by Iman Milner

August 25, 2023

Florida Educator and Principal On Administrative Leave After Calling Assembly To Chastise Black Students

A principal and teacher at a Flagler County, Florida, elementary school have been placed on administrative leave after calling an assembly for only fourth and fifth-grade Black students in which they were chastised as a collective for underperforming on standardized assessments.

According to CNN, the assembly was held at Bunnell Elementary School, during which a PowerPoint presentation outlined possible improvements in academic achievement, specifically highlighting Black students. “AA is African American, and that is one subgroup the FDOE requires annual reporting on from all Florida schools. The PowerPoint, created by one of the presenters, shows the data results,” said Flagler County School Board Chair Cheryl Massaro.

The principal has been identified as Donelle Evensen, who claims the assembly was held with “no malice.”

“While the desire to help this particular subgroup of students is to be commended, how this was done does not meet the expectations we desire among Flagler Schools,” said Lashakia Moore, Flagler Schools interim superintendent. “We want our parents and guardians to actively participate in their children’s educational successes. Our parents were not properly engaged without informing them of this assembly or the plans to raise these scores.” With outrage pouring in from the community and the students’ families, Moore has made it her duty to face the backlash head-on.

“We have either spoken face-to-face or on the phone,” she said, adding that parents were “upset, concerned as to how and why it happened, but the majority of families that I spoke with their end conversation was ‘what do we do now, how do we work together as a community which is inclusive of our families, how do we work together in order to ensure that we are never in this place again?’”

The two school staffers have been on leave since Aug. 18. At this time, it is unclear if or when they’ll be allowed to return.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 25, 2023

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Has Record-Breaking One-Month Gross

Can Beyoncé do anything wrong? Apparently not, as her latest tour has broken a Billboard Boxscore record.

According to Billboard, Beyoncé has shattered yet another record with her Renaissance World Tour. Her latest tour has brought in $127.6 million between July 8–30 throughout 11 shows. That figure is the largest one-month total for any artist since they started recording for Boxscore in the mid-1980s.

No stranger to breaking records, Beyoncé’s five-show run at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium grossed $42.2 million. That total made it the highest-grossing engagement ever by a woman, a Black artist, or any American artist.

The $127.6 million that Beyonce’s tour grossed surpasses Bad Bunny’s $123.6 million from last September. Her total is the biggest one-month gross since February 2019, when the charts initially launched.

As of Aug. 1, The Renaissance World Tour had already grossed $295.8 million, making this her highest-grossing tour yet. Before this, her best-selling tour was The Formation World Tour, which brought in $256.1 million. With two more months to go for the tour, Billboard anticipates that Beyoncé’s total will surpass the half-billion mark.

Just as much money as Beyoncé and her tour are making, she is also making news by assisting those in the cities she is performing in. While she was in Atlanta, she donated $120,000 to 12 small businesses. Beyoncé’s nonprofit, BeyGOOD Foundation, took care of a dozen metro Atlanta small businesses by giving them each $10,000 grants as part of her Black Parade Route Small Business Impact Luncheon, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

While in the Peach State, Atlanta acknowledged Beyoncé by proclaiming Aug. 11 “Beyoncé Day.”

“The Atlanta City Council is honored to recognize Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, a highly acclaimed and revered singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman, whose extraordinary contributions to the realms of music, entertainment, and philanthropy have made her one of the influential cultural figures of the 21st century,” the proclamation stated.

The Renaissance World Tour is slated to end on Oct. 1 in Kansas City, Missouri, at Arrowhead Stadium.

‘Barbie’ Film Sparks Awareness Of Patriarchy In Workplace Among Black-American Men, Survey Finds

by Jeffrey McKinney

August 25, 2023

‘Barbie’ Film Sparks Awareness Of Patriarchy In Workplace Among Black-American Men, Survey Finds

Reportedly on pace to become the nation’s highest grossing film this year, Barbie is sinking in with Black-American men.

Some 65% of them declare the film boosted their awareness of patriarchy in the workplace. That number nearly mirrors the 63% of American men overall surveyed who hold that sentiment. The findings are from a ResumeBuilder.com survey of 300 Americans who have seen the movie. The report examined how the film impacted viewers’ opinions related to gender issues in their workplace.

For Blacks, 69% say the film improved their opinion of women in leadership positions; the same percentage of respondents reported it led to self-reflection. Some 56% of Black viewers affirm the motion picture improved their opinion of women in the work environment. Blacks made up 12% of those surveyed.

The report coincidentally was revealed after the legendary late Madam C.J. Walker was introduced into Mattel’s Barbie Signature Inspiring Women collection. Barbie also plans to introduce this year a doll honoring civil rights activist, journalist, and suffragette Ida B. Wells.

Barbie has reached $1 billion at the box office, Yahoo Entertainment reported.

Based on the survey, 94% of those polled said they had a favorable opinion of women in the workplace before checking out the film.

Some 81% of respondents said they are convinced patriarchy affects the workplace; 79% reported that the movie “definitely” or “somewhat” made them more aware of this issue. Some 77% of men believe patriarchy affects the workplace versus 84% of women. Yet, 82% of men who acknowledged patriarchy’s impact on the workplace said Barbie made them more aware of it compared to 76% of women.

Survey results showed 89% of viewers said the film was “very'”or “somewhat” inspiring. Some 62& of those questioned said the film led to self-reflection.

Men were slightly less likely to think patriarchy affects the workplace than women (77% vs. 84%). Still, men who believe patriarchy affects the work landscape were more likely than women to share the movie made them more aware of it (82% vs. 76%).

Younger viewers were also more probable to report that the patriarchy affects the workplace and that the movie increased their awareness level.

“By contrasting Barbieland’s initial perfect world with the discovery of male-dominated systems, the film subtly addresses the issue of patriarchy and its effects on women’s empowerment in both fictional and real settings,” co-founder and CEO of AIScreen Nikita Sherbina told ResumeBuilder.com.

Check out more details and comments on the survey here.

Couple Climbs Out Of $300K Debt With Shark Tank Deal For Kreyol Essence Beauty Business

by Stacy Jackson

August 25, 2023

Couple Climbs Out Of $300K Debt With Shark Tank Deal For Kreyol Essence Beauty Business

A couple is here to show you that getting out of $300,000 worth of debt in three years is possible. Business owners Yve-Car Momperousse and Stéphane Jean-Baptist went into ABC’s Shark Tank in debt from their beauty brand Kreyol Essence.

They came out with a $400,000 deal, AfroTech reported. The couple left Shark Tank with a deal from Kevin O’Leary. In addition to the lump sum of $400,000, the couple agreed to 25 cents in perpetuity and 5% in equity with O’Leary.

According to Inc., Momperousse and Jean-Baptist saw their business grow 529% three years later. The site listed Kreyol Essence as No. 44 among the businesses for “Regionals 2023: Southeast Meet the 200 Companies Making an Outsized Impact in the Southeast.”

The couple isn’t in business just for the money. Every purchase does some good in the world. The brand’s website says, “As a social business, we are maniacal about creating sustainable jobs, protecting, and conserving the island’s environment and empowering women. We promise that every purchase you make will have a positive and global impact.”

Kreyol Essence empowers women with employment opportunities. Momperousse said, according to AfroTech, “Even while being victims of gender-based violence, I want to bring hope to women, which is why 90% of the Kreyol Essence staff are women.” The business owner added, “Women are the backbone of Haiti, and as a Haitian-owned social business, I understand that every social issue starts with financial problems, therefore, we focus on the root to get to the heart of changing lives.”

The eco-friendly beauty brand sells products that nourish dry hair and skin. The Kreyol Essence website states, “formulations are made from pure and natural ingredients” and “consist of plant-based oils, herbs, and butters rich in history, moisture, and efficacy.” The brand’s pride and joy is Haitian black castor oil.

Harvard University, dEI. 2.2 billion, Trump

by Stacy Jackson

August 25, 2023

Marla Frederick Appointed As Next Dean of Harvard Divinity School

The New Year will come with a new seat for this religious scholar.

Leading ethnographer Marla Frederick is next in line to become the dean of Harvard Divinity School on Jan. 1. According to Harvard News, the announcement was made on Thursday by President Claudine Gay. “We are thrilled to welcome Marla Frederick back to the University,” Gay said. “Her scholarship and her leadership have been distinguished by wide-ranging curiosity and engagement, and I am confident that those qualities, as well as her deep devotion to the mission of Harvard Divinity School, will make her an outstanding dean.”

Frederick’s work history with the school has molded her into a fitting candidate for the role. She served as a faculty member at Harvard from 2003 to 2019. During those years, she served as an assistant professor in the Department of African and African American Studies while working as a leader on the Committee on the Study of Religion. Her previous 16 years at Harvard included roles as a member of the provost’s academic leadership forum, director of graduate studies, and chair of the admissions committee for the Department of African and African American Studies.

Although she currently holds a position at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology as the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Religion and Culture, Frederick is ready to return to Harvard. “I am honored to return to Harvard as the next dean of Harvard Divinity School,” Frederick said. “It is a place bustling with conscientious faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends who are committed to the work of justice and human flourishing informed by deep study.”

She added, “I look forward to joining the HDS community in developing religious and civic leaders for our increasingly complex and diverse society.”

Frederick’s focus on the study of religion and media, religion and social activism in the U.S. South, and the sustainability of Black institutions in a “post-racial” world adds to her preparation for the role. Also an author, the professor’s published works include books such as Colored Television: American Religion Gone Global and Between Sundays: Black Women and Everyday Struggles of Faith.

“She recognizes the challenges and opportunities facing the School and will bring a fresh perspective informed by her service both within and outside of Harvard,” Provost Alan M. Garber said. “She is the right person to lead HDS in the years to come.”

Frederick will succeed Dean David Hempton, who has served in the position since 2012.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 25, 2023

How This Black Male Educator Staffs Schools During A National Teacher Shortage

Meet Marvin Dutton, a certified teacher whose dedication to equipping students and educators with educational strategies and resources has turned his company into one of the leading substitute teaching agencies.

Through his staffing agency Marvin’s Education Services (M.E.S.), Dutton provides educational staffing, tutoring, and school-based programming for teachers in the tri-state area. (M.E.S. is expanding to the Atlanta and Miami markets to help combat the national teacher shortage.)

“Teaching is a passion. Teaching is a lifestyle. It is typically viewed as a low-paying hard labor job. However, there are many ways to grow in a school community,” Dutton tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“The current teacher shortage has created leverage for educators to demand higher salaries and more benefits. Schools are now paying signing bonuses while investing in their teacher’s college careers. Many aspiring teachers are returning to college on an all-expense full ride.”

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“In addition, substitute teaching is a great way for aspiring entrepreneurs to supplement their income,” he adds.

The Philadelphia native graduated in the top 10% of his class at Frankford High School before studying at Albright College and Penn State Abington, where he received a bachelor of arts in psychological and social sciences. In a nod to his stride toward educational excellence, Dutton received his master’s degree from Lincoln University in education with a concentration in elementary education. He became a certified teacher.

Spending years in education gave Dutton a better understanding of what was missing when it came to providing students with the best possible education. Oftentimes, public school teachers battle with low school budgets that force them into footing the bill to equip their classrooms with resources.

“Public School Teachers deserve more incentives as they are providing such an essential service to the community,” Dutton says.

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However, his staffing agency works to combat these issues by serving as a bridge between teachers and school administrations.

“We want our substitute teachers to remain with one school community with the hopes of a possible promotion,” he says. “We believe that this teacher shortage has drastically affected learning in the classroom.”

“Students benefit more when there is a consistent teacher who is seeking to maximize the learning experience in the classroom,” he adds. “M.E.S. will continue to solve the national teacher shortage.”

In launching Marvin’s Education Services (M.E.S.), the award-winning educator works tirelessly to increase academic skills by equipping students with educational strategies through after-school programs, tutoring, and educational products like his Black History flash cards.

“Our After School and Summer Program has been a safe place for many students over the years,” he says.

“We also provided a free AAU Basketball experience to a group of students from 1st grade to 8th grade. In 2020, our students graduated from the program. We continue to mentor them as they navigate the perils of high school basketball.”

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In the wake of the global pandemic, Dutton has geared more efforts toward remote learning and one-on-one tutoring programs as well as a free summer basketball camp in partnership with Philadelphia councilman-at-large Isaiah Thomas.

When it comes to expanding the M.E.S. service line to Atlanta and Miami, Dutton is aiming to work with more daycare centers and charter schools.

Los Angeles Lakers To Honor Kobe Bryant With Statue, Date Pays Homage To Daughter Gianna

by Iman Milner

August 25, 2023

Los Angeles Lakers To Honor Kobe Bryant With Statue, Date Pays Homage To Daughter Gianna

The Los Angeles Lakers and the widow of the late great Kobe Bryant, Vanessa, announced plans to unveil a statue of the five-time NBA champion in front of the Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 8, 2024.

In a video posted on what would have been his 45th birthday, Bryant’s widow confirmed that her husband’s 20-year contribution to the Lakers organization, as well as his impact on the game of basketball, will be commemorated with a permanent monument in front of “The House That Kobe Built” on a date that honors both he and their late daughter, Gianna; one of nine people killed in a tragic helicopter accident on Jan. 26, 2020. “Hi everyone. As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker,” Bryant said in a video posted to her Instagram account. “Since arriving in the city and joining the Lakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the ‘City of Angels.’ I’m so honored that right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as, ‘The House that Kobe Built,’ we are going to unveil a statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.”

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The couple’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, wore No. 2 during her time playing youth basketball, which the Lakers organization explained in their own announcement of the celebratory occasion. Team owner Jeanie Buss paid her respects to Bryant, saying, “Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time, and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles. There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here, at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.” The 18-time All-Star will join other Laker greats, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who have had statues erected in their honor outside the stadium.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 25, 2023

The First Nike Sneaker That Michael Jordan Wore In The NBA Is Back Up For Auction

Another pair of Nikes that the legendary Michael Jordan wore is up for auction. This one is unique because it is not an Air Jordan sneaker.

According to Goldin Auctions, a pair of sneakers Jordan wore in his rookie season in Chicago is back on the auction block. The sneakers pre-date the classic Air Jordans that have become a globally popular brand. The sneakers were Nike Air Ship, and Jordan wore them on Nov. 1, 1984.

They are reportedly the earliest pair of sneakers that are still in existence.

Jordan had just signed with the sneaker company five days before he laced up the Air Ships. It was also his fifth career NBA game.

The sneakers were a gift from Jordan to a Denver Nuggets ball boy, Tj Lewis. He was lucky to be at the game and got the signed Jordan footwear in his grasp. He ran into the Bulls legend in the locker room and was surprised that Jordan offered him the same sneakers he’d worn in the game.

Lewis described what took place that fateful night:

“Once the game was over and the Bulls made it out of their team meeting, I was able to enter the locker room to start cleaning to finish up the night. I looked over, saw Michael Jordan sitting at his locker, and he was still in his uniform. I made my way a little closer so he was able to see me in hopes that he would change his mind about not giving me his shoes. To my surprise, he suddenly notices me, looks down and grabs the shoes he wore in the game that night, looks back up at me, and asks if I wanted them. Of course, I said yes, found a pen, and had him sign both shoes. One of the shoes he signed just his name and the other shoe he signed ‘My Very Best To Tj Michael Jordan.'”

But this isn’t the first time that these very same sneakers have been up for auction.

The sneakers were originally auctioned for a record $1.47 million. It doesn’t detail how they obtained the sneakers, but bids can be placed on the Goldin website.

Body of Instagram Influencer Found in the Woods Near Burned-Out Vehicle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 25, 2023

Body of Instagram Influencer Found in the Woods Near Burned-Out Vehicle

Police suspect foul play after locating the body of an Instagram influencer in the woods near a burned-out vehicle.

Beauty Couch, 22, of Austell, Georgia, had been missing since Tuesday when fire officials responded to a brush fire off Joe Jerkins Blvd and Landers Street two days later and found a burned-out vehicle, WSB-TV reports. Authorities returned to the site of the fire hours later and located Couch’s body in the nearby woods.

Her cause of death remains unclear, but she was identified as the adopted daughter of the owner of the vehicle. Couch was known on social media as Beauty Katera, an avid skater who posted roller skating and dancing videos to her more than 150,000 followers.

“She was a sweet girl, she never bothered nobody,” Kimberly Couch, the victim’s biological mother said.

“She was a friend to everybody,” Kimberly Couch added. “She loved going skating. She loved going to work. She loved her clothes. She loved wearing her hair so pretty.”

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Police said if they hadn’t gone back to search the scene, they might’ve never located Couch’s body.

“And if the car wasn’t set on fire, it could’ve been years before it was found,” Alex Hayes with the Austell Police Department said.

Couch’s final Instagram post was on Saturday. It showed her modeling a bikini outdoors.

“He said I look good in red, might as well call me sexy redd,” Couch captioned the post.

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Now Couch’s family is left mourning her loss on a case authorities say has no leads.

“They took a part of my life from me. They took a part of my heart,” Couch’s mother said. “I want them to pay for what they did to my baby.”

Black Montford Point Marines during World War II

by Derek Major

August 25, 2023

2 Of The First Black Marines Die Within Days Of Each Other

Two barrier-breaking Marine Corps veterans who were among the first Black men to enlist in the service died within a week of each other.

Military.com reports Comsas Eaglin Sr., 108, and Nathaniel “Nate” Boone, 95, joined the all-Black Montford Point Marines during World War II. The two men were honored decades after serving for breaking racial lines in the service.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Eaglin and the Montford Point Marines “helped lead the progress toward racial equality that our country has made over the last 80 years,” according to the North Carolina Department of Military Affairs (NCDMA).

Montford Point was an all-Black military training facility outside Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The camp trained more than 15,000 recruits after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order banning discrimination in the armed services.

Montford Point was decommissioned in 1949. By then, the Marines had Black drill sergeants, officers, and female service members. In 2011, President Barack Obama signed a provision into law awarding Montford Point Marines the Congressional Gold Medal.

Eaglin, who died Aug. 15, was born on Jan. 1, 1915. He joined the Marines when he was 27 and served two years in the Solomon Islands campaign during the Pacific War of World WWII. According to the NCDMA, Eaglin left the Marines but returned to active duty, earning his paratrooper wings when he joined the Army during the Korean War.

“Mr. Eaglin leaves a legacy of commitment, integrity, and lifelong service,” said Lt. Gen. Walter E. Gaskin, USMC Ret., Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “His life changed the world for the better, and we are forever grateful for all the sacrifices he and his family have made for freedom and equality. He endured unimaginable obstacles in the segregated Marine Corps. I will always remember and admire his strength, resilience, and we honor his service to our country with appreciation for the inspiration he instilled in all of us.”

Boone, who passed away Aug. 20, was born on Sept. 29, 1927, in Englewood, New Jersey, and enlisted in the Marines to pay for college. According to his obituary, after his service, he attended Bates College, majoring in Government before working his way through Boston University Law School and serving as a Counsellor of Law for the State of New Jersey.