• News

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 1, 2023

Alabama Attorney General Says State Can Prosecute Those Who Help Women Procure Procedure, Dismisses Pro-Abortion Lawsuit

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Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is moving forward with plans to prosecute those who help women go out of state to procure an abortion.

According to AL.com, after filing a motion to dismiss a pending lawsuit filed by providers, the ACLU and Yellowhammer Fund – which acted as a resource for women in Alabama seeking abortions before the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision – Marshall said the state would investigate potential conspiracy or accessory charges against individuals and groups who assist women seeking out-of-state procedures.

“If someone was promoting themselves out as a funder of abortions out of state, then that is potentially criminally actionable for us,” Marshall said. “One of the things we will do in working with local prosecutors is making sure that we fully implement this law. There’s nothing about that law that restricts any individual from driving across state lines and seeking an abortion in another place. However, I would say that if an individual held themselves out as an entity or a group that is using funds that they are able to raise to facilitate those visits, then that’s something we’re going to look at closely.”

The Supreme Court’s decision to leave the right to an abortion up to state jurisdiction allows for officials like Marshall to ultimately pursue criminal charges due to the legality of the procedure.

“Though abortion may be legal elsewhere, it is plainly illegal pursuant to Ala. Code § 13A-4-4 for Plaintiffs to conspire with others to procure abortions that would be illegal in Alabama,” Marshall’s motion argues. “The criminal conduct is the agreement (the conspiracy) itself, which is conduct that occurs in Alabama that Alabama has every right to prosecute. Thus, the legality of abortion in other States is irrelevant to whether Alabama can prosecute a conspiracy formed in Alabama.”

According to AL.com, Alabama has outlawed nearly all abortions in the state, including some that would be seen as life-saving; going as far as labeling the performance of the procedure a class A felony, which could potentially carry a life sentence.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 1, 2023

‘Bout Time! Clarence Thomas Discloses Trips Paid By GOP Billionaire Harlan Crow

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Clarence Thomas is finally opening up about the gifted private trips made public in early 2023.

The Supreme Court Justice disclosed on Aug. 31 that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips in 2022 for Thomas to attend a speech in Texas and a vacation at Crow’s New York estate, CNN reports. Getting more specific, Thomas says he took Crow up on his private transportation offer as an “increased security risk” following the leak of the Dobbs opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.

As ethical values continue to form a dark cloud around the Supreme Court, the announcement comes after Thomas received an extension to file the yearly reports, originally due in May 2023. The controversial justice has been under fire for bypassing ethics laws by failing to properly disclose real estate transactions, luxury trips, and gifts from wealthy friends. In a statement, Thomas’s lawyer said there were “no willful ethics transgressions” and alleged that prior reports were “strictly inadvertent.”

The legal team also disputed claims against the justice described as a “partisan feeding frenzy.”

ProPublica was the first publication to break the news of Thomas’ long-time friendship with Crow and broke down the extent of the travel arrangements. After the scandal broke, Thomas never denied a friendship with Crow but claimed the super donor did not have business before the court. Defending keeping the trips a secret, he claims he never disclosed the travel because he was advised then that he didn’t have to report it. According to NBC News, the rules of disclosure were changed in March 2023, shortly before the ProPublica report was released. The U.S. Judicial Conference advises on ethics issues, and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have called for new Supreme Court ethics rules.

Initially, Thomas said the gifts from Crow were categorized as “personal hospitality,” and while Gabe Roth, executive director of judicial ethics watchdog Fix the Court, agreed to the disclosures, he said more could have been done on Thomas’s end. “Justice Thomas’ lengthy explanation as to why he omitted various gifts and free trips on previous disclosures does not countermand his decades of willful obfuscation when it comes to his reporting requirements,” Roth said.

Fellow justices like Chief Justice John Roberts agreed that more needs to be done.

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

September 1, 2023

Emmy Award-Winning Afro-Latina Anchor To Moderate Republican Presidential Debate

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An award-winning Afro-Latina anchor is set to moderate the second Republican presidential debate.

Columbian journalist Ilia Calderón of Univision will join Fox anchors Stuart Varney and Dana Perino as a moderator on Sept. 27, Fox News reported.

The debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. This is not Calderón’s first time on the political stage. The 51-year-old previously moderated a Democratic event in 2020. Fox News reported she participated in the 2020 primary Democratic debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.

Fox News noted that Calderón will be the only Hispanic person on stage at the September political event. As the title of her 2020 book says, it is her “turn to speak.” According to the publisher Simon and Schuster, Calderón’s book “Es mi turno” translates to “My Time to Speak.” According to the publisher’s website, the anchor’s memoir tells of her journey to reclaim ancestry, confront race, and overcome prejudices. A summary of the book reads, “Ilia draws back the curtain on the ups and downs of her remarkable life and career. From personal inner struggles to professional issues—such as being directly threatened by a Ku Klux Klan member after an interview—she discusses how she built a new identity in the United States in the midst of racially charged violence and political polarization.”

The immigrant anchor also speaks about the opportunity that led her to become the first Afro-Latina anchor for a major Hispanic news network in the U.S. Calderón book summary says a “twist of fate presented her the opportunity of a lifetime at Telemundo in Miami, she was excited to start a new life and identity, in the United States, where racial boundaries, she believed, had long since dissolved and equality was the rule.”

The Emmy Award-winning Afro-Latina anchors Univision’s national evening newscast, “Noticiero Univision,” alongside Jorge Ramos.

RELATED CONTENT: It’s Nagel and Nicholson Forever: Billings, Montana, News Anchor Cornelia Nicholson Gets Engaged During Promo

• News

by Atiya Jordan

September 1, 2023

CultureCon NYC Is The Ultimate Creative Homecoming You Don’t Want To Miss

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CultureCon, the ultimate creative homecoming for people of color is back in the Big Apple. And the star studded line up is giving.

Thanks to the undying commitment of The Creative Collective NYC, CultureCon 2023 is cranking it up a notch with a first-ever job fair and block party, according to a press release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE. The two-day conference will be jam-packed with skill-building workshops, can’t miss activations, and endless networking opportunities.

For a grand celebration like this, DeAndre Brown AKA The Corporate Baddie and Hot 97’s Miabelle have been tapped to co-host a day at the highly-anticipated conference taking place on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Sunday, October 8 in New York City.

 

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The mission is to continually empower diverse creatives, young professionals and entrepreneurs. Presented by Max, CutureCon NYC is proud to announce major partners like American Express, SheaMoisture, Prime Video and Freevee, Clinique, Google, CÎROC, Bulleit, Seedlip, Patreon, Paramount+, Kickstarter, Brooklyn Navy Yard, NBCUniversal, Spotify, Walmart, Ben & Jerry’s, Coca-Cola, Smart Water, Like To Know It, Visible, Dotdash Meredith, Foot Locker, TikTok, Getty Images, Nielsen, #CultureTags, and Tillary.

Leading up to the big weekend, there have been ticket giveaways, call for student ambassadors, and more.

What to expect:

CultureCon Week: Guests can sign up for a chance to attend five days of non-stop programming with exclusive events and experiences before the weekend even starts. Workshop topics include marketing, team building, finance and investing tips. Past CultureCon™ speakers include Tracee Ellis Ross, Will Smith, Spike Lee, John Legend, Regina King, Lena Waithe, Keke Palmer, Sanaa Lathan, and more.

Creative Career Job Fair: CultureCon will introduce the first-ever Creative Career Job Fair, where attendees can meet with recruiters and learn about career opportunities in real time. Max, Walmart, Shea Moisture, Amazon Studios, Clinique, NBCUniversal, Google, and Kickstarter are all confirmed to participate.

Creative Block Party: The fun doesn’t stop after day one. To close out the weekend with a bang, CultureCon hosts its first Creative Block Party on Sunday.

Calling all aspiring podcasters

Are you an aspiring podcaster who wants to elevate your narrative? Well Spotify wants to hand a you mic at their Podcast Pitch Contest during CultureCon NYC. If you’re wondering about the grand prize, it is a gift that keeps on giving.

“Spotify will produce the winner’s pilot episode at their state-of-the-art Spotify Studio in Brooklyn,” the team at CultureCon announced via Instagram. “The winner will also score mentorship from a seasoned producer, providing expert advice and support as you craft your pilot episode.”

Additionally, the top three finalists will showcase their talents and inspirations behind their pitches onstage at the event. The winner will be announced after the session. Applications close on September 15th.

 

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To apply, click here.

Tickets

• General Admission Weekend Pass:  $225

• General Admission Saturday Pass: $150

• General Admission Sunday Pass: $75

• VIP Tickets: SOLD OUT

• Students can apply for Free Tickets While Supplies Last

For more information and to register for tickets, visit www.theccnyc.com/culturecon.

RELATED CONTENT: CultureCon Is Back Like It Never Left, Returning To Los Angeles And NYC

• Education

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 1, 2023

Eastside Golf Collaborates with 2K Games for Special Activation at Morehouse College

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Eastside Golf connected with 2K Games to collaborate on an initiative to gain the interest of young people to be involved in the game of golf at Morehouse College.

According to Complex, an event took place at Morehouse College spearheaded by Morehouse alum and Eastside Golf Co-founder Olajuwon Ajanaku. Students were invited to take part in the initiative and get the chance to play PGA Tour 2K23 during TOUR Championship week.

Ajanaku spoke of the importance of what the students witnessed in realizing they can live out their dreams and accomplish their goals in whatever they do.

“Hopefully, all students can see this and see that whatever they want to do within their profession is something that they can just make a plan, go about the steps of that plan, and truly accomplish it,” Ajanaku said.

Some student participants tried their hand at PGA TOUR 2K23, with the competition winners taking home a pair of TOUR Championship tickets. Other people were awarded Xboxes and some Eastside Golf line products.

With the game and clothes from Eastside Golf being displayed for the students, Ajanaku said both were intended to inspire young fans to know their dreams are attainable.

“The only way that a dream can happen is if you have a true passion for it,” he said. “Hopefully, they see that through the video game, through the stories that are told, through our capsules, and even pushing forward what we do next.”

Others who participated were there to help with the special Morehouse activation. They were TikTok personality Snappy Gilmore and 2HYPE YouTube collective member ZackTTG.

Participants played PGA TOUR 2K23 Deluxe Edition, Tiger Woods Edition, and Standard Edition. They are available now for Xbox and PlayStation platforms and on PC/Steam.

• Business

by Stacy Jackson

September 1, 2023

IYKYK: Black-Owned Businesses Are Being Acquired by Major White-Owned Companies 

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Black-owned businesses experienced the quickest growth from 2017 to 2020; the greatest increase was seen in Black women-owned businesses.

According to the Brookings Institute, businesses owned by Black women increased by 18.14%, outshining women-owned and Black-owned businesses, which increased by 9.06% and 13.64%, respectively. Amid the growth trends, there have been concerns about Black companies being sold or taken over by white businesses, according to Forbes.

The outlet raised the question of whether business acquisition is a sign of gentrification of Black businesses, a process to appeal to a wealthier group of consumers. As companies strive to cater to a larger audience and achieve a high level of success, it is often followed by acquisition by large white-owned companies. This often leads to detachment from the Black consumers that once helped the Black-owned businesses flourish. 

Black business owners believe these partnerships present new opportunities for financial success and other opportunities. However, some people believe business acquisitions have some negative effects. Tami Hall, shared founder and CEO of Prestige Blinds LLC, said, “If you’re a serial entrepreneur and the numbers are right, it makes a lot of sense to build it, grow it, sell it, maintain a stake, and move on to the next venture.” 

“I firmly believe that this ‘fast money’ mentality somewhat works against our people when it comes to building generational wealth and community,” she continued. This raises concerns from Black consumers that products will no longer have the cultural significance and value they once held. This notion has been deemed as “selling out,” according to the outlet.

Entities such as Black Entertainment Television (BET) were Black-owned from 1980 to 2000 before being acquired by Viacom Inc.

In light of concerns about Black businesses being consumed by white corporations, Fee Bolden, serial entrepreneur and founder of RootedinBlk, said these concerns may be due to a “lack of exposure.” “Business acquisitions have resulted in some of today’s most notable companies, such as Instagram, Uber, Airbnb, and Netflix, to name a few. Not only were these great opportunities for their founders, they’ve created millions of jobs and wide-ranging opportunities for millions of people,” she said. 

“I personally wouldn’t advise any Black entrepreneur to launch a business that is not acquirable. Freedom should be even more of a goal than perceived legacy,” she continued. 

What happens after a business is acquired is significant. As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, TikTok star Veronica Shaw created a Pink sauce and partnered with a company that she alleged never reimbursed the out-of-pocket costs she paid, causing financial struggle.

Black business owners often start businesses to cater to the overlooked needs of the community. Thus, Black-owned businesses are tasked with considering how business acquisitions and new partnerships affect consumers who have supported the company from the beginning.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

September 1, 2023

Employers Are Cutting Down Salary Offers, Despite Cooling Inflation

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While Americans are expecting no less than $70K when starting a new position, some employers are reducing pay. Are companies acting in response to inflation reaching its lowest point since early 2021?

Data results from a ZipRecruiter survey revealed some notable findings after analyzing “year-over-year changes in pay posted for more than 20,000 online job ads,” Fortune reported. Although this year has witnessed a graceful return to more normal turnover patterns, according to a recent JOLTS report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average posted wage and salary for certain job postings have declined. Last year, in comparison, showed enduring strength of the labor market. Approximately 75% of job posts offered higher pay.

As of July, survey results found that 48% of companies reported they had reduced pay for certain roles this year. Data indicated that the real wage growth returned to its pre-pandemic pace of about 1.7%. Over the years, particularly following the pandemic, many low-income workers received historic wage increases. But it still remained a challenge to offset skyrocketing inflation. Now that monthly inflation is slowing down from 0.2% or lower for three consecutive months, inflation-adjusted earnings are finally growing again.

“Job openings experienced a large drop in July to 8.8 million, just 26% above their pre-pandemic level, and the quits rate fell all the way back to its pre-pandemic rate of 2.3%,” ZipRecruiter found after reporting on a JOLTS report.

“Both declines point to cooling labor market conditions, which will come as a relief to many employers, but bring back many of the old challenges that have characterized job search for decades.”

Among the list of industries that experienced a drop in advertised pay includes technology, travel, and transportation. For example, CDL truck drivers are down 47.1% year-over-year compared to Class A truck drivers whose pay rate decreased by 32.9%, per the ZipRecruiter data.

These declines illustrate just how much the labor market has returned to normal. And job seeker and employee bargaining power is still 29% higher, with close to 3 million more job openings than unemployed job seekers.

• Leadership

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 1, 2023

Empowering Journal for Black Dads Launched By CEO of Fathers Incorporated

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The launch of Strength of the Father: Affirmations for Black Dads represents a pivotal moment in the narrative of Black fatherhood. This groundbreaking journal, authored by Kenneth Braswell, the CEO of Fathers Incorporated, aims to fortify Black fathers by providing an empowering resource designed to cultivate resilience, self-love, and wisdom. These elements are essential in the navigation of the unique journey of Black fatherhood.

“This journal,” Braswell articulates, “is a tangible embodiment of my deep-seated commitment to uplifting the voices and experiences of Black fathers. It acts as a guide, a companion, and a reflective tool that showcases the inherent strength and potential every Black father possesses.”The relevance of Strength of the Father lies in its commitment to reframe the discourse around Black fatherhood, enabling Black fathers to rewrite their narratives and reinforce their mental fortitude. Braswell emphasizes the importance of this process. “Our mental health is not just about coping with life’s challenges, but also about nurturing our potential to grow, to learn, and to create positive change. Self-affirmation plays an integral role in this journey.”

By providing daily affirmations tailored to the experiences of Black fathers, “Strength of the Father” encourages a regular, transformative dialogue with the self. This self-dialogue can spark a powerful internal shift, influencing how Black fathers perceive themselves and their place in the world.

“Fathers Incorporated has always been driven by the belief that empowering fathers empowers families,” states Braswell. “With ‘Strength of the Father,’ we hope to inspire Black dads to realize their significance not only within their families but within society at large. Each affirmation serves as a reminder of their worth, their strength, and their invaluable role as fathers.”

Strength of the Father is not just a journal; it’s a celebration of Black fatherhood, an affirmation of Black identity, and a powerful tool for personal growth and emotional resilience. It weaves together the threads of self-love, overcoming adversity, legacy building, leadership, spiritual growth, emotional intelligence, health and wellness, relationship building, personal growth, cultural pride, social justice, and the joys of fatherhood.

Braswell elucidates, “The journal is not just about the individual affirmations, but the collective power they hold when embraced consistently. Each affirmation is a stepping stone on the journey towards a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled life.”