by Daniel Johnson

September 12, 2023

HBO Receives Backlash Over Upcoming ‘Savior Complex’ Documentary

HBO announced a documentary premiering on its Max app September 26 and Black Twitter had plenty to say about the matter.

Savior Complex centers around Renee Bach, a white American missionary who went to Uganda on a missionary trip, and started a charity for malnourished children. She then started treating the sick children herself. There was just one problem: Bach had no medical qualifications to do so.

According to HBO, “the three-part docuseries examines the thorny complexities of foreign aid work done in the name of humanitarian and religious ideals.”

HBO posted a trailer to its official account on Twitter/X. That’s when things got heated.

Multiple users questioned the integrity of HBO making a documentary on this particular subject while others pointed to the Ugandan investigative documentary titled The Messiahs That Were Not by Munjuni Raymond and Next Media Uganda as an alternative.

Other users observed that Bach settled in a Ugandan court after allegedly impersonating a doctor and performing medical procedures she was not qualified to attempt.

Let me get this straight, she pretended to be a doctor, carried out medical procedures she had no business doing, killed 100+ babies in the process, settled in a Ugandan court and we are still asking about intentions and if she is a murderer? You should cancel this documentary!!! https://t.co/brOZRAHcV9

— Irene Atuhairwe (@atuhairwe_irene) September 11, 2023

https://twitter.com/wagatwe/status/1700916213591814595?t=UDMAxBsSbPNiLIuiwDLV0Q&s=19

Other Ugandan journalists reported on Renee Bach killing Ugandan children pretending to be a doctor running a clinic with no medical training/license and blogging about it.

Raymond Mujuni @qataharraymond produced an investigative report on the case here:https://t.co/YK8mQTCYHd

— Uju Anya (@UjuAnya) September 11, 2023

In a 2019 article for The Guardian, Ugandan writer Alon Mwesigwa chronicled the stories of the families affected by Bach’s actions after the missionary and her charity abandoned Uganda. Bach’s charity, according to Mwesigwa, attempted to pass itself off as a ministry working to end malnutrition, but in reality operated more like an unsanctioned clinic.

Multiple reports from the mothers of children who died at Bach’s facility indicate Bach attempted to pass herself off as a doctor, reports Bach refutes. Her organization replied to requests for an interview with a press release in June 2019 that vilified accusers of Serving His Children as “reputational terrorists” who were attacking Bach and her organization “using the platform of social media to create a false reality without factual evidence.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 12, 2023

Jonathan Majors Stops The Violence Between High School Girls Fighting Inside L.A. Burger Spot

Amid Jonathan Majors’ legal battle over misdemeanor assault and harassment charges, the superstar actor is breaking up fights to show how non-violent he is.

The Creed III star was caught in West Hollywood on Monday, Sept. 11, hours after he broke up a fight between two high school girls inside an In-N-Out Burger near Hollywood High School, TMZ reports. Majors appeared mum at first when a reporter approached him with questions about the fight.

While getting inside his car, he told the reporter he was just trying to be helpful by breaking up the “school fight.” When asked if he just wanted to make sure no one was hurt, Majors replied, “Of course,” and sent a message to the girls.

“Stay cool,” he said with a smile.

Majors’ good deed comes amid his legal battle with an ex-girlfriend who’s accusing him of assaulting her inside a taxi back in March. The Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and harassment after allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend during a heated argument.

Through his lawyer, Priya Chaudry, Majors has remained adamant that he caused no harm to his ex, Grace Jabbari. Chaudhry claims the charges are false and accuses Jabbari of assaulting her client and stealing items from his home.

In June, the New York Police Department said they had probable cause to arrest Jabbari, according to the NY Times. Majors is due back in court on Sept. 15. He appeared virtually in New York criminal court last Wednesday after previously appearing in person with his current girlfriend, actress Meagan Good. The trial was scheduled to kick off last month but was delayed under claims Jabbari fled the country.

The rising actor has suffered some losses in response to the allegations, with Majors getting dropped by his management company, Entertainment 360, and public relations team, The Lede Company, shortly after his arrest. The Army Enterprise Marketing Office also paused a U.S. Army ad campaign featuring the Lovecraft Country star.

There is still hope on the Disney side with Majors reprising his role of Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and appearing in about half of the episodes of Loki season two, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.

Gloria Govan ‘Thrilled’ To Be Named General Partner Of Cannabis Real Estate Lender Alta II

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 12, 2023

Gloria Govan ‘Thrilled’ To Be Named General Partner Of Cannabis Real Estate Lender Alta II

Gloria Govan’s trailblazing work within the cannabis industry has just garnered her a General Partner position with a leading real estate lender.

Last month, Govan announced her appointment as General Partner of Alta II, a dominant real estate lender within the cannabis sector that provides capital to regulated cannabis companies throughout the United States. Between Govan’s decade-plus of experience leading her cannabis agency RLNTLSS Brands and her commitment to DEI and innovation within the cannabis industry, partnering with the real estate lender was a natural fit.

“Our company’s mission statement and the fund’s thesis align perfectly, and I’m beyond excited to lead the charge in making a tangible difference,” Govan told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

As General Partner at Alta II, Govan is focused on increasing access to financing for minority-owned cannabis businesses, particularly for companies owned by women of color. She called the new venture a “groundbreaking” one that will work to add more “diverse representation” to the cannabis industry.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gloria Govan (@glogovan)

“I am absolutely thrilled to be the CEO and co-founder of a cannabis company that’s laser-focused on driving diversity, social equity, and inclusion within the cannabis and wellness arena,” Govan said.

“As a woman of color, I recognize the historic significance of this announcement and the opportunity it presents to bridge the gap and stimulate diverse representation in an industry that has faced historic scarcity and deficiencies in private and venture capital funding, particularly for women.”

Best known for her years on the hit reality show, Basketball Wives, Govan’s interest in cannabis was sparked by her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2005. Since launching RLNTLSS Brands in 2013, Govan has become a sought-after pioneer within the cannabis industry.

Through her company, the former reality star serves as a partner in celebrity cannabis brands, retail collaborations, and business development within and beyond the cannabis industry. Some of her A-list celebrity brands and clients include Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Payton, Freeway Rick Ross, and her husband Derek Fisher.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gloria Govan (@glogovan)

Owning 13 vertically integrated licenses throughout Southern California, combined with her passion for modernizing and elevating the cannabis space for brands, vendors, and consumers, Govan has earned a reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking leader in the industry.

Now, in her role as a General Partner in a $100 million fund with the Alta Financial group, Govan will join in Alta II’s work in fostering financial structure and support in the cannabis industry through real estate.

“Cannabis is my passion and as a long-time entrepreneur working in the business, I know how challenging the barriers to entry can be for minorities and women,” Govan said.

“Identifying women and minority-owned businesses will be a goal for me as general partner, and together with Alta II, I hope to pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in cannabis.”

Jackson Jr, Black Visitors Guide to Kansas City

by Daniel Johnson

September 12, 2023

Larry Jackson Jr., Creator Of ‘Black Visitor’s Guide to Kansas City,’ Dies At 76

Larry Jackson Jr., the creator of The Black Visitor’s Guide to Kansas City, died June 10 from prostate cancer. He was 76.

According to the Kansas City Star, while Jackson was best known for creating the guide in the 1990s, he was a man of many talents and business ventures in Kansas City’s Black community.

Jackson’s marketing firm, Specialized Entertainment and Distribution Inc (SEDIC), created advertising campaigns for Budweiser and Sprint among others, but its most lasting contribution came when Jackson put his encyclopedic knowledge of Black-owned businesses in Kansas City in guidebook form.

Produced in conjunction with the Kansas City tourism department, the public could pick up the pamphlet from the Lincoln Building, which was a hub for Black culture in Kansas City, as well as the headquarters of SEDIC or newspaper stands around the city. The guide functioned as a blueprint for navigating the functionally segregated Kansas City community.

Damon Jackson, Jackson Jr.’s son, thinks his father was motivated by a desire to spotlight his friends in the Kansas City business community. “I think he just really meant to do something for the community,” said Jackson. “At the time, there wasn’t a list or a place where you can go and find Black businesses.”

The son of Jackson Jr.’s business partner, Lloyd Mason Jr., described Jackson as a “serial entrepreneur.” But business was not everything for him, as he was also involved in the Kansas City activist scene advocating for civil rights and marching alongside the former executive director of the Kansas City-based Martin Luther King Urban Center, the late Rev. Fuzzy Thompson. Jackson also tried writing television shows and once met the legendary comedian Redd Foxx as a result.

In his 50s, Jackson once again switched careers and became a substitute teacher, where he was instrumental in getting other substitutes retirement benefits. Many teachers and faculty members came to his June 24 funeral at Thatcher’s Funeral Chapel.

Kansas City was the only community that Jackson ever knew, according to Mason.

black women, abortion, Lashana Gilmore, Cleopatra Herrera, A Home From Shana, foundation,

by Atiya Jordan

September 12, 2023

Study: Black Women More Likely To Choose In-Clinic Medication Abortion Services

A recent study in JAMA Network Open revealed that Black women are more likely to seek in-clinic medication abortion services than any other race. Telehealth medicine has proven to ease access for underserved communities.

Lead author Anna Fiastro, a family medicine research scientist at UW Medicine, wrote, “The further patients are from a brick-and-mortar clinic, the more likely they are to use telehealth to access medication abortion.”

These results come after analyzing electronic medical record data from 1,241 women (ages 13-52) who visited the Cedar River Clinic system in Tacoma and Seattle, Washington, from April 2020 to January 2022.

“Due to limited in-clinic access throughout the country, telehealth medication abortion services, including online consultations and medications delivered directly to patients, can make abortion care more convenient and accessible,” said Fiastro, per Healio. “Other areas of health care have documented disparities in telehealth access, although less is known about telehealth medication abortion services.”

More specifically, 69% of study participants received in-clinic appointments for medication abortion services, and 31% sought and received medication after scheduling a telehealth visit. Younger individuals, those with limited English proficiency, and those with health conditions are also less likely to choose telehealth abortion care.

Telehealth medication “facilitates abortion care access for those further from brick-and-mortar abortion facilities and, thus, may mitigate the impacts of travel logistics and costs,” the research paper found. “Additionally, tele-MAB may better meet the needs of those with prior abortion experience, perhaps due to greater familiarity with the abortion process.”

Of the 232 study participants who self-identified as Black, over 80% had in-clinic visits, while only 46 received telehealth visits. Fiastro noted that Black women may prefer in-clinic care due to experiencing and documenting discrimination, stigma, and systemic barriers in the health care system.

In the research paper, senior author Dr. Emily Godfrey, professor of family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology, brought attention to younger patients’ wariness of “telehealth’s legitimacy and whether getting care this way really works.”

To increase telehealth use among patients, further research suggests that it is necessary to better understand patients who identify as multiracial or of other races and how identity affects their telehealth experience. The focus should be on finding ways to serve patients in rural areas and other underserved communities.

Black women are disproportionately affected by the lack of abortion access and are overrepresented in pregnancy-related deaths.

Tristan Thompson Files For Guardianship Of Brother After Death Of Their Mother

by Daniel Johnson

September 12, 2023

Tristan Thompson Files For Guardianship Of Brother After Death Of Their Mother

Following the unexpected death of his mother in January, NBA free agent Tristan Thompson has been taking care of his 17-year-old brother, Amari.

According to reporting from People, Thompson has filed paperwork to gain legal guardianship of his brother. Amari has epilepsy and several other conditions, which require around-the-clock care.

Thompson claims in the court documents that Trevor Thompson, the father of both Amari and Tristan, has not been present in Amari’s life since 2014. The court document attempts to establish that Tristan is the best choice to ensure that Amari has a stable home life, and it reads in part:

“Appointing a guardian for Amari would be in his best interest because it would ensure that someone would be responsible for providing and fulfilling his basic needs. Further, Amari is set to receive a modest inheritance from his recently deceased mother and a guardian wouldn’t be able to manage and invest in Mary’s inheritance on his behalf.”

Tristan Thompson plans to apply for U.S. citizenship for his brother, who like Tristan, is Canadian.

The court documents state that Amari has received $103,475 from his mother’s estate and Tristan would take over the responsibility of caring for Amari and managing his financial affairs as well as his medical appointments. Tristan has already taken Amari in, and he lives with him in his Hidden Hills home in California.

After Tristan’s roof caved in not long ago, Khloe Kardashian, with whom Tristan has two children, allowed the brothers to live with her while it was being repaired.

The Thompsons’ mother, Andrea, died after a heart attack she suffered at her home in Toronto on Jan. 5. Shortly after, Tristan flew from Los Angeles to Toronto so he could be with his family.

According to TMZ Sports, Tristan was very close with his mother, and Khloe was as well.

Following speculation that the two had reconciled because of Amari and Tristan living with her, Kardashian told People, “Tristan and I are not back together. I know it’s hard for everyone to believe but I love, love, love Andrea and I love Tristan. I love Amari, and this is what family does. Tristan is the father of my kids.”

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 12, 2023

Georgia Gullah-Geechee Community Fighting To Preserve Land Under Attack By State Officials

Nationwide, members of the Gullah-Geechee community are fighting to preserve their rights to land that has been protected for decades against growing pressure from developers and ever-increasing tax rates. The latest battle is taking place on Sapelo Island off the coast of Georgia.

According to NBC News, McIntosh County commissioners have unveiled a proposal to do away with zoning ordinances that limit homes to modest sizes near the dwellings of about 30 to 50 Black residents. The rules, introduced in 1994, fall under the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) and have protected the residents of Hogg Hummock along with other Gullah-Geechee communities throughout several coastal islands in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

“It’s the erasure of a historical culture that’s still intact after 230 years,” said Reginal Hall, a Hogg Hummock landowner whose family’s roots are deeply connected to the island, told NBC News. “Once you raise those limits and the land value increases, we only have two to three years at most. If you talk about the descendants of the enslaved, 90% of us will be gone.”

Sapelo Island sits 60 miles south of Savannah and is only reachable by boat, making it a perfect attraction for those looking to build massive vacation homes that could price local residents off the land.

Due to its isolation from the mainland, its descendants have been able to maintain their cultural traditions and customs, including their language. According to NBC News, Hogg Hummock was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, the official list of America’s treasured historic sites.

Now, its residents are dependent on the ruling of the local government in McIntosh County—where 65 percent of the 11,100 residents are white—to help preserve their legacy. Currently, Hogg Hummock is recognized as a community with “unique needs in regard to its historic resources.” But the proposed legislation would eradicate that recognition and allow developers to demolish structures on the island as they see fit.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 12, 2023

Houston Rockets’ Kevin Porter, Jr. Arrested For Alleged Assault Against Baller Babe In New York City

Houston Rockets Shooting Guard Kevin Porter, Jr. was arrested in New York City on Sept. 11 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, ABC 7 reported.

Porter was taken into custody at NYPD’s 17th precinct and charged with assault and strangulation.

According to police reports, Porter returned to the Millennium Hilton Hotel, where he and his girlfriend, former WBNA player Kysre Gondrezick, were staying. Allegedly, Gondrezick got upset over the time of his return and locked the door.

After Porter got into the hotel room, with the assistance of hotel security, police say he allegedly hit her and put his hands on her neck. Gondrezick suffered from a cut on the right side of her face and was treated for neck pain.

“We are in the process of gathering information surrounding the matter involving Kevin Porter Jr.,” the Rockets said in a statement, according to ESPN. The NBA said it has been in “contact with the Houston Rockets and in the process of gathering more information.”

According to Tim McMahon of ESPN, while the NBA conducting its investigation, the Rockets “cannot administer any immediate punishment on Porter, including a suspension.”

Porter has had his share of run-ins with the law. In November 2020, Porter was arrested on a weapons charge in Ohio during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He dodged jail time after a grand jury declined to indict him. However, the NBA decided to hold him accountable. The Cavaliers listed him as inactive for the first half of the 2020 season, and he was traded to the Rockets in January 2021.

Porter signed a four-year contract extension with the team for $82.5 million last season. But because of his off-court issues, only the $15.9 million salary for this season is fully guaranteed.

The victim’s sister, Kalabrya Gondrezick-Haskins, released a statement on social media, telling Porter to “count his f*****g days. Better hope and pray you’ll be able to walk again, let alone dribble.”

Kalabrya Gondrezick-Haskins, Kysre Gondrezick’s sister, has called out Kevin Porter Jr.

(h/t @ClutchPoints ) pic.twitter.com/2c85FMMYaY

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 11, 2023

Maryland, Police, Department, investigation

by Lauren Nutall

September 12, 2023

Clearwater Police Department Facing Two Lawsuits After Alleged Racial Profiling Arrest

A Clearwater, Florida, Black man has filed two federal lawsuits against the Clearwater Police Department, accusing the agency of racially profiling him.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that three police officers arrested Jacques LaPread in a case of mistaken identity in June 2019. The police officers—Kyle Bingham, Michael Buis, and Henry Giles—had been searching for an individual accused of burglary and credit card fraud when they encountered the professional.

According to the lawsuits, on the day of LaPread’s arrest, a woman reported a car burglary in which she lost her valuables, including credit cards, gift cards, and IDs. After the theft, activity on two of the stolen credit cards showed a cigarette purchase from a Speedway Gas Station on McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater and an over $200 purchase from a nearby Walgreens.

That same day, LaPread had withdrawn $20 from an ATM at the Speedway Gas Station, where he also made a purchase. He had held the door open for the three officers who had arrived to investigate the crime. However, one of the officers accused LaPread of looking “suspicious” and ran his license plate. The trio subsequently arrested him at his home later that evening.

Following a five-month investigation, the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office opted not to file charges against LaPread, determining that the suspect couldn’t be adequately identified. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett spoke with the news organization about the situation.

“We were very uncomfortable with the identification of this individual that had been arrested.”

At the time of the arrest, LaPread, who works in information technology, had been up for a promotion at his cybersecurity job. However, the ordeal jeopardized the opportunity, and he was subsequently denied the lucrative position.

“I’m pretty much starting from scratch again, all because of this,” he shared.

LaPread filed a lawsuit against Clearwater’s then-Police Chief Dan Slaughter after a resolution was not met outside of the court. While the case was initially filed in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Civil Court, it has since been moved to federal court. LaPread also filed a lawsuit in June against the Clearwater Police Department and Bingham, Buis, and Giles.

The arresting officers underwent an internal investigation, which yielded zero punishment. Instead, they received reprimands, according to Clearwater Police spokesperson Rob Shaw. Bingham and Giles remain employed in law enforcement, but Buis left the department for unrelated reasons. Shaw did not provide any further information due to pending litigation.

Starbucks, Black-owned coffee shops, coffee

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 12, 2023

Future Of Black-Owned Coffee Shop Is Bright Thanks To Rondo Community Land Trust

When Mychael and Stephanie Wright founded Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe in 2000, they were simply following the business advice of Mychael’s brother. Twenty-three years later, Wright’s Cafe is a community landmark in St. Paul, Minnesota, and it seems it’s here to stay.

According to Twin Cities Pioneer Press, the cherished coffee shop has been sold to the Rondo Community Land Trust and will be expanded into a Black-owned restaurant and food vendor incubator space. Under its new moniker, “Golden Thyme Presents,” businesses will be offered short-and long-term leases. Faced with a desire to start their next chapter, the Wrights were prepared to sell, and the land trust came forward to help them do so while not doing away with a community bedrock. “For us, it’s such a cultural gem, we couldn’t not step in to preserve it and create a plan to maintain the asset in [the] community,” said E. Coco, deputy director of the land trust. “On evenings and weekends, we already have pop-ups lined up that we’ll be discussing in the next several weeks.”

Sammy McDowell’s Avenue Eatery will reportedly be the first Minnesota business occupying space in Golden Thyme Presents.

According to Twin Cities Pioneer Press, the land trust seeks to restore Rondo’s uprooted Black middle-class community, which succumbed to the construction of Interstate 94 in the 1960s. “When I was a young girl, Rondo was a place of Black innovation, abundance, and joy — and I am fiercely committed to rebuilding the more than 300 businesses and 700 homes that were taken from our families,” said Mikeya Griffin, executive director of the Rondo Community Land Trust. “With the leadership of people like Mychael and Stephanie Wright, we’ve made incredible gains along Selby Avenue — but it’s just the beginning.” The Rondo Community Land Trust is the first in the state of Minnesota.