• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 7, 2023

Black While Eating: Black Truckers Racially Profiled and Denied Service at South Dakota Denny’s

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Two truck drivers are telling their story of racism they experienced at a Denny’s in South Dakota.

Damon Whitfield and his driving partner, Hector Madera, say they were denied service at the gas station restaurant in Sioux Falls based on their race, KKTV reports. On Aug. 13, the two truckers stopped for a quick bite to eat and shower off Interstate 29. Whitfield says he was seated, given a menu and orange juice while he waited for Hector. He noticed while he waited his server never returned to take his order. “Then she walked away, and I didn’t hear from her. She was serving people that came in before us. People that came in after us,” Whitfield said. “She was cleaning up tables. She was just walking by us.”

Hector finally arrived and decided to try and get the server’s attention. When he alerted her that the pair was ready to order, she responded unexpectedly: “I don’t appreciate you yelling at me,” Hector says the server said. Whitfield defended his partner, saying, “He just said, excuse me. He didn’t yell.”

The employee then allegedly said, “I don’t need you people calling me over to this table.”

Things took a turn for the worse after the server yelled back, snatched the menus, and said she wouldn’t serve them and that if they didn’t leave, she would call the police. After Whitfield tried to get the attention of another server, they also asked them to leave. When the truck driver asked the server what they did wrong, she replied, “No idea.”

After the incident, both truckers reached out to Denny’s corporate offices but were ignored, according to Atlanta Black Star, until the video went viral on social media and reached company executives. “Denny’s has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination at all Denny’s locations,” a statement read on behalf of the restaurant by Kris Garvey Graves, managing partner FINN Partners.

“We embrace diversity and foster an inclusive environment where every guest feels welcome.”

• Business

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 7, 2023

Former NBA Player And Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson Expands His Fixins Soul Kitchen

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Former NBA player Kevin Johnson is surveying towns for his restaurants in pretty much the same way he used to look over the basketball court as a point guard during his playing years.

According to Basketball Insiders, Johnson is expanding his Fixins Soul Kitchen restaurant after initially debuting the first location in Sacramento in 2019.

Last month, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that the former Phoenix Suns point guard will open one in downtown Detroit. The soul food eatery will be located at 1435 Randolph Street. There are already locations in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Tulsa.

Johnson and his wife, Michelle Rhee, are planning to open additional Fixins Soul Kitchen locations in Denver and Oakland within the next year.

Colorado should have its opening in early 2024. The Fixins Soul Kitchen that will open in Denver will be located at 2600 Welton Street, inside the Hooper Building.

The restaurant’s menu has traditional soul food entrees. You can find items like fried chicken and waffles, oxtails, and shrimp and grits. Their “fixins” include peach cobbler, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes. Side items include catfish nuggets, red beans, and mac and cheese, to name a few.

Vegan options include blackened tofu with corn succotash, a romaine-arugula salad, and a grilled portobello burger.

Erik Rhee, the company’s national director of real estate and development for about a year, is a Denver resident who has been there for 30 years. He commented that Johnson aims to revive smaller, historically Black neighborhoods.

“[Kevin Johnson is] all about promoting Black-owned businesses,” Rhee said.

The company also stated that the Oakland restaurant is slated to open in March 2024 near Lake Merritt.

The first Fixins Soul Kitchen opened in Sacramento in 2019. After his sports career was over, Johnson became the city’s 55th mayor and the first Black man to be elected to that position. He served in office from 2008 to 2016.

RELATED CONTENT: Former NBA Player Kevin Johnson Prepping To Open ‘Fixins Soul Kitchen’ In Downtown Detroit

• News

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 7, 2023

Expert Advice On How To Fight The Big Three—Flu, COVID, And RSV—This Fall

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The last days of summer are upon us. As we collectively recover from years riddled with infectious diseases, misinformation, and an overwhelmed healthcare system, preparing for cooler temperatures is a must.

According to PBS, it’s time to schedule vaccines for the three most common viruses: flu, RSV, and COVID.

Whether you’re a parent sending their kids back to school or heading back to the office; the need to stay healthy and avoid losing days to recovery efforts will be even more crucial as the fall and winter months loom. Experts are already lining up advice for the millions of Americans who may be wondering which, if any, vaccines are necessary to stay above the fray.

“All three are, in general, strongly recommended for the populations they’re intended for,” sDr. Payal Patel, an infectious disease physician at Intermountain Health in Utah, told PBS. For those who are most skeptical about the safety of vaccines, the preventative measure against influenza has been around the longest, but the evolution of the disease changes annually, according to Dr. Paul Offit, who directs the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Every year, medical experts use various flu strains to create a vaccine that protects against the virus and very seldom misses the mark. Leading epidemiologists suggest scheduling flu vaccinations starting in late September.

For COVID and RSV, the advice is more complex.

The Biden administration may have ended the nation’s three-year-old COVID public health emergency, but experts say the need for protective measures is still high for the most vulnerable populations.

According to PBS, the virus that once upended daily life is constantly mutating itself and still poses a significant health risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is examining the effectiveness of boosters from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax to determine whether their usage will be recommended throughout the cooler seasons.

If approved, the boosters will only be made available for those 75 or older, pregnant, or immunocompromised.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, commonly affects young children and the elderly and is particularly fatal for the latter. According to CDC, approximately 10,000 older adults succumb to the illness annually. For children under the age of 5, hospitalizations are prevalent.

Though RSV has plagued communities since the 1950s, the vaccine for it was introduced to the public this year. Researchers have yet to determine how effective it will be to combat the symptoms of RSV, if at all.

RELATED CONTENT: Biden Administration Advises Americans To Get Additional Boosters Against New Covid Strains

• Health and Wellness

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 7, 2023

Queen Latifah Unveils Inclusive Obesity Care Symbol That Lets Patients Know They’re Safe

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Queen Latifah is back for the next iteration of the “It’s Bigger Than Me” initiative aimed at raising obesity awareness. This time she’s sharing all the ways she stays healthy.

The award-winning actress/musician is no newbie to the “It’s Bigger Than Me” obesity awareness initiative. She moderated “It’s Bigger Than Me Live,” a three-city tour that amplified open and honest conversations about obesity.

This time around, it’s not just about getting healthcare facilities on board to provide better care for obesity patients, participants are being asked to show their support by including the Inclusive Obesity Care symbol inside their establishment.

“The inclusive obesity care movement is about spotlighting the need for an environment of care, free of judgment, free of shame, free of stigma,” Queen Latifah tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

As part of the Queen’s partnership with Novo Nordisk, “a slew of fantastic doctors” were tapped to come up with a symbol that represents “a safe, respectful, compassionate environment” awaiting obesity patients.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Io_jtP74rk

“So whenever you see that symbol, then you know you’re in a safe place to be,” she adds.

While research shows that four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese, stigmas around obesity and weight management care remain an issue that leads many to fear being judged in society and in front of health care professionals.

A recent study found that 66% of participants who reported a history of weight stigma experienced it from their own doctors. Now with the Inclusive Obesity Care symbol, doctors can show their support for the movement and better assure obesity patients they’re in a safe space.

“This is what we want to see at doctor’s offices because obesity is a medical condition. And you need to be able to seek healthcare,” Queen Latifah says.

“Good healthcare, safe healthcare, compassionate healthcare that is designed not just for any one type of person, but for all people.”

Press play below for the full interview and learn more about how Queen Latifah stays healthy with trips to Switzerland and body massages.

RELATED CONTENT: Queen Latifah In Shock At Being First Female Emcee Honored At Kennedy Center

• News

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 7, 2023

White Teen Charged With Attempted Murder For Racially Motivated Drowning Attack On Black Child

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A 14-year-old white teenager has been indicted on an attempted murder charge after he allegedly held a Black child underwater several times as the boy called out for help and yelled that he could not swim. According to NBC News, the teenager also faces an assault with a deadly weapon charge as the incident is considered “racially motivated.”

The suspect and another teenage accomplice allegedly threw rocks at the Black child, called him a racial slur, and referred to him as George Floyd after he said he couldn’t breathe at Goose Pond in Chatham, Massachusetts, on July 19. According to NBC News, the incident would only end when a passersby intervened. “Water went into my mouth and my nose and I could not breathe,” the victim said in a statement. “So I shouted out that I can’t breathe over and over and tried to get his hand off me.” The boy was lured to the pond under the guise of friendship; however, upon arrival, he was told to ride his bike into the water. The suspect began throwing rocks at the boy, forcing him into the water, and then proceeded to dunk him repeatedly until he grew tired and frightened for his life. The victim allegedly told both suspects that he could not swim several times but was met with threats and racial slurs, including “n***a.” After dunking him four or five times, the victim says they “started laughing and called me George Floyd, obviously making fun of me and showing NO remorse.”

Witnesses of the incident corroborated the victim’s story, and one who stepped in to intervene claims that the 14-year-old suspect “was sneering and had a grin on his face.”

Officials in the town allege that the attack is not a proper reflection of the safe and welcoming environment they’ve worked to foster. “We do not believe that it reflects the true nature of our community, which is diverse and inclusive,” the Chatham Select Board said in a statement. “We condemn all acts of violence, particularly those directed at children. Our thoughts are with the victim and their family, and we are here to support them in any way we can moving forward.”

As Drake continues his “It’s All A Blur” tour, the Toronto rapper is adding to his collection of fan-gifted bras.

The Grammy award-winning rapper took to Instagram on Wednesday, September 6, to show off the vast collection of bras he’s received in recent months while on tour.

“Remember when we both forgot who the fu*k I was in unison…that wavelength was def a foolish one,” he captioned his post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi)

Fans joked with the rapper in response to his seemingly comical post.

“Went from it’s All A Blur to It’s All A Bra tour,” one fan wrote.

“bruh got a library full of bras 😭,” added someone else.

Drake has been making waves while on tour thanks in large part to his die-hard female fans who gift the chart-topping rapper with their bras. Last week the “Hotline Bling” rapper held up a massive pink bra one fan threw on stage.

A fan throws the biggest bra at Drake 🤣 pic.twitter.com/0iVjfAM85J

— my silly x (@mysillyX) August 31, 2023

It was the latest in a series of bras Drake has received throughout his “It’s All A Blur” tour. In July, one Rhode Island woman revealed herself as the wearer of a 36G-sized bra that was thrown on stage during his live show, Page Six reports.

Drake picked up the bra and asked his fans to help him locate the woman who owned the intimate garment.

“36G?” Drake said after looking at the bra’s tag. “Locate this woman immediately!”

More recently, the rapper jokingly linked his undergarment-gifting with how well his shows are going.

“I would just like to say, before I go onto this next song, this is the first stage where I don’t have no bras, and I’m deeply disappointed,” Drake told the crowd. “But don’t start throwing shoes and phones and s––t.”

“If you got a bra, though, just let me know that I still got it ’cause I feel like I might be having a bad show or something,” he added.

While performing in Los Angeles, Drake asked his fans not to throw lingerie onstage since his son, Adonis, was in attendance.

Drake told the crowd last night to keep it PG & keep their bra’s on cause Adonis was there 😭 pic.twitter.com/QgrhX1iUX9

— Word On Road (@WordOnRd) August 14, 2023

“Hey, look, I’mma be honest with you. I can’t talk about ti**ies tonight in LA because my son is at the show for the first time ever,” he said. “So we have to keep this real PG tonight. Y’all keep them bras on.”

• Arts and Culture

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 7, 2023

Kanye West Pressing Charges Against IG Page For Leaking Unreleased Tracks

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The artist formerly known as Kanye West is hoping to confirm the identity of a person who has been using an Instagram page to leak unreleased tracks by Ye since March 2023.

According to TMZ, the @DaUnreleasedGod account has leaked nearly two dozen unreleased tracks from Ye, and the artist is now suing for misappropriation of trade secrets. The “Touch The Sky” rapper believes whoever is behind the account once worked for him and was bound by a confidentiality agreement, which would put them in breach of the contract. Ye plans to amend the lawsuit with the name(s) of the individual(s) once their identities are confirmed.

Kanye West & Nas performing ‘We Major’ (2008) pic.twitter.com/eRdiShBpue

— DaUnreleasedGod (@DaUnreleasedGo2) August 30, 2023

Both the Instagram and Twitter accounts of @DaUnreleasedGod feature hidden footage, photos, and audio tracks from several artists; however, Ye is a main fixture of both.

Kanye West & Charlie Wilson in the studio (2010) pic.twitter.com/6bEdEyux5o

— DaUnreleasedGod (@DaUnreleasedGo2) August 30, 2023

According to TMZ, the unreleased/leaked music ranges from songs that feature DJ Khaled and Da Baby to reference tracks for Rihanna, Will.i.am, and others. Ye is gearing up to release new music following the release of Donda 2, which received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. Ye is known for massive promotional efforts when releasing new music; therefore, his concerns over tracks surfacing online prematurely are warranted. In his lawsuit, he claims that his music’s unauthorized leaks and distribution have caused “substantial harm” to his “work, reputation, and potential income.” He also states that he has “suffered significant financial losses and damages” as a “direct result” of the social media accounts invasion of his artistic privacy. It’s unclear how many artists will be lining up to work with the controversial producer/rapper following his latest string of upsets that include his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, as well as his recent NSFW exploits with his current partner, Bianca Censori.

RELATED CONTENT:  The Artist Formerly Known As Kanye West Banned From Venetian Water Taxi Company For Naughty Acts With Wife

Another awards show, another special award for Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Marking his triumphant return to the MTV Video Music Awards stage, Combs is set to receive the Global Icon Award and perform for the audience. The show will air on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 PM ET/PT. The VMAs will be at Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center.

Diddy will receive this prestigious honor due to his successful career and music, business, and entertainment contributions. In addition to receiving this award, Diddy is returning to the stage to perform for the first time in nearly 20 years since the 2005 VMAs.

That’s not all.

Diddy’s return to the recording studio has earned four nominations in this year’s VMAs. These include the songs “Gotta Move On: Queens remix” and “Creepin (Remix).” His nominations include two for “Best Collaboration,” as well as “Best Rap” and “Best R&B.”

VMA highlights for the Bad Boy executive include his debut performance of “Mo Money Mo Problems” in 1997. Five years later, he returned to the stage in 2002 to perform a medley of “Bad Boy For Life” and “I Need A Girl (Parts 1 & 2).” Hosting duties in 2005 found him in Miami, where he led an orchestra in a performance that featured hip-hop recording artist Snoop Dogg and a video performance from Bad Boy artist the late Notorious BIG.

His first nomination for an MTV VMA award was his first coveted Moonman as he won “Best R&B Video” in 1997. The next year, Diddy won the “Viewer’s Choice” award. This year’s VMAs will be the ninth time he appears on the televised show.

Several days after the VMAs, Diddy will release his latest album, consisting of all R&B music, “The Love Album: Off the Grid” on Sept. 15, 2023. This is his first recorded album since the “Last Train to Paris” was released in 2010.

RELATED CONTENT: Sean “Diddy” Combs Reassigns Publishing Rights Back to Bad Boy Artists, Songwriters

• Politics

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 7, 2023

61 Advocates Charged With Racketeering For ‘Stop Cop City’ Protests In Atlanta

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Sixty-one advocates in Atlanta’s “Stop Cop City” movement have been charged with racketeering after a Georgia state investigation into their protests.

The Aug. 29 indictment is another iteration of the state’s RICO law that has entangled high-profile individuals, such as former president Donald Trump.

However, the actions of the protestors have been negatively perceived by some, with Republican Attorney General Chris Carr calling the activists “militant anarchists” for the vandalism and violence that has occurred since the movement began.

“The 61 defendants together have conspired to prevent the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by conducting, coordinating, and organizing acts of violence, intimidation, and property destruction,” Carr said.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, also a Republican, expressed similar sentiments.

“The 61 defendants together have conspired to prevent the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by conducting, coordinating, and organizing acts of violence, intimidation, and property destruction,” stated the elected official.

The already extensive charges do not stop with racketeering. Some defendants have also been accused of domestic terrorism, first-degree arson, and money laundering. The incidents and growing strife between protestors and law enforcement reached new heights after the January killing of 26-year-old activist Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, also known as Tortuguita, during a demonstration.

Critics of the charges, such as attorneys at the Southern Poverty Law Center, believe the accusations promote “heavy-handed law enforcement intervention against protesters.”

Dekalb County District Attorney, Sherry Boston, a Democrat, withdrew herself from the prosecuting team given the complexity of the issue. The Vote to Stop Cop City Coalition continues to gain signatures to authorize a vote for residents to determine the fate of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Protesters In Uproar As ‘Stop Cop City’ Movement Activists Face Money Laundering and Charity Fraud Charges