school supplies, busby, teacher, viral, student, classroom, principal, teacher, zero

by Iman Milner

October 5, 2023

Mother Goes Viral After Son’s Teacher Issues ‘Zero’ Grade Over School Supplies

Shanitta Busby‘s 13-year-old son was issued a “zero” for failing to bring in specific supplies requested by his math teacher. The frustrated mother took to TikTok in a now-viral video that has sparked a debate about who should be responsible for equipping classrooms with necessities.

@shanittanicole Am I doing too much? #fyp #school ♬ original sound – Snooze ❣️

“He comes home and he says ‘My teacher is going to give me a zero if I don’t bring in the classroom supplies’,” Busby explains in the video. “And I’m like ‘Why would she give you a zero, why are you getting a grade for it?'”

The mother went on to explain that the requested items consisted of supplies that would be used for the classroom in general, in which her son spends only 50 minutes per school day, and for the teacher’s personal educational purposes.

“So, the next week he still has a zero…I email the teacher and I say ‘I’m kinda concerned because my student has an 83 in the class and everything else in the class is 100s and 98s’,” she continued.

“‘And he still has a zero for something called ‘classroom supplies.’ We bought the supplies anyway but I don’t think it’s the parent’s responsibility to supply your classroom’.”

Busby’s video has been viewed over a million times and received over 9,000 comments from parents and educators with mixed reactions to the teacher’s request.

“You are not wrong!” one user commented. “It’s 100% ok for her to ask for supplies, but mandate it for a grade? Absolutely not.”

Still, some educators believed the teacher was well within her rights to ask parents to help them bear a load unfairly placed on them by the school district.

“It’s not appropriate for us as teachers to buy things for everybody else’s kids but we do,” one user added.

@shanittanicole Replying to @yafavv._.dancer😍😘💞😍😍💞 Graded Supplies Update #fyp #school ♬ original sound – Snooze ❣️

In a follow-up video, Busby revealed that she’d received an apology from the school’s principal, who informed her that the district had provided supplies for students; therefore, the teacher’s request was not one born out of a need.

“It’s not a standard practice to penalize students grade-wise for the lack of supplies,” the principal wrote in a statement Busby shared on TikTok.

Concerns about how students from low-income families may be punished for their inability to purchase additional supplies for classrooms also rang throughout the comments.

“I’d hate to think an underprivileged gifted student’s grade is penalized for something not under their control,” another user said.

Kristen Dunning, Shark Tank, Gently Soap, UGA, Georgia, Candace Nelson

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 5, 2023

UGA MBA Student Kirsten Dunning Secures ‘Shark Tank’ Deal With Soap Line

Kristen Dunning, the visionary behind Gently Soap, a sensitive skincare brand, set her sights on appearing on Shark Tank by 2025.

In September, the entrepreneur realized that dream ahead of schedule. The Season 15 premiere of the hit show featured Dunning, who managed to secure a deal with Candace Nelson, founder of the Sprinkles Cupcakes bakery chain, as initially reported by the University of Georgia News.

Surrounded by family members who had traveled from as far away as Delaware for the occasion, Dunning was overjoyed after the viewing party at Studio 225. She expressed her excitement for the future of Gently Soap to UGA News, saying, “We’re going to pitch to Target. We’re going to pitch to Walmart. And none of that is guaranteed, but it’s happening, and it is beyond what I thought I would be able to achieve at this point in the business.”

Dunning, a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with degrees in horticulture and agricultural communication, launched Gently Soap in March 2021. The inspiration for her sensitive-skin-friendly soap came from her personal experience dealing with eczema since childhood. She sought a soap that wouldn’t irritate her skin but also had a pleasant fragrance, setting her brand apart from the fragrance-free soaps for ultra-sensitive skin.

Her journey to success was marked by the continuous development of her business plan and honing her pitching skills through the UGA Entrepreneurship Program. She credits the program for her ability to excel in pitching and the immense experience she gained before appearing on Shark Tank.

Throughout the last year, Dunning achieved various milestones, including receiving a $100,000 investment through Essence and Aveeno’s Skin Health Startup award. She was also selected to participate in the Techstars Accelerators program and became a finalist for the $1 million Black Ambition entrepreneurship prize created by music mogul Pharrell Williams.

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A post shared by Gently Soap™️ 🧼 (@gentlysoap)

The spring of 2023 proved exceptionally busy for the savvy businesswoman, prompting her to take a brief hiatus from her MBA program at Terry College. She will return in the spring of 2024 to complete her remaining two classes and graduate.

Dunning’s journey began with selling her soaps at farmers’ markets and on her website. Over the year, her soap sales soared to $113,000. This remarkable growth, her high per-bar profit margin, and low customer acquisition cost triggered a bidding war between two “sharks” on the show.

During the season premiere, Kevin O’Leary praised Dunning’s company, saying, “What I like about you … you’re wonderful, but your margins are even more beautiful.” Ultimately, the student negotiated a deal with Nelson, securing a $75,000 investment and access to Thirteen Lune’s specialty beauty website in exchange for 25% of her company.

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A post shared by Kristen Dunning (@professionalplantgirl)

Dunning’s passion for horticulture and her Gently Soap line were inspired by the legacy of her grandparents, who operated an 84-acre farm in Alabama, and the legacy of African American farmers across the South. One of the most touching moments at the watch party was seeing her dad’s reaction when her Shark Tank introduction featured a photo of his parents on their farm.

Shark Tank, which debuted in 2009 on ABC, is a platform where entrepreneurs present their businesses to a panel of accomplished investors known as “sharks” for the opportunity to strike a deal that can catapult their business to new heights.

by Derek Major

October 5, 2023

Tracy McCarter Recounts Being Jailed, Then Cleared, For Killing Abusive Husband

For the first time since she was released from prison last December, registered nurse and graduate student Tracy McCarter described her journey through the criminal justice system.

The mother of four was jailed after she fatally stabbed her then-husband, James Murray, in March 2020. McCarter said it was self-defense, and that she was a victim of abuse from an alcoholic spouse.

Last December, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to charge McCarter with second-degree murder, leading to a judge dropping the charges.

McCarter spoke with Democracy Now during National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, about the seven months she spent in Rikers Island and how race played a role in her punishment.

“I didn’t think of myself as Black and Jim as white. I was just a person who loved Jim,” McCarter said. “A few months into being at Rikers, I remember being on the phone with a friend, and I said to her, ‘Oh my god, I’m still here because Jim is white.’ They don’t see me as a nurse. They don’t see me as a person who had loving relationships with people, who was a good mother, who had never been in trouble. I was simply being viewed as a Black woman who had killed a white man.”

McCarter added that after her arrest, she requested bail and showed Assistant District Attorney Sara Sullivan a video of Murray yelling at her and pulling her hair in a separate incident. However, according to McCarter, Sullivan dismissed the footage.

She was denied bail and sent to Rikers Island during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“And so, it just became clear to me that I wasn’t going to be considered a person whose life was important enough to defend,” McCarter said. “As Mariame Kaba, a very famous abolitionist and activist in this work, tells us, we don’t have selves to defend us, you know, Brown and Black women. And the court makes that very clear.”

Six months after she was in prison, McCarter’s family contacted journalist Victoria Law, who wrote a story on the abuse she endured and her arrest. McCarter also had thousands of supporters who rallied for the nurse and hounded Bragg for his lack of action regarding McCarter.

Bragg offered McCarter a plea deal that she eventually agreed to but that was rejected by Judge Diane Kiesel, who deemed it illegal.

After McCarter’s release, Murray’s brother Steven wrote a letter to Bragg, saying the D.A. betrayed his family by not charging McCarter.

Since her release, McCarter has graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree. She was awarded the Truthout Center for Grassroots Journalism’s Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize for her essay, “As a Black Woman Accused of Killing a White Man, I Was Never Innocent Until Proven Guilty.”

Beyonce, AMC, theaters, renaissance, tour, movie, documentary

by Stacy Jackson

October 5, 2023

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance: A Film’ Announcement Boosts AMC Stock

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and AMC Entertainment Holdings announced Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé will hit the big screen on Dec. 1, and shares in the American movie theater chain increased by 1.5%.

The Renaissance singer has impacted the cinema chain in a big way ahead of the film’s release. Forbes reported that shares increased during premarket trading on Oct. 2, shortly after the entertainment holdings company said that it would distribute Beyoncé’s concert film.

The cinema chain has a net worth or market cap of $1.65 billion as of Oct. 4, according to data aggregated by Stock Analysis. The site, which provides free online stock information for investors, also shared that the company’s market cap decreased from $1.80 billion to $1.65 billion. The overall decrease of -7.92% in net worth is from Dec. 18, 2013 to Oct. 4, 2023. The site also showed AMC Entertainment Holdings has a compound annual growth rate of -0.84%.

The chief executive officer of AMC, Adam Aron, said on Twitter/X, “RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ will also play at most other U.S., Canadian and Mexican movie theatre chains starting Nov 30/Dec 1 as well, including Cinemark, Regal, Cineplex, Cinepolis and so many others.”

He added, “The release date for other international screenings throughout the world will be announced later in October. This is such exciting news for AMC and for the world’s entire movie theatre industry.”

RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ will also play at most other U.S., Canadian and Mexican movie theatre chains starting Nov 30/Dec 1 as well, including Cinemark, Regal, Cineplex, Cinepolis and so many others.

The release date for other international screenings throughout the world… pic.twitter.com/RQgAT0ViRX

— Adam Aron (@CEOAdam) October 2, 2023

The “Alien Superstar” singer made it known to fans about the concert film during her final tour stop in Kansas City, MO on Monday. Advance tickets are already available on AMC Theatre’s website. Prices begin at $22.

The film is set to be released in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Forbes reported. The outlet noted that movie showings will take place toward the end of the week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The star’s tour will have brought in at least $4.5 billion for the American economy, according to The New York Times.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 5, 2023

Florida Bill Allowing The Death Penalty For Child Rapists Goes Into Effect

Florida’s law that could place child rapists on death row is now a reality, CBS News reports.

“Unfortunately, in our society, we have very heinous sex crimes that are committed against children under the age of 12 years old,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said upon signing HB 1297 on May 1, 2023 “These are really the worst of the worst. The perpetrators of these crimes are often serial offenders.”

Florida’s law allowing the death penalty for child rapists is now in effect.

The minimum sentence is life in prison without parole. In Florida, anyone who harms children in such a horrific way will never walk free.

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 3, 2023

The legislation was approved 34-5 in the Senate and 95-14 in the House.

Under the law, juries will still need to find criminals guilty unanimously before sentencing can happen. Also, judges can impose the death penalty or sentence defendants to life in prison. If fewer than eight jurors recommend death, judges must impose life sentences. The Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court have banned death sentences for rapists.

DeSantis has openly disagreed with the Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling on capital punishment. “This bill sets up a procedure to be able to challenge that precedent and to be able to say that, in Florida, we think that the worst of the worst crimes deserve the worst of the worst punishment,” he said.

In a state that has pushed religion as a factor for some of its laws, some Florida lawmakers like Sen. Rosalind Osgood (D-FL) aren’t on board with the new death penalty legislation.

“I love kids, and I’ll do anything to protect them, but I struggle from a faith perspective,” Osgood said. “If I believe in my faith that God can redeem and save anybody, then how do I support someone getting the death penalty? And I’m just talking about me. That’s my struggle. That’s my challenge.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 5, 2023

‘Men’s Health’ Celebrates Colin Kaepernick As Symbol Of Strength And Resilience In Cover Story

Colin Kaepernick is being praised for a “special kind” of strength, one that goes beyond athletic achievement. The former NFL quarterback is the cover star for Men’s Health as it celebrates his legacy on and off the field.

As part of the “35 Strongest Men of the Last 35 Years” issue, Kaepernick is leading the pack, as his strength shows up not only in the physical, but the political. He shared how “grateful” he was to be a part of this October/November rollout in an announcement to his Instagram.

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A post shared by colin kaepernick (@kaepernick7)

“It’s dope to share space with the other incredible men whose strengths show up in different ways,” shared the athlete-turned-activist in the caption. “Strong people build strong futures! Let’s get to building!”

Kaepernick is best known for taking a knee during the national anthem before NFL games in protest against police brutality, leading to his premature departure from the NFL toward more civil rights activism .

The cover story is a letter written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson that showcases support for Kaepernick’s journey but also disbelief at NFL teams’ refusal to give him a shot.

“Needed you aware of my immense gratitude for your sacrifices, for what you’ve done for our collective consciousness, for how you’ve transformed my thinking and seeing,” shared Jackson after expressing his immense thanks to the Super Bowl veteran. “‘We are human and should be treated as such’—that’s what I’ve gleaned as the crux of your message.”

However, Kaepernick’s dream to return to his beloved sport might not be long gone. He trains daily like he’s preparing for the next game. As the 35-year-old still fights for the opportunity to showcase his skills, the former 49er is still committed to, and celebrated for, the very cause that made him a household name outside of sports.

Readers can check out the full letter at Men’s Health.

Big Three Strike Continues, Ford Moves Closer To Deal

by Daniel Johnson

October 5, 2023

Big Three Strike Continues, Ford Moves Closer To Deal

The Big Three automakers in the U.S.—Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis—have laid off non-union affiliated workers as the United Auto Workers union’s strike continues for a third week.

“It is unfortunate the UAW’s decision to call a strike at GM Lansing Delta Township Assembly continues to have negative ripple effects,” GM said in a statement to CBS News. “The impacted team members are not expected to return until the strike has been resolved. Since we are working under an expired labor agreement, there are no provisions for company-provided sub-pay in this circumstance.”

Of the three manufacturers, the Ford Motor Company has been the closest to a deal, something it emphasized in a press release on Oct 3.

“We want to make sure our workers come out of these negotiations with two things – a record contract and a strong future,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO. “We’ve put an offer on the table that will be costly for the company, especially given our large American footprint and UAW workforce, but one that we believe still allows Ford to invest in the future.”  

Ford also said that a sticking point for the UAW is Ford’s yet-to-be-constructed electric vehicle battery plants, which are subjected to extra scrutiny because they are a joint venture with a Korean company and plan to use Chinese technology. After Ford halted construction on the EV battery plants, UAW President Shawn Fain called the company’s choice “a shameful, barely-veiled threat by Ford to cut jobs.”

There is, however, hope for a deal, Marik Masters writes in an op-ed for the Detroit Free Press. Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, told The Associated Press, that if the manufacturers and UAW each make concessions, a deal could come faster than expected. The automakers are under the impression that the union is responsible for getting workers at its as-of-yet unopened EV plants unionized, while the union wants the plants run according to UAW guidelines.

Wired analyzed the strikes using game theory, that is, a prediction of human behavior when two sides have competing interests.

Marc Robinson, who was once on GM’s payroll as an advisor in situations like these, told Wired an optimal strategy for the automakers to employ involves thinking through all of the potential moves from Fain and the UAW like a game of chess. Robinson sees the end of the strike occurring sometime between Halloween and Christmas, expecting the more labor-agreeable Ford Motor Company to wrap negotiations first.

For now, though, it seems we will have to wait and see which side moves to compromise first.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 5, 2023

LSU Football Player Greg Brooks Jr. Diagnosed With Rare Brain Cancer Following Emergency Surgery

College football player Greg Brooks Jr. has been diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer after having emergency surgery three weeks ago to remove a tumor in his brain.

According to USA Today, Brooks, who plays safety for the Louisiana State University Tigers football team, has been diagnosed with medulloblastoma. The announcement came from his family, school, and the medical team from Our Lady of the Lake Health in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Brooks family, LSU Athletics, and Our Lady of the Lake Health announced today that Greg Brooks Jr. has been diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, medulloblastoma.

Please support the Greg Brooks Jr. Victory Fund as he continues to battle. https://t.co/TUElsbDAIf pic.twitter.com/FJYNIo5Lkj

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 4, 2023

Last month, Brooks reportedly got an MRI after experiencing vertigo, a condition he had dealt with throughout the preseason. The results of the MRI revealed that the LSU athlete had a brain tumor. He had emergency surgery three weeks ago to remove a tumor between his cerebellum and brainstem. After further testing, it was determined he had cancer.

Meet the First Woman To Receive a 4-Year College Football Scholarship

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 5, 2023

Meet the First Woman To Receive a 4-Year College Football Scholarship

*Originally Published By Blacknews.com

Nationwide — Antoinette “Toni” Harris, a 22-year old Black woman, is the first woman ever to attend college on a full football scholarship. She has overcome challenges brought about by her gender, build, what other people say, and even a fatal illness she was diagnosed with. In fact, she dreams of being the first woman to play in the NFL.

Harris, who was born and raised in Detroit, has always been a football fan since she was 4-years old. Even though she also liked cheerleading and track-and-field, she really enjoys football the most.

She started just watching her cousins play until she herself played football during grade school. Eventually, she entered the high school football team but with teammates who “weren’t really accepting,” it wasn’t easy at first.

“It took them some time to warm up to me,” Harris said in an interview with Blavity. “But once they did, they were loving, they were supportive — and eventually everybody else got on board.”

Harris, who was proclaimed the homecoming queen on her senior year, still had doubts with herself. Being younger and a lot smaller than male players didn’t stop her though. She realized she just has to learn to live with it.

“At the end of the day, I told myself, ‘I cannot allow myself to live in fear.’ You don’t really live if you live in fear,” she said.

Her bravery has been ultimately tested when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 18. She lost half of her body weight and she went through remission later that year.

She continued with her dreams despite people telling her she couldn’t move from high school football to college. While enrolled at Golden West College, she entered East Los Angeles College to be able to play free safety with the community college team.

After two years in college football, she has received dozens of scholarship offers to play. Most recently, she marked history as the first woman to sign a letter of intent for a four-year college football scholarship. She accepted the scholarship with Central Methodist University to continue her studies and play football in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Moreover, Harris has also caught the attention of giant companies. In January, a Toyota advertisement featuring her with a RAV4 Hybrid was premiered in their Super Bowl commercial.

After college, Harris dreams of playing for her favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks, or “any other team in the NFL — as long as I got my chance,” she said. Additionally, she also plans on becoming a “homicide detective with a background in forensics.”

Documentary Reveals Story About Black Automotive Executive Making History Exporting Electric Vehicles To Cuba

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 5, 2023

Documentary Reveals Story About Black Automotive Executive Making History Exporting Electric Vehicles To Cuba

*Originally Published By Blacknews.com

Nationwide — In April 2023, filmmakers Peter and Pamela McNeil began producing a documentary called Driving Towards Change that tells the story of John Felder, the African American CEO of US-based Premier Automotive Export LTD, a company that has made history with an agreement to export USA-manufactured electric vehicles, scooters, and bi-directional charge stations to Cuba.

This breakthrough agreement, which is the first of its kind since the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba in 1961, will allow Mr. Felder, a disabled, Vietnam-era US Air Force veteran to help bring a carbon-zero footprint to a nation the size of Florida and an emerging automobile market of 11.5 million people.

Driving Towards Change tells the incredible story of Mr. Felder’s accomplishments, partnering with other automotive and energy-producing firms to support his green energy initiatives in the Caribbean. Driving Towards Change focuses on the culmination of John’s efforts, spanning 15 years, that lead him to receive his export license under the Biden-Harris Administration. Planning is now underway for the delivery of the first electric vehicle from the USA to a Cuban National in late 2023.

All are invited to celebrate the premiere of Driving Towards Change and John’s unprecedented journey as an African American businessman and advocate for a healthier, sustainable environment. The premiere screening will take place on the evening of August 26th, 2023, in Columbia, Maryland.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit DrivingTowardsChange.com

For further information, contact premierdocumentary@gmail.com