Aaron Glee, Oluwatoyin Salau, Victoria Sims,
by Daniel Johnson

September 26, 2023

BLM Activist Oluwatoyin Salau’s Killer Sentenced To Life In Prison

A Florida judge has sentenced Aaron Glee to life in prison for the 2020 murders of 19-year-old BLM activist Oluwatoyin Salau and 75-year-old Victoria Sims.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Glee was supposed to plead guilty in January 2023 but decided to have a trial instead. In June, the 52-year-old Glee pleaded guilty to a first-degree murder and kidnapping charge. He opted to spend the rest of his life in jail rather than face the death penalty.

Salau, who attended Tallahassee Community College and participated in Black Lives Matter protests, went missing a few days before Sims.

Glee admitted to tying Salau up and sexually abusing her multiple times before he eventually killed her. Police found the women’s bodies after tracking the phone belonging to Sims, who was also kidnapped by Glee after he raided her home. Sims’ body was found in one of Glee’s bedrooms underneath a sheet stained with blood. Salau’s body was found underneath a pile of leaves in a wooded area behind Glee’s shabby rented house in Tallahassee.

Glee fled from the police on a Greyhound bus, but he was caught in Orlando.

Salau’s murder set off a firestorm of criticism around who is centered in calls for justice in the Black Lives Matter movement, causing the hashtag #JusticeForToyin to trend on Twitter. Vox reported that a video showing Salau’s call to include trans people in the more extensive discussion about Black Lives Matter went viral following her disappearance.

On June 6, 2020, Salau tweeted about a series of events, including a sexual assault that had recently happened to her. She also had been trying to escape abuse at the hands of her family, according to Danaya Hemphill, one of Salau’s friends.

Hemphill wrote on Twitter in memory of Salau, “Oluwatoyin, You spent your life being abused by family, sexually assaulted, and you still managed to FIGHT for black lives. You protected black lives. Only for you to be raped and killed. We need to protect our black women. They are dying while fighting a war for us.”

Sims was a volunteer for AARP Florida. Her neighbors remembered as a kind woman who greeted everyone she met with a smile.

“She was probably one of the most kind and gentlest souls I knew,” Leslie Spencer, associate state director for AARP Florida, told the Tallahassee Democrat. “She always had a wise and thoughtful word to add to the conversation, but she wasn’t afraid to ask hard questions of lawmakers. She was an amazing human being, and absolutely—the void that she will leave, I don’t know that we can fill it.”

Sims’ daughter, June Campos, told the court in a victim impact statement: “An angel lived and walked among us. On June 13, 2020, the angel’s earthly light was extinguished, and the heavens called her home . . . She was an advocate for all humans and all human rights, even for monsters such as you.” 

 

https://twitter.com/nyshthabeast/status/1705359091583910278?t=ZnC0bXPw5Q7UlgSahnl0nw&s=19

Rebecca Figueroa, a friend of Salau, expressed regret and guilt for not picking up a call from her friend on the night she was killed. Figueroa told the court, “Part of us is still enraged toward this disgusting excuse for a human being,” she said. “We’re not the same, just glued pieces of something Aaron Glee has torn apart.”

Later, Figueroa also called for Glee to receive the death penalty, saying that “consecutive life sentences are a far more precious gift than he deserves.”

Gabrielle Union, Usher, Dwyane Wade
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 26, 2023

Usher ‘Ain’t Crazy’ Enough To Serenade Gabrielle Union In Front Of Dwyane Wade

Unlike “Confessions,” there won’t be a part two of Usher serenading famous women who are publicly with someone else. At his Sept. 24 show, Usher stopped himself from serenading Gabrielle Union, saying “I ain’t crazy” after seeing that Dwyane Wade was also in attendance.

Usher has now taken things his way to Europe, performing for a star-studded crowd at La Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. The Grammy winner made many headlines not only for his fan-favorite residency in Las Vegas but also for his “controversial” habit of singing to the celebrities present.

Usher made sure not to get too close and comfortable with the Being Mary Jane star, especially with her husband, an NBA legend, within distance to “dunk” him. HipHopDX shared footage of the hilarious incident.

“Let’s not get carried away,” Usher urged his fans once the song stopped. “Y’know, this is Dwyane Wade—I ain’t crazy! That man will knock my whole head off and then dunk it!”

The upcoming Super Bowl halftime show headliner did get in the mix with Keke Palmer and the father of her baby, Leo. After Usher and Palmer went viral for his special serenade to the longtime fan at his Vegas show in July, her boyfriend, Darius Dalton, tweeted about how her see-through black lace dress was a bit too revealing for the new mom.

The incident launched a debate on Black Twitter about what clothing for women, specifically mothers, is “appropriate” and the traditional roles in relationships, especially considering how successful Palmer is.

While the father of Palmer’s child couldn’t take the heat, the father of Union’s could. There appears to be no bad blood between the two family men, as the recently inducted NBA Hall of Famer shared “love and respect” to Usher in his Instagram story following the night of fun.

RELATED CONTENT: Dwyane Wade Recalls ‘Scary’ Talk With Gabrielle Union About His Child With Another Woman

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 26, 2023

Four-Day School Weeks Becoming Popular In School Districts—But Not For Parents

More and more school districts nationwide have adopted four-day school weeks, and communities are split, PBS reported.

In primarily rural and western parts of the U.S., the districts praise how the change saves money and does wonders for recruiting teachers. Paul Thompson, associate professor of economics at Oregon State University, found that close to 900 school districts operate on a shorter schedule—increasing from a little over 100 in 1999 to 662 in 2019.

Sounds good for the students and school administrators, but what about the parents?

“I feel like I’m back in the COVID shutdown,” Brandi Pruente, mother of three, said. For working moms like Pruente, the four-day week is a nightmare because they struggle to find activities for their kids on the fifth day or someone to watch them. The new schedule saves the district money but forces parents to dish out more. Even with the district offering child care for $30 per day, the French teacher has no desire to utilize it.

“I want my kids in an educational environment,” she said. “And I don’t want to pay for somebody to babysit them.”

Superintendent Dale Herl of Independence, Missouri, wasn’t too keen on the idea, but outside conversations convinced him parents would figure it out.

“You have to go back and look, you know, what do parents do during the summertime,” Herl asked. “What do they do over, you know, spring break or Christmas break? Not all parents have the luxury to cater to their kids outside of holiday breaks.”

Lawmakers in Missouri have pushed against shorter school weeks, with three-day weekends jumping from 12% to 30%. Some of the state’s lawmakers have pushed back, citing that students need more time in the classroom with education professionals. One proposed legislature proposed having four-day week students transfer or enroll in private schools at the expense of their home districts.

The legislation failed to be picked up.

Cardinals Linebacker Kyzir White Calls Cowboys Quatrterback Dak Prescott
by Derek Major

September 26, 2023

Cardinals Linebacker Kyzir White Calls Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott A ‘Bum’ After Game-Sealing Interception

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White had some harsh words for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after intercepting Prescott’s pass in the end zone to seal the Cardinals’ 28-16 home win on Sunday.

After the play, White, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, was seen calling Prescott a “bum” and telling the Cowboys quarterback he was “a–”

For the Cowboys, was its first loss of the season after decimating the New York Giants and New York Jets by a combined score of 70-10. However, the loss was not all the fault of Prescott, who went 25-for-40 with one touchdown and one interception.

For starters, the Cowboys’ defense gave up 400 yards of offense to Arizona, including 222 rushing, and committed 13 penalties for 107 yards, including 10 in a mistake-filled first half. Additionally, the Cowboys were missing three starters on their offensive line. Guard Zack Martin had an ankle injury, center Tyler Biadasz suffered a hamstring injury in practice earlier in the week, and left tackle Tyron Smith, who dressed for the game, did not play due to a knee injury.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals played their best game of the short season a week after blowing a 28-7 halftime lead to the New York Giants in a 31-28 loss. Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs had one of the best games of his career, going 17-for-21 for 189 yards and one touchdown, and ran six times for 55 yards. Cardinals running back James Conner had 14 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown in the game.

The Cowboys will head home to play the New England Patriots on Sunday, where they will match up against former Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns during his seven seasons in Dallas.

The Cardinals, now 1-2, will play the undefeated San Francisco 49ers, who are coming off a Thursday night 30-12 beatdown of the Giants, on the road.

Zoleka Mandela, granddaughter, cancer, South Africa
by Sharelle B. McNair

September 26, 2023

Nelson And Winnie Mandela’s Granddaughter Zoleka Succumbs To Cancer At Age 43

Nelson and Winnie Mandela’s granddaughter, Zoleka Mandela, passed away from cancer at the age of 43.

She succumbed to the illness on Sept. 25 after being admitted to the hospital on Sept. 18. According to an Instagram post, the activist was battling aggressive bouts of metastatic cancer in the hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain and spinal cord.

“Recent scans revealed significant disease progression including fibrosis in the lungs as well as several emboli,” the post read. “Zoleka passed away on the evening of Monday, September 25th, surrounded by friends and family. Our sincerest gratitude to the medical team that took care of her.”

Born in April 1980 to Zindzi Mandela,  Zoleka was a healthcare and justice activist on top of being an outspoken writer.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation said the young matriarch worked tirelessly to advocate for cancer prevention. In a statement, the group highlighted her work against the deadly disease. “The Nelson Mandela Foundation extends its heartfelt condolences to the Mandela family on the passing of Zoleka Mandela, tragically last night,” the Foundation said. “Her work in raising awareness about cancer prevention and her unwavering commitment to breaking down the stigma surrounding the disease will continue to inspire us all.”

In her early years, Zoleka was very outspoken about other struggles, including drug addiction, depression and sexual abuse that, according to BBC, she suffered from as a child. Her work also championed safe driving, after losing her 13-year-old daughter in a car accident in 2010.

Her first bout with cancer was when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32. She went into remission, but the illness returned. In 2022, she announced she was battling lung and liver cancer. On Instagram, she expressed her desire to fight and not to die. “What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that this time around I may not get to live my life as a survivor,” Zoleka wrote. “How do I tell them everything will be OK when it’s not? I’m dying… I don’t want to die.”

She is survived by four children.

Jermaine, Dupri
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 26, 2023

Jermaine Dupri Says He Created ‘Make It Rain’

Legendary music producer, Jermaine Dupri says he coined the term “make it rain” in 1998 with his smash hit single with Jay-Z, “Money Ain’t a Thing.”

In the world of hip-hop, the term has been around for years, particularly in strip clubs. Making it rain involves patrons throwing cash in the air and watching it fall to the ground.

According to HipHopDX, the Atlanta native stated his case on The Estelle Show, saying he used that move in the 1990s.

“Talib Kweli talks about the first time that he ever came to Atlanta,” he said. “He went to Magic City with me and Janet (Jackson). They’re throwing the money in the air and people seeing that, ‘Make it rain.’ I actually was the person who created this because I did this first in the ‘Money Ain’t A Thing’ video, me and Jay-Z are in the car throwing money throughout the whole video.”

Although the two hip-hop artists do so, the phrase is never mentioned in the song or video.

“That became my thing with that song, that became my thing going into these strip clubs,” Dupri said. “And I remember going to the club throwing the money. The first time I ever threw the money in the air, I probably threw a thousand dollars on the floor. And the girl at the strip club said, ‘You want me to get down on the floor and get my money?’ She didn’t understand what was happening.

“I tried this a couple of places where I was out throwing money and people weren’t… It wasn’t a thing for them, they didn’t understand what was happening. And this is just my confirmation of me saying, ‘I know that I was the first person doing this.’”

The song “Make It Rain” was recorded by Lil Wayne and Fat Joe in 2006. Dictionary.com actually credits the two artists with popularizing the term.

Producer Southside, who has worked with Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and others, told TMZ  that gangstas in Atlanta (including his father) started that trend.

“I ain’t gonna say that Jermaine Dupri invented that because Atlanta has a lot of different cultures of it,” Southside said. “There were a lot of people back in Jermaine Dupri and them days who didn’t do music that were making it rain. But they couldn’t broadcast it because of what they did.”

RELATED CONTENT: Jermaine Dupri Criticizes Lack Of Atlanta Events For Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary

by Daniel Johnson

September 26, 2023

Black People Only Comprise 4% Of DEI Positions In The Workplace

Following the 2020 death of George Floyd, companies across various industries made announcement after announcement that they would invest in diversity and inclusion initiatives, often using the position of chief diversity officer to direct these efforts. A report from career site Zippia details that of these positions, only 4% of the roles were occupied by Black people in 2023.

According to Reyhan Ayas, a senior economist at Revelio Labs, this suggests that the pledges many companies issued post-George Floyd were not followed through with intent.

Ayas told NBC News, “I always say that it is so easy to make public statements and commitments because no one will eventually check if you’re committed to the things that you committed to,” Ayas explained.

“I can say: ‘I will be fully vegan by 2025’ because no one will ever call me in 2025 and ask me if I’m actually fully vegan. And that’s really what is going on here. In 2020, a lot of companies made big commitments, big statements around the DEI roles and goals. And as we are observing a turning of that tide, I think it’s very timely that we actually look into companies to see if they have kept up with those big statements they made.”

The lack of Black people in diversity and inclusion roles makes experts in that field suspect that, like Ayas, those announcements and positions were created for a public relations boost and little else.

Chris Metzler, the senior vice president of corporate DEI and environmental, social, and governance strategies at the National Urban League, tells NBC News, “Most of your diversity professionals at these companies report to human resources, which are headed by white women and in some cases, white men,” Metzler explained.

“So, it doesn’t surprise me that Black diversity officers . . . are being moved out. It’s increasingly becoming a dead-end job. Corporations are saying one thing and demonstrating something else. It’s going back to checking the box versus hiring and keeping qualified workers who can impact change in the company.” 

Those DEI experts also say that two key factors help make DEI positions less stable than others: a lack of support and hiring individuals who are not qualified to hold the position. Tai Robinson, a human resources professional based in Houston, says that another key part of doing DEI work successfully lies in employers having the willpower to allow those individuals to do the work they are hired for.

 Robinson told NBC News, “So many of these individuals were receiving these great salaries. But in reality, they were wearing golden handcuffs, unable to do but so much because the organization leaders didn’t want much done.”

The Harvard Business Review took a look at why diversity programs failed in 2016, and they surmised that those programs fail because companies do not use data, which shows that the impact of bias or sensitivity training often does not last beyond a day or two, and can also inspire negative feelings. After companies instituted mandatory diversity training for managers, the percentage of Black, Latina, and women managers dropped by 9%, and Asian managers fell by 5%. They found that instituting voluntary training engenders much better results, with an increase of up to 13% in Black men and no decline in the number of Black women managers. The Harvard Business Review also found that among the things that served to increase diversity was a diversity task force, diversity managers, self-managed teams, and college recruiting focused on the groups companies want to hire and retain.

In short, it is not that diversity programs don’t work or don’t achieve results; essentially, if the direction of the company’s program is misguided, then diversity numbers will be stagnant. Similar to what Robinson said, poor diversity outcomes or hiring numbers come down to the will of the individual companies hiring. It boils down to a company or industry doing the research and following through based on what works, not what the company feels comfortable with.

RELATED CONTENT: DEI Executives Discuss The Current State Of DEI At Black Enterprise’s Chief Diversity Officer Summit

 

Grocery store, groceries
by Sharelle B. McNair

September 26, 2023

Texas Grocery Store Employee Fatally Shot After Customer’s Shotgun Discharges In The Backseat

A Linden, Texas, grocery store employee was killed after doing a good deed.

Larry Lawrence, an employee of Crump’s Food Center, was walking a customer to their car on Sept. 22 when a shotgun in the backseat went off, killing him, KSLA News 12 reported. Witnesses said they saw Lawrence helping the customer put groceries in the car’s back seat around 3:30 p.m., with a dog present. A .22 rifle reportedly discharged, hitting the victim in the chest.

Police and paramedics were immediately called as passersby tried to resuscitate him. Once medical professionals arrived, they took over with life-saving maneuvers. However, Lawrence was pronounced dead at the helipad site. According to Linden Police Chief David Dulude, the incident seemed accidental, but the investigation is ongoing.

“It is unclear of the means of the discharge at this time,” Dulude said.

The grocery store released a statement on their Facebook page, calling the incident a tragedy. “We lost a fine young man,” the statement partially read. “We ask for prayers for this young man’s family.”

Chris & Debbie Spencer, the store’s owners, created a GoFundMe page for donations towards funeral expenses and a memorial fund. To date, close to $9,000 has been raised for its$20,000 goal, and they have personally donated $5,000 towards the fund.

“The Lawrence and Crump’s Food Center families have been touched by the outpouring of sympathy and support since this tragic event occurred,” the Spencers wrote. “Many folks have asked how they can support the Lawrence family during this difficult time.”

According to Texas law, residents are allowed to transport a handgun in their vehicle or a vehicle “under the person’s control.” If the handgun is in “plain view,” the owner must be over 21 or have a License to Carry.

RELATED CONTENT: Black-Owned Neighborhood Grocery Store Slated to Open This Summer on Detroit’s East Side

Ben Phillips, Pruitt-Igoe, St. Louis, projects,
by Sharelle B. McNair

September 26, 2023

Black Victims of Secret Government Cold War Testing Fighting For Compensation In St. Louis

Black victims of secret government testing near the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects are seeking compensation.

The Associated Press reported that St. Louis, MO residents subjected to the contamination of the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects in the 1950s and 60s feel the government should pay. The report stated that the U.S. Army used blowers on top of buildings and the backs of station wagons to spray a carcinogen into the air close to the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects, which were comprised of primarily Black residents.

While Congress insists the zinc cadmium sulfide was harmless, residents who experienced the chaos say otherwise.

Ben Phillips, a child at the time, said he remembers the men walking around in hazmat suits and running to the roofs of buildings while the material floated in the air. “I remember the mist,” Phillips said.

“I remember what we thought was smoke rising out of the chimneys. Then there were machines on top of the buildings spewing this mist.”

Phillips, now 73, and Chester Deanes founded Pruitt-Igoe Historical Accounting, Compensation, and Truth Seeking (PHACTS). They are leading the efforts to seek payment, along with health studies, that could uncover if the government’s secret testing caused premature deaths and sickness of unsuspecting Pruitt-Igoe residents.

In collaboration with The Missouri Independent and nonprofit newsroom MuckRock, an AP report uncovered documents showing the government and companies behind both the nuclear bomb production and atomic waste storage sites in surrounding areas were well aware of the health risks but simply ignored them.

Some believe it was the nuclear waste that caused the death of family members and lingering health problems.

Soon after the report was released, according to ABC News, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) issued legislation to expand the existing compensation program for exposed victims. The amendment was endorsed by the Senate and was voted on. In August, President Biden said he is “prepared to help in making sure that those folks are taken care of.”

Army documents described the testing area as “a densely populated slum district” with many impoverished residents. Deanes believes that is the reason why the area was chosen.

“That’s why they did it. They have been experimenting on those living on the edge since I’ve known America,” Deanes said. “And, of course, they could get away with it because they didn’t tell anyone.”

Both Phillips and Deanes lost family members due to illnesses and have suffered themselves. Phillips’ mother died from cancer, while his sister suffered from convulsions doctors couldn’t understand. Deanes’ brother died from heart failure, and Phillips lost hearing in one ear because of a benign tumor.

Dock Worker At The Center Of The Montgomery Riverboat Brawl Speaks For The First Time
by Daniel Johnson

September 26, 2023

Dock Worker At The Center Of The Montgomery Riverboat Brawl Speaks For The First Time

Dameion Pickett, the dockworker who threw his hat up like a Bat signal during the Montgomery Riverboat Brawl, was interviewed on Sept. 25 by Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts.

Pickett told Roberts that he was shocked by the brawl and had expected a normal “peaceful” day at work.

“I didn’t expect this to happen at work today. I was just expecting another peaceful, nice cruise.”

Pickett said that his main concern was for the safety of the passengers on his boat, the Harriott II, and those on the boat of the group that eventually ended up attacking Pickett for doing his job. Roshien “Rahrah” Carlton came over to assist his friend and co-worker, and he said that by asking what was going on, he was told by one of the belligerent men on the dock, “Who the F you think you are?”

Carlton also revealed that “a lot of racial slurs was going on.” 

The infamous fight began once the that ferry Carlton and Pickett were responsible for helping to bring in finally docked. A man seen brandishing a chair like it was the WWE Attitude Era was charged with disorderly conduct, but his name was not shared during the interview. The four others charged were white: Mary and Allen Todd, Zachary Shipman, and Richard Roberts. All four were charged with misdemeanor assault, and when asked about the events, they all told ABC News they had no comment, according to Roberts. 

Pickett said he has minor injuries from the incident, that he’s still sore and has some “bumps and bruises,” but shared that he’s still here “by the grace of God.”

After the interview concluded, Roberts noted to her co-anchors that she was impressed by Pickett’s dedication to ensuring that people were safely docked in the harbor. Roberts also shared that Pickett worked his way up to a deckhand from the kitchen, saying that the man is proud of the work that he has done during his time at the company. 

RELATED CONTENT: An Alabama Brawl Between Black And White Citizens Has The Internet Buzzing

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