach was bent over for like a year-and-a-half,” the Dreamchasers executive said. “I came home, 2019, I couldn’t smoke weed or really drink liquor like that. Before 2019, I was off the lean and all that. I changed my lifestyle — well, I thought I changed.”
Drug abuse has been prominent in the hip-hop community for years, fueling industry leaders like Master P to become advocates against drugs substance abuse. His daughter, Tytyana Miller, died in 2022 from an alleged overdose.
In a transformative move to bolster economic opportunities for Black entrepreneurs, the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) proudly announces an $800,000 grant from Walmart, facilitated by the Walmart Center for Racial Equity. This collaboration between RICE and Walmart aims to advance economic mobility for Black entrepreneurs in Atlanta and throughout the nation.
Monique Carswell, director of Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity, expressed her enthusiasm about this partnership via email, highlighting RICE’s consistent dedication to nurturing Black businesses.
“Through the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation support initiatives that aim to address equity—including the wealth gap. The $800,000 grant from Walmart will help the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs invest in businesses that have been under-resourced and underfunded, which, in turn, can lift up the historically disadvantaged communities they serve. This work aims to create a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem not only in Atlanta but across the nation.”
The grant supports the recently launched PayPal Retail Academy by RICE, a groundbreaking initiative educating entrepreneurs on the intricacies of starting and expanding a retail business.
To mark this partnership, Walmart presented the grant at a special event hosted at the Russell Center headquarters in Atlanta on Oct. 2. The event promised an engaging lineup, including panel discussions, mentorship sessions, and entertainment, showcasing the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of Atlanta.
A unique feature of the event was the “Walmart: Made Local” trailer tour, celebrating Walmart’s $350 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing over the past decade. This initiative offers small business owners an opportunity to pitch products for space on Walmart or Sam’s Club shelves and Walmart.com.
Jay Bailey, CEO of RICE, emphasized the significance of this grant, seeing it as a significant step toward its mission of fostering Black businesses.
“The ripple effect of this grant is what it is all about,” Bailey told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“We are looking at companies who are doing better, creating better products, gaining greater distribution, creating jobs and increasing wealth. The partnership is specifically about developing a world-class platform to grow businesses in the retail space, and in this case, consumer products.”
This collaboration underscores its shared commitment with Walmart to promote equity through economic mobility, shaping the future of Black entrepreneurship.
We believe the next generation of great products that deserve to be on our shelves come from the innovative entrepreneurs and small businesses in our own communities,” Mark Espinoza, senior director of Walmart Public Affairs, told BE.
He emphasized Walmart’s commitment to supplier diversity, inclusion, and strengthening U.S. manufacturing pipelines, highlighting the company’s deep ties with local communities.
Espinoza added: “Open Call, as well as our collaboration with RICE, are symbols of Walmart’s deep commitment to fostering supplier diversity, inclusion, and strengthening U.S. manufacturing pipelines.”
