by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 31, 2023

‘Girls Trip’ Producer Will Packer To Be Honored At National Black Arts Festival Gala

Will Packer, the producer of films such as Girls Trip and Think Like a Man, will be honored Oct. 7 at the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) Gala.

“NBAF is excited to honor critically acclaimed film producer Will Packer as our 2023 NBAF Trailblazer in the Arts Honoree,” NBAF’s executive director Stephanie Owens said in a statement. “We are thrilled to celebrate his success in elevating Black actors and Black culture on screen at this year’s Gala.”

Packer’s films have amassed over $1 billion at the box office, with his eponymous production company also producing digital and televised content. The Florida A&M University alumnus produced the 2022 Academy Awards.

In a statement, Packer, a resident of Atlanta, where the NBAF is headquartered, said he was “in awe” of the NBAF for its work that “impacts, supports, and amplifies Black arts.”

He added, “I am thrilled and humbled to receive this honor from the NBAF.”

The NBAF is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to highlighting and celebrating the achievement of artists, including media professionals in the Black community. The 2023 theme for its annual gala is “Mahogany.” The affair will seek to curate an immersive night of vintage glamour, with a setting encompassing an array of brown hues.

The gala will not only spotlight Packer and his groundbreaking efforts in media, but also feature another Black trailblazer, famed chef Marcus Samuelsson, who will curate the event’s menu. The eight-time James Beard Foundation winner has owned and operated many acclaimed restaurants, including Red Rooster in Harlem and MARCUS Montreal.

The NBAF is celebrating 35 years of uplifting Black arts and those who create it. Tickets to and reservations for the commemorative event at Atlanta’s Southern Exchange Ballroom are available now.

Support for the NBAF Gala is provided by Fulton County Arts and Culture, Georgia-Pacific, and Georgia Power. Major funding is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

by Stacy Jackson

August 31, 2023

Natalia Bryant To Honor Father Kobe’s Legacy with First Pitch At Dodgers’ ‘Lakers Night’

Natalia Bryant, the daughter of late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, will get a moment to honor her dad.

On Friday, Sept. 1, Natalia will be at LA’s Dodgers Stadium to throw out the first pitch before the hometown Dodgers face the Atlanta Braves. According to Bleacher Report, Natalia’s pitch is a tribute to her father’s legacy as it comes when the Dodgers are celebrating “Los Angeles Lakers Night.”

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Since Kobe Bryant’s death in 2020, the Los Angeles community has continued to embrace the Bryant family and honor the NBA star’s legacy as often as possible. Kobe Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas along with seven others on January 26, 2020. Bryant retired in 2016 after spending his entire Hall of Fame career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bryant family has participated in several events for the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, Bleacher Reportnoted.

“Mamba League Invitational– thank you to everyone that came out to support, play, and show love for Kobe and our family at the 1st Mamba League Invitational,” Vanessa captioned a slideshow of photos and videos from the event. Sending so much love to everyone that played, coached and worked on this 2- day event to make it so special.”

The Bryants recently celebrated what would have been the five-time NBA champion’s 45th birthday on August 23. “Happy Birthday Daddy❤️,” Natalia wrote in a brief message to her dad on Instagram. “Happy 45th birthday, baby. I love you always & forever,” Vanessa Bryant wrote to her late husband.

Earlier this year, Vanessa Bryant and her daughters attended an unveiling of a permanent installment of her late husband’s feet and handprints outside the TCL Chinese Theatre. Natalia honored her father with a speech following the unveiling, which marked the first cement engraving of an athlete at the theatre.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 31, 2023

Exonerated Five’s Raymond Santana Says Deelishis’ Cheating and Calling Cops On Him Led to Divorce

The Exonerated Five’s Raymond Santana said his marriage to Deelishis ended because of the reality star’s cheating and shady antics.

Santana opened up in an Instagram Live session with Eric Whitehead of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. Fans of the show are watching the messy end to Whitehead’s marriage to Sierra Gates, where he seemingly tried to win her back before she blindsided him with divorce papers.

Whitehead is seeking counsel from Santana, who has dealt with his own heartbreak with a reality star. The two divorcees spoke candidly during their session, captured by Its Onsite, where Santana recalled the moment he saw a “shift” in his marriage to the Flavor of Love star and that his wife “was no longer with me.”

“I confronted my partner, I confronted her several times,” he shared. “And I said ‘look I see it, you’re not here no more. You just have to be real with yourself'”

Santana also revealed “the conversation” he had with Deelishis where he claimed to know about her alleged cheating.

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“I knew already that I was being cheated on,” he said. “I already knew there was infidelity in the marriage.”

Santana also denied rumors of his infidelity. “No matter what they said about me, I never cheated.” He shared the understanding he had for Deelishis: both came from the struggle and had to “fight” for survival.

He shared how he wanted his then-wife to just admit that she wanted out of their marriage. Santana claimed he had “no bad blood” when he and Deelishis decided to part ways. The turmoil, Santana said, came when Deelishis “started calling the police on me,” he said.

“When you try to call the police on me. When you take me to court because now you think that you’re entitled to some of my money,” Santana said.

Noting how all of his claims are “documented,” Santana said his allegations are supported by court dates where a judge allegedly told Deelishis she had no right to the Exonerated Five member’s money or cars since he had them before they started dating.

Afterward, she started to accuse him of cheating and being a narcissist.

Santana and Deelishis were married for two years after meeting on Instagram in 2019. Santana filed for divorce in November 2021 saying the marriage was “irretrievably broken with no hope of reconciliation.”

by Stacy Jackson

August 31, 2023

Antonio Martin Pays Homage to Black Culture and History at His Los Angeles Debonair Cigar Lounge

Military veteran Antonio Martin is elevating the vibes in Los Angeles.

Martin owns Debonair Cigar Lounge, which he created to showcase Black excellence, bring the community together, and show people where the dapper men are in the area. “You come into the lounge, there’s jazz playing, it’s smooth,” Martin told Ebony. “It’s a certain level of class, which isn’t found often in LA. We’re showing there are professionals beyond sports and acting; we’re here.”

Debonair Cigar Lounge’s inviting atmosphere provides visitors with a cultural experience that intertwines Cuban and Latin aspects of the origins of cigar making. Martin’s lounge is decorated with warm, earth tones and features photos of notable Black people.

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Martin’s mission is to set a vibe throughout Los Angeles that pays homage to Black culture and history.

“Outside of smoking cigars, I want to educate people,” he said. “I want them to leave really knowing about the culture and see themselves in it. I always try to share the real origins of cigars and cigar rolling.” The Debonair team is all about amplifying social and networking opportunities—customers can find them hosting events throughout Los Angeles.

Martin relocated to Los Angeles after retiring from the Navy. His interest in the cigar industry came after a business partner turned him into a connoisseur, establishing a business in Los Angeles came with challenges.

“I wanted something in the middle of the city that was for us,” Martin shared. “…LA and surrounding areas aren’t big fans of smoking in general, so that was one of the biggest hurdles to get over. Not to mention, we’re in a niche market. Not everyone smokes cigars, and we’re in Cali, where marijuana is big. So, we really had to introduce them to cigar smoking.”

Martin credits his team and supporters for the success of his lounge.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 31, 2023

Solange Knowles Hosts Party To Celebrate Glassware Collaboration With Crown Royal

After starting the summer with the launch of her Saint Heron glassware company, Solange Knowles is closing out the season with a Crown Royal collaboration.

The multi-faceted singer/songwriter hosted a banquet in Los Angeles on Monday, Aug. 28, to celebrate Saint Heron’s collaboration with Crown Royal, Vibe reports. The “Cranes In The Sky” singer looked stunning in a strapless black Ferragamo dress at the home of the renowned Black architect Paul R. Williams.

Older sister Beyoncé is busy closing out the U.S. leg of her “Renaissance World Tour” but Mama Tina Knowles was front and center to celebrate her youngest daughter’s newest venture.

“I love nothing better than dancing with my baby Girl @solangeknowles last night at her new beautiful glassware collection Party,” Tina captioned her instagram post.

“Sponsored in partnership with @crownroyal It was at a home of the amazing Black pioneering Architect Paul R.Williams. A House Is Not Home.”

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Things apparently turned up as another video showed Solange enjoying a twerk session with rapper JT of the City Girls.

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The Crown Royal collaboration comes months after Solange announced her partnership with Crown Royal as part of its limited-edition Golden Apple Aged 23 Years.

As part of the joint venture, Crown Royal hosts a series of events with the multidisciplinary artist, starting with New York City where they debuted Saint Heron’s first collection of hand-blown glassware at the screening of A House is not a Home. Guests got the opportunity to taste and explore flavors of the luxury whisky and learn about the inspiration and creative process behind Solange’s glassware collection.

“Crown Royal represents the same values of quality, craftsmanship and innovation that we create at Saint Heron,” Solange said in a statement.

“I admire their legacy of creating and influencing cultural iconography, as it is something that is always at the forefront of my creative process. Together, we are creating something truly unique and unexpected, that embodies the creative spirit of Saint Heron to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 31, 2023

‘Like Snoop Dogg’s Living Room’: Tennis Players Complain of Smell of Marijuana Smoke at U.S. Open

New York has and will always be different in terms of, well, anything. Now with marijuana legal here, tennis players are noticing the plant’s distinctive aroma as they progress through the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

On Court 17 on Tuesday, eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari complained of the smell to the chair umpire when she was enjoying a 4-1 lead in the first set. “The smell, oh my gosh,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “I think it’s from the park.”

She ended up losing to Rebeka Masarova, 6-4, 6-4. She told reporters after the match, “Sometimes you smell food, sometimes you smell cigarettes, sometimes you smell weed. I mean, it’s something we cannot control because we’re in an open space. There’s a park behind. People can do whatever they want.”

Yet, it didn’t have a losing effect on the tournament’s 12th-seeded Alexander Zverev. “Court 17 definitely smells like Snoop Dogg’s living room,” he said after winning his opening match on Tuesday. “Oh my God, it’s everywhere. The whole court smells like weed.”

The United States Tennis Association investigated. Chris Widmaier, a spokesperson for the United States Tennis Association, said officials reviewed the video of the tennis match and found “no evidence” that anyone was smoking in the stands of Court 17. Speculation is the marijuana smell may be wafting from Corona Park, which is located outside the USTA Billy Jean King National Center, the U.S. Open’s home.

“I smelled it actually today also,” said Marketa Vondrousova. “You smell it a lot. I think it’s just Court 17. That court is so far away, it’s almost in the park. I think it’s coming from the park.”

Life in New York City has been like this for a while and the players will just have to adjust to the smell and hold serve, so to speak.

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by Stacy Jackson

August 31, 2023

Black Family Opens Senior Care Center to Combat Elder Abuse

No elderly person will go without proper care under the watch of these five siblings.

The Grant siblings run their own affordable housing and senior healthcare center called The WellNest Co. to look after their elderly family members and the loved ones of others in the Bay Area. According to Essence, the siblings launched their center in 2020 after they lost their grandmother, who died under the care of a referred facility 10 months after a stroke, and a few years later, when their father suffered a stroke, they realized the best care he could receive was from them.

“It just feels like a dream to be able to work with my family to care for my family, other families,” said Bobby Grant, who covers sales and business development for WellNest. “I absolutely love what I do,” Bobby said. “Our clients are an extension of our family, and we treat them that way. It’s baked into the foundation of our company mission.”

The WellNest Pod is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) used as a backyard medical suite where the siblings’ father resides. “At the core out here in California, we have the ability to build what they call ADUs or accessory dwelling units, which basically is a guest house in your backyard,” said Bakari Grant, the youngest sibling and the company’s CEO. “Now, with that concept,…I think what we provide more than just an affordable price is we provide an asset to the family.” Bakari noted that affordable pricing is built into the company’s business model and allows customers more control over their assets to avoid issues such as liquidation or losing monthly lump sums of money.

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Providing the senior community with the safest and highest quality of care resources is a priority at WellNest. “Our reputation precedes us in everything we do. We lead from that place of principle-based decisions, and honestly, we treat families the way we wanted our grandmother to be treated.”

The company stands firm on its mission by providing sustainable and renewable products and services.

by Derek Major

August 31, 2023

First Black Student-Athlete At Ole Miss, Coolidge Ball, Dies At 71

Coolidge Ball, the first Black student-athlete in the history of the University of Mississippi, has passed away at the age of 71.

Ole Miss Sports reported Ball signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Ole Miss in 1970, rebuffing offers from other universities across the nation. The Indianola, MS native played his first season with the school’s varsity team as a sophomore, after being named to the 1971 Southeastern Conference Freshman Team.

As a sophomore, Ball led Ole Miss, averaging 16.8 points and 10 rebounds per game, and was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 1972. With his decision to attend Ole Miss, Ball broke racial barriers for future generations in all sports for the university.

“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Coolidge Ball — the greatest trailblazer in the history of Ole Miss Athletics,” Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter said in a statement. “He not only broke down walls for future generations of student-athletes but also provided an example for all those who followed him. Coolidge remained an active member of the Ole Miss family throughout his life and always blew me away with his grace and kindness. Our university is forever grateful for his impact as a student-athlete, civil rights leader, and friend to us all.”

In 2021, Ball, who guided Ole Miss to its first consecutive winning seasons since 1936 through 1938, was honored with a statue outside of The Pavilion Plaza, where the Rebels men’s and women’s teams play basketball.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Ball said during the statue’s unveiling. “I’m excited about having a statue. I never dreamed of having one, and I thank the University for it.”

Ball finished his career at Ole Miss with more than 1,000 points and 750 rebounds. Ball was inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, and was named an SEC Basketball Legend in the class of 2005. He also earned a spot on the Ole Miss Men’s Basketball All-Century Team in 2009.

Montgomery Families Wake Up To White Supremacist Vandalism

by Daniel Johnson

August 31, 2023

Montgomery Families Wake Up To White Supremacist Vandalism

Five families in Montgomery, AL had their homes vandalized with swastikas and racial slurs.

On August 26, Black homeowner Otis Ramos heard dogs barking outside his home at 3 or 4 am. When Ramos went to investigate, he found a swastika and a racial slur spray-painted on his house and vehicle. Later, Ramos would discover that four other houses on his street had been similarly vandalized. Ramos told the Montgomery Advertiser that there were other homes in his neighborhood which had been vandalized as well, and he also said that whoever was responsible for these attacks also broke the window of his children’s bedroom.

Montgomery Police Department spokeswoman Maj. Saba Coleman said in an email that the police are investigating the events as hate crimes.

“We ARE looking at the act as a hate crimes violation and will complete a thorough report with all pertinent facts for presentation to our federal partners,” Coleman stated.

Ramos told the Advertiser, “We going through something right now, and not only are we going through something but a couple of our neighbors are going through something with us in 2023. It’s like you wouldn’t expect it, but being Black you kind of understand, ‘OK, well you don’t expect it, but you expect it.’ (At) the end of the day … what’s going to be done about it?”

Ramos questioned the Montgomery Police Department’s slow response. He said the police arrived four hours after he made the call, which made his wife Katrice feel unsafe.

“Like I told the police, if you did something like that and get a slap on the wrist, what are you going to do next? At 4 in the morning, somebody house going to be on fire?” he asked.

Others in the community are also calling on the Montgomery Police Department to make it known that these acts will not be tolerated.

Alabama State Rep. Phillip Ensler, who is Jewish, wrote on his Facebook page: “I am enraged by the white supremacist, racist images and words spray painted on personal, private property of residents in the Dannelly Pines area of Montgomery,” Ensler wrote. “I unequivocally stand against all crimes, acts, words, and displays of hate. I recognize the pain and anger this is causing so many in our community and I stand with them. I look forward to and appreciate law enforcement swiftly and thoroughly investigating. The culprit must be held accountable.”

Michael Pugh Shares Tips For Black Business Month

by Daniel Johnson

August 31, 2023

Michael Pugh Shares Tips For Black Business Month

Michael Pugh, CEO and president of Carver Federal Savings Bank, one of the biggest Black-owned banks in the country, talked to Forbes during National Black Business Month about ways Black-owned business owners can successfully navigate financial institutions to meet their business needs.

One of Pugh’s suggestions is for Black-owned businesses to use institutions designated by the federal government (such as Community Development Financial Institutions) because they receive money directly from the U.S. Treasury’s CDFI fund. This fund is designed to “expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by supporting the growth and capacity of a national network of community development lenders, investors, and financial service providers.” according to the CDFI website.

Forbes asked Pugh, “Why given the increase in number of Black businesses, why hasn’t the position of Black America advanced?”

Pugh’s response: There are about 40 million people in America who don’t qualify for traditional credit scoring. Banks, he noted, can use non-traditional credit scoring based on utility payments and other monthly expenses to help give them a loan which can positively affect their credit score. Pugh then called upon the banking industry and banks, in particular, to use these resources to increase the funds available for Black business owners.

A move by the federal reserve is also affecting Black businesses. The federal reserve recently adjusted interest rates to 5.5%, the highest it’s been in 22 years. Financial analysts have cautioned that this move could serve to keep Black business owners out of the market for capital.

Pugh suggests that Black owners of businesses seek to utilize community banks or credit unions because they have “a very different scope” when it comes to loan arrangements.

“Financial institutions have a responsibility to come up with access to capital that doesn’t drive an entrepreneur to use their personal credit card at a much higher interest rate,” he stressed.

Pugh will take over as president and CEO of The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) on October 2, 2023.