Meek Mill and Rick Ross
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 6, 2023

Rick Ross And Meek Mill Helped Each Other Through Substance Abuse

During an episode of Apple Music’s Rap Life, music artists and executives Meek Mill and Rick Ross opened up about how they helped each other through substance abuse, Vibe reports.

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.”

According to XXL, Ross has to take a special medication due to his heavy use of lean in the past.

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.

RELATED CONTENT: Rick Ross Spends $100M In Six Months And Still Claims He’s Frugal

RICE, entrepreneurship, walmart, diversity and inclusion, atlanta, economic empowerrment
by Daron Pressley

October 5, 2023

Walmart Empowers Black Entrepreneurs Nationwide

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.”

RELATED CONTENT: Get Into This: Walmart To Hold Annual ‘Open Call’ For Entrepreneurs

Roy Wood, Jr.
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 5, 2023

Roy Wood, Jr. Closes The Curtain On ‘The Daily Show’ After 8 Years

After eight years, NPR reports, comedian Roy Wood, Jr. is saying goodbye to Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.

The correspondent position, which he has held since 2015, will be vacant for the time being as Wood took to Twitter to announce his brave decision, using a quote from Doug Herzog.

“You don’t own these jobs. You rent them,” he wrote.

Wood said he doesn’t know if his name was considered for the host job after Trevor Noah’s departure, but fans feel he is better off without it. Academy Award-winning director Matthew A. Cherry took to social media to share his thoughts on the comedian’s brave exit.

Singer and songwriter Novias Wright tweeted that he isn’t surprised by the show not hiring Wood on the spot.

Earlier in 2023, fellow former correspondent Hasan Minhaj was rumored to be a leading candidate for the position after Noah parted ways with the desk. But Wood made impressionable marks during his stint as the show’s guest host, bringing in the second-best ratings of the show’s first 11 guest hosts, according to Comedy Central—beating out Minhaj. Regardless, Wood felt that’s who they wanted.

“I think Hasan checks a lot of boxes that the network would want and people would want,” the comedian said. “Hasan’s young, he’s global, and he has the political I.Q.”

The comedian has already alerted the network of this departure. In a brief statement, Comedy Central wished their former employee nothing but the best. “Roy Wood Jr. is a comedic genius and beloved teammate,” the statement read. “His insights and hilarity helped us make sense of the 2016 election, the pandemic, and countless hours of Fox News. We thank him for his time with us and can’t wait to see what he does next.”

According to sources from TMZ, network executives have mentioned Wood being the new face of the show but were worried he may leave due to him being in high demand over the years.

Drowning, Jessica Weaver
by Stacy Jackson

October 5, 2023

Mother Arrested After Filing Million-Dollar Lawsuit In Connection To Drowning of 3-Year-Old Son

A 35-year-old mother was arrested in connection with her son’s drowning—in what her attorney called retaliation—after she filed a million-dollar lawsuit against Camp Cohen Water Park and the City of El Paso in Texas.

The woman, identified as Jessica Weaver, was taken into custody in September and faces a charge of injury to a child by omission for the death of her three-year-old son, Anthony Malave, People reported.

Weaver’s attorney, Ryan MacLeod, suggested to the outlet that the mother was arrested in retaliation after she filed a $1 million lawsuit against the City of El Paso for negligence and wrongful death.

Weaver alleged that at the time of her son’s drowning, the water park was “severely understaffed and that the few lifeguards on duty were undertrained and had no idea what they were doing,” People reported. Supposedly, there was no footage to prove or deny that the mother’s allegations were true.

The outlet obtained the lawsuit, saying, “Conveniently, the video footage – which Defendant City of El Paso was responsible for maintaining – was destroyed.”

According to People, witnesses gave different accounts of the young boy’s drowning. Someone who fits Weaver’s description wasn’t paying attention to the child when the tragedy happened. In a police complaint affidavit obtained by People, the witness said Weaver was “by herself on her phone, never looking up or paying attention to anything.”

Someone else said, “Seeing the mother singing along to a song that was playing and she was laying down, looking at her phone approximately seven minutes before the child/victim was getting pulled out of the water.” A third witness recalled seeing the child without any kind of flotation devices was “strange.”

According to the outlet, the affidavit added that “numerous life vests available for those in attendance,” which was around 466 people.

The young child drowned around 5 p.m. on May 13. The parent and child were at the water park for a soft opening.

The World Health Organization reported that drowning is the third-leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide.

Marshall Lynch, Russell Wilson
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 5, 2023

Marshawn Lynch Gives Photographic Reaction When Asked About Relationship With Russell Wilson

Former NFL player Marshall Lynch was considered one of the greats when he was the starting running back for the Seattle Seahawks. In 2014, he helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII, playing alongside quarterback Russell Wilson. On a recent episode of Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay, he told the former Undisputed co-host about his nonexistent relationship with Wilson.

Although they played well together on the gridiron, they hardly spoke off the field. Lynch, known for his explosive play as a running back and his fiery attitude, was the exact opposite of the cool and calm, non-confrontational Wilson. Sharpe asked Lynch about how they got along as teammates. Lynch’s reaction was classic, as he stared at Sharpe and gave him a stoic look.

Lynch told Sharpe, “I respect Russell as a player and a teammate. Anything I say because of the situation throwing a pick on the goal line, not giving me the ball, him leaving from Seattle … anything I can say is going to come off as malice or as if I’m a hater.”

“I’ll take Russ and I’ll put him right there at quarterback and I’ll rock with him because I’ve done that.”

He goes on to explain that he doesn’t even have Wilson’s phone number.

“As far as anything else … Can’t pick up the phone and call old boy or nothing … I don’t got his number.”

He then tells Sharpe that Wilson wasn’t really rocking with him, even when it came to football-related issues. After one game against the Tennessee Titans when Lynch scored two touchdowns, and Wilson didn’t have a great game, he reached out to the quarterback to check on him. After getting his number from a Seahawks staff member, Lynch called Wilson only to have him tell him he’d call him back. When Wilson did call back, he called from a blocked number.

Lynch felt that although he tried to be a better teammate to his quarterback, after that conversation, when they finally did speak, it didn’t matter to him anymore if they spoke again.

It’s fair to say that the two men haven’t spoken to each other in a while and Lynch seems like he is cool with that.

Rep. Brett Guthrie, slavery, slave owners, ancestors
by Atiya Jordan

October 5, 2023

DEI Exec Learns Her Ancestors Were Enslaved By Congressman Brett Guthrie’s Ancestors

“Keep in touch with family,” read a letter written by Lacretia Johnson Flash’s late mother. “You may want to go back to Tennessee?”

Nearly 22 years later, Flash, senior vice president for DEI, community, campus culture, and climate at Berklee College of Music, discovered an intriguing story about her ancestry. She hails from an ambitious line of ancestors who had risen from slavery in middle Tennessee to become some of the first Black landowners in Perry County. But lo and behold, U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky is a direct descendant of the people who enslaved Flash’s ancestors.

Guthrie has been representing Kentucky’s 2nd congressional district since 2009 and is now a senior House Energy and Commerce Committee member.

Reuters examined connections between two of Guthrie’s ancestors to uncover the truth as part of a bigger initiative to trace the lineages of more than 600 of the country’s leading officeholders. Reporters found that Flash’s great-great-grandfather was enslaved by one of the congressman’s ancestors and the other her great-great-grandmother.

During a trip to Tennessee, Flash visited with Helen Craig Smith, her mother’s cousin. Smith is the author of Numbers: An Abridged Enumeration of the Peoples of Color of Perry County, Tennessee, 1865-2000, which detailed the history of nearly every Black resident in the county.

Flash’s ancestors, husband and wife Tapp Craig and Amy Guthrie, were the names that emerged out of hundreds of pages of historical records. They had assumed the surnames of their enslavers, farmers Andrew Craig and Andrew H. Guthrie. These men were considered among the wealthiest 2% of men in America, according to the 1860 census.

“There can be a sense of shame at privilege,” Flash told NBC News. But she doesn’t blame today’s Guthries for their ancestors’ choices.

“I don’t have a desire for anyone to feel guilty for actions of others in the past,” she added. “Conversations about race might leave a scar, but they will also help us heal.”

By 1871, after devoting years to tenant farming, Tapp and Amy had enough earnings for a down payment for about 90 acres along a tributary of the Tennessee River known as Lick Creek. A white neighbor previously owned the land best suited for harvesting timber.

Buying land was another opportunity for Tapp, Amy, and other Black families to help close the educational gap. According to Perry County Historical Society records fewer than half the county’s Black children went to school as of 1885. For whites, the number was 90%. In response, Tapp built a school that doubled as a church. The land was used not only to help Tapp and Amy advance but also to help others.

RELATED CONTENT: For America’s Political Elite, Family Links to Slavery Abound

 

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 5, 2023

Nickelodeon Taps Kid Actors To Play DJ Khaled, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, And Future In Music Video

DJ Khaled teamed up with Nickelodeon to cast kid actors and premiere his latest music video.

On Thursday, October 4, Nickelodeon premiered the Kidz Bop-inspired video for DJ Khaled’s track “Supposed to Be Loved,” featuring rappers Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, and Future. The hip-hop heavyweights took a break from filming the visuals to let a group of child actors steal the spotlight.

The video opens with Julian Shapiro-Barnum interviewing the kid version of Khaled, who won’t reveal who his crush is. The camera then shows a group shot of all four child actors playing young versions of Khaled, Lil Baby, Future, and Uzi.

The Nickelodeon visuals remain lighthearted as shots showed the little version of Lil Baby taking a girl out for juice, nuggets, and fries, the child version of Future surprising his girl with a pet tiger, and the kid version of Lil Uzi trimming a hedge into the shape of a dog.

The video ends with Shapiro-Barnum interviewing the Nickelodeon kid actors about “what love means to them.” The single is part of Khaled’s forthcoming 14th album, Til Next Time.

The Grammy-winning producer has yet to reveal the release date for his new album, but did release a four-minute-long teaser trailer in August announcing its arrival.

“Success ain’t easy, you gotta want it. You gotta want it so bad that you’re willing to put everything on the line, even if you gotta risk your own life,” he said in the Scarface-inspired visuals. “That’s how bad you gotta want it. Forget just wanting it — you gotta work.”

“You gotta be willing to out-work everybody, especially the ones that’s standing in your way. Man, it’s hard,” he continued. “This sh*t hard. You think this sh*t is easy? I just make it look easy. I’m that great. In the meantime, Til Next Time.”

Related: DJ KHALED TO OPEN FOR BEYONCÉ IN LOS ANGELES LEG OF RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR

Senegal Seeks Regulation Deal With TIk Tok After Ban
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 5, 2023

Senegal Seeks Regulation Deal With TIk Tok After Ban

*Originally Published By Reuters.com 

DAKAR, Oct 5 (Reuters) – Senegalese authorities on Thursday refused to lift a ban on social media app TikTok as they demanded that the company sign an agreement that would allow the creation of a mechanism to remove accounts.

“For the time being, the restriction is being maintained pending the conclusion of a comprehensive written agreement,” communications minister Moussa Bocar Thiam told a press conference, adding that authorities were in discussions with TikTok.

Authorities blocked access to TikTok in August following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, saying the platform was being used to distribute “hateful and subversive messages” that were threatening the stability of the country.

A power struggle between Sonko, the Pastef party leader, and President Macky Sall led to violent demonstrations in June and damaged Senegal’s reputation as the most stable democracy in West Africa.

During its discussions with TikTok, the government requested better regulation of the platform and asked questions about the functioning of its algorithm and data protection.

It also asked for fair remuneration for content creators that would enable young people to make a living from social media.

RELATED CONTENT: Former TikTok Employees Retaliated Against For Claims Of Racial Discrimination

RELATED CONTENT: Black Mormons Use Tik Tok To Hold Majority-White BYU Accountable On Race

Kaviar Beauty Bar
by Stacy Jackson

October 5, 2023

‘Clean Beauty for Black Girls’ Non-Profit Promotes Clean Cosmetics For Black Women

Washington nonprofit Clean Beauty for Black Girls works to educate Black women about clean beauty. The organization was established to prevent women from consuming toxic hair and skin products.

The nonprofit’s website states its dedication to “raising awareness about harmful ingredients, advocating for clean beauty practices, and fostering a community that values health and self-confidence.” According to the organization, the mission is necessary for Black women’s health, which provides education and mentorship to influence consumers to “prioritize clean, safe, and inclusive choices.”

Hannah McCall, executive director for Clean Beauty for Black Girls, discussed how the organization upholds its mission with NBC Washington. “Specifically, it’s about the fact that Black women and girls are the last ones considered when it comes to anything in the health, wellness, and medical space.” The lack of inclusion has targeted Black women consumers with products that contain harmful chemicals at a higher percentage than others.

The idea behind the organization stemmed from what McCall described as “sister circles” or safe spaces to come and engage in candid conversations surrounding the beauty standards that have encouraged Black women to rely on products discovered to be harmful. “It is documented that our products, like 75% of our hair products in particular, contain harmful chemicals compared to white women’s 30% to 40%.”

The Clean Beauty team is committed to introducing clean beauty products free of harmful effects. In collaboration with a campaign for safe cosmetics, a database was created offering over 800 products. The database features over 80 Black-owned brands that have produced clean products.

“We’re hoping that list continues to grow,” McCall said.

McCall said that focusing on the most marginalized group benefits everyone else. A new law, The Oregon Toxic Free Cosmetics Act, was recently passed in the state, banning several harmful chemicals in cosmetics. According to the Oregon State Legislature, the law “requires Oregon Health Authority to adopt and maintain [a] list of designated high-priority chemicals of concern used in cosmetic products and to periodically review and revise [the] list.”

Additionally, the law requires the authority to post specific information on its website and manufacturers to specify the use of certain chemicals in products starting in 2025.

Alabama Democrats Likely To Flip Seat Under Court-Approved Congressional Map
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 5, 2023

Alabama Democrats Likely To Flip Seat Under Court-Approved Congressional Map

*Originally Reported By Reuters.com

Oct 5 (Reuters) – A federal court on Thursday ordered Alabama to implement a new congressional map that will likely give Democrats an additional seat in next year’s elections, when control of the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives is up for grabs.

The three-judge panel selected a map that preserves the state’s lone majority-Black district while creating a second district in which Black voters make up nearly half of the voting-age population

The decision came after the court found – for the second time – that congressional lines drawn by the Republican-dominated state legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by illegally diluting Black votes.

Democrats would need to flip five seats in the 435-seat House of Representatives to take back the majority in the November 2024 election.

More than a quarter of Alabama’s residents are Black, but the Republican-backed plans only included a single district in which Black voters made up a majority or close to it. That district, the 7th, is represented by the state’s lone Democrat, Terri Sewell, a Black woman.

Civil rights groups challenged the Republican map, arguing that Republicans had deliberately spread Black voters thin to ensure they would continue to win six of the state’s seven districts.

The U.S. Supreme Court twice declined to overturn the panel’s conclusions that the Republican plans were unlawful.

“It did not have to be this way,” the panel wrote in its decision on Thursday. “And it would not have been this way if the legislature had created a second opportunity district or majority-minority district.”

Similar challenges are also pending in Louisiana and Georgia, where civil rights groups have argued that Republican lawmakers illegally disadvantaged Black voters by manipulating congressional lines.

The new Alabama map was one of three that a court-appointed special master drew for its consideration.

The panel included two judges appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump. The third was appointed by Republican former President Ronald Reagan and then elevated to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by Democratic former President Bill Clinton.

Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Aurora Ellis

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