Ralph Yarl Begins Senior Year Of High School Four Months After Being Shot In The Head While Picking Up Brothers
Ralph Yarl was doing his big brother duty, picking up his younger siblings when he was shot in the head by a man whose home he went to accidentally in Kansas City, Missouri.
Four months later, according to AP, Yarl has begun his senior year of high school and the man who shot him is facing first-degree assault and armed criminal action charges.
Andrew Lester, 84, pled not guilty and is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing on August 31. Lester, who is white, told police that he shot Yarl—twice—through the door because he was “scared to death” that the Black person standing on his porch was there to rob him.
He fired several shots at the teenager; striking Yarl in the arm and head. Yarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, says the teenager’s near-death experience as well as the attention he received made him anxious to return to normal.
“He was ready,” she said. “Ralph was ready to just go back to just being a teenager.” Yarl celebrated his 17th birthday in May and spent the summer completing an engineering internship.
A GoFundMe campaign in his honor raised over $3.5 million. Another fundraiser set up by musicians in the United States and Canada resulted in the budding musician receiving his very own bass clarinet.
“As musicians, we know about the impact that a high-quality musical instrument can have on our abilities to express ourselves to the world, and about the life-giving motivation that comes from this,” the fundraiser read. “We also know the unique power that comes when we are supported by our fellow musicians. We’d like to extend both of these gifts to Ralph.”
Yarl will also head to The White House, thanks to a personal invitation from President Joe Biden; a date hasn’t been set yet.
A week into his senior year, the 17-year-old will face the man who shot him for the first time since the night of April 13, 2023.
Natalie Hudson To Become State of Minnesota’s First Black Chief Justice in October
Natalie Hudson has made a name for herself in Minnesota.
On Wednesday, she was announced as the state’s first Black Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. According to NBC News, Hudson will lead the court when Chief Justice Lorie Gildea retires in October.
“Justice Hudson is one of our state’s most experienced jurists. She has a strong reputation as a leader and consensus builder,” said Gov. Tim Walz, who promoted the Chief Justice. “I am confident that she will advance a vision that promotes fairness and upholds the dignity of all Minnesotans.”
In the same statement, Hudson said, “This is a tremendous responsibility that I approach with humility and resolve, seeking to continue the work of my predecessors in administering one of the best state court systems in the nation, and always seeking to deliver the most accessible, highest-quality court services for the citizens of Minnesota.”
According to her website, Justice Hudson began her legal career in 1982 working as a staff attorney with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. She shifted into employment law and general civil litigation in 1986 where she worked as an associate attorney at Robins, Zelle, Larson & Kaplan, a law firm presently known as Robins Kaplan.
Hudson worked as an Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Hamline University School of Law before serving as the St. Paul City Attorney. In 1994, she practiced in the Criminal Appellate Division of the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General.
Throughout her career, Hudson has built an extensive list of relationships with judges, attorneys, litigants, and diverse communities. As longtime residents of the Twin Cities, she and her husband, former pastor, Reverend Willie Hudson, have mentored youth and been active in local churches for more than 30 years.
Hudson also speaks to community and civic groups about the state’s judicial system and its dedication to the citizens of Minnesota.
Philadelphia Sisters Save Community Coffee Shop, Use It To Empower Black Women-Owned Businesses
Vine + Vault owners Breana and Diana Baye restored a community gem nearly lost to inflation when they took ownership of the plant, coffee, and gift shop. Now, the pair are using their new lease on good vibes to give back to local, Black women-owned businesses.
Located in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia, Vine + Vault was not the result of a lifelong dream for the Baye sisters. According to CBS News, neither has experience with coffee, plants, floral arrangements, or retail.
“This was not a part of the plan,” Diana said, “It just was something I was passionate about.”
After making a few minor adjustments, including additional seating in one of the greenhouses on the property, the Baye sisters have restored a sense of familiarity that has birthed a deeper connection to the neighborhood.
“It fosters a lot more camaraderie,” Diana said.
“A lot more community when you’re able to sit and have conversations and talk to people from your community that you didn’t even know were here.”
Though still learning the ins and outs of their new business venture, it has always been clear for the Baye sisters that Vine + Vault is where local Black, women-owned businesses can thrive.
Sabali Tea Company and wellness brands Mind Your Grace, and Sage’N ishhave all found a home on the store’s gift shop shelves, marking a milestone for their respective brands.
“All three — Black, women-owned businesses — first time in a retail shop,” Diane said.
“And they have been doing very well. I am very happy for them because just getting on a shelf is exciting.” The Baye sisters gracefully face the growing pains of business ownership by fearlessly accepting resources and support from locals.
“Literally ask for help. We are a community,” Breana said. “You’d be surprised how many people want to help you when they see you trying to do something.”
Financial Tech Startup Helps Increase Profits for Black-Owned Businesses
Kelly Ifill, a 37-year-old entrepreneur, comes from a family of Black business owners. Her father has a contracting business and her grandmother has a cleaning service. She has other relatives who run small businesses yet Ifill did not set her sights on pursuing the same path.
“I had no interest in being an entrepreneur,” Ifill, 37, told CNBC’s Make It. Ifill has experience as a school teacher, MBA candidate, and staffer for seed-stage venture capital firms.
A resident of Brooklyn, New York, Ifill observed multiple businesses struggling to remain in operation. After seeing the small business difficulties to obtain approval for commercial checking accounts and bank loans from traditional banks, Ifill believed opening her own company would best support these businesses.
Often, Black businesses are less likely to be approved for commercial checking accounts and bank loans. However, when presented with the opportunity to obtain a loan, Black business owners often pay higher rates, according to CNBC.
In January, Ifill launched an online banking platform called Guava, which is geared towards Black small-business owners. The company has gained over 3,000 members. The company’s members consist of “a diverse range of businesses, from candle companies to spin studios.”
Although investments in Black-owned startups has soared in recent years, these companies only represent less than 2% of funding. Furthermore, less than 1% was for companies run by Black women.
Every entrepreneur has not had equal access to the resources that would allow them to build sustainable, scalable businesses. That’s a problem for everybody, Ifill said. Her understanding of challenges in entrepreneurship resulted in Guava’s early success. “I have grown up understanding what that experience is,” she says. “Especially for Black people [and] especially for immigrants in this country.”
Guava is not a traditional bank. The online banking platform provides services through New York’s Piermont Bank, a fully accredited Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation member. Small-business owners can open a checking account for their business through Guava “for free in minutes,” according to the company’s website. Each account is linked to a government ID to prevent fraud. Meanwhile, up to 250,000 in deposited funds are insured by the FDIC.
Guava offers pilot programs in progress that provide options for business loans. This month, the company launched Huddle, which serves as a network for members to share information and learn from industry leaders and financial experts.
Ifill noted that her company is “a profit driver.” She believes if more people support Black-owned businesses, banks and financiers investing in these businesses would benefit significantly.
It’s Getting Real: Mask Mandate Reinstated at Morris Brown College
We hope these students bought masks during their college shopping sprees, because they’re going to need them.
Morris Brown College (MBC), a private historically Black liberal arts school in Atlanta, has called for all students and employees to wear masks on campus for the next two weeks. According to a post from the MBC Instagram page, the school greeted all faculty, staff, and students with the requirement.
According to Fox News, Morris Brown College has not reported any positive cases of COVID-19. However, MBC implemented the mask mandate as a precautionary measure after several students in the Atlanta University Center tested positive for the virus.
“Effective immediately, Morris Brown College has reinstated its COVID-19 mask mandate due to reports of positive cases among students in the Atlanta University Center,” the statement read.
Several protocols have been set in place across the campus, including mask-wearing, physical distance, and contact tracing. The HBCU also implemented guidelines for large gathering, prohibiting parties or large student events on campus for the next two weeks. Student also must “adhere to institutional policies and CDC guidelines” regarding isolation and quarantine.
“We prioritize your safety and seek your cooperation in preventing another pandemic,” college president Dr. Kevin James wrote. “Thank you for being proactive in safeguarding our community.”
Fox News reported that the school turned off comments under the post after it garnered several responses regarding the mandate decision.
Other organizations and companies have also reinstated the mask mandate, including Lionsgate, the Los Angeles movie studio, after several positive cases were reported. Deadline reported that Lionsgate has implemented similar protocols for their employees such as contact tracing.
Georgia State University Offering Fall Course That Will Analyze ‘Legal Life Of’ Rick Ross
A university in Georgia is prepping its students for a course that will study the career and business ventures of Florida-bred entertainer Rick Ross.
George State University recently announced that for this upcoming fall semester, there will be a class that will allow students to study the legal life of Florida rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross. The course will be done under the Georgia State University College of Law’s fourth installment of the course, “Legal Life Of…”
This class will be taught by Professor of Practice Mo Ivory, director of the Entertainment, Sports & Media Law Initiative at the College of Law.
“The ‘Biggest’ meets the classroom,” Ross said in a written statement. “I’ve always been a student of the game, and I look forward to being able to teach the next generation how to keep hustlin’.”
This semester’s subject is the continuation of a program that was brought to Georgia State Law in 2019 by Ivory. Rick Ross follows previous subjects Ludacris, Kandi Burruss, and Steve Harvey. The “Legal Life Of…” is a part of the curriculum for the Entertainment, Sports & Media Law Initiative. It focuses on entertainment, sports, media, and intellectual property law.
“As a lover of rap music, hip-hop culture, and in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, I could not think of a better time to study the career of a visionary like Rick Ross,” said Ivory.
“When I began my research on Ross, I realized early on that my students would learn about a businessman who turned his love of music into an empire that includes massive real estate holdings, food and beverage franchises, investments in the car and bike industry, literary works and corporate equity ownership.”
The class will provide law students with a chance to get hands-on legal experience with entertainment law by studying the contracts and legal transactions of Ross throughout his music career and business dealings.
Students will get a chance to peer into the businesses of Ross, CEO of Maybach Music Group. Ross is a real estate investor, a franchise owner of more than 25 Wingstop locations, the owner of several Checkers and Rally’s restaurants, a partner in Sovereign Brands, the CEO of Rick Ross Car & Bike Show as well as the Boss Up Conference.
The Steve Fund Appoints Black Exec As CEO, Bringing Expertise To Aid Youth Of Color in Confronting Mental Health Challenges
A seasoned Black leader with diverse experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and government sectors, David R. McGhee has been named CEO of The Steve Fund(TSF).
Calling itself the nation’s leading nonprofit supporting the mental health and well-being of young people of color (POC), the TSF organization works with those individuals, families, colleges and universities, and mental health experts, among others. It promotes programs and strategies to build understanding and assistance for emotional health. It was reportedly started in 2014 after the death of Stephen Rose, a Harvard alumnus who took his own life at age 24.
The New York City-based TSF shared an exclusive statement with BLACK ENTERPRISE on why it chose McGhee to make an impact: “With David’s background we felt that he was the perfect person to address the historical and systemic disparities that have disproportionately affected this community. People of color often face unique challenges and experiences related to racism, discrimination, and social inequality, which can have a significant impact on their mental health.”
As its CEO, the nonprofit added McGhee “will focus on the mental well-being of POC and contribute to reducing mental health disparities within the broader society. By advocating for equitable access to mental health resources, promoting culturally sensitive approaches to treatment, and raising awareness about the unique challenges faced by people of color, David can help address the systemic barriers that contribute to mental health disparities.”
TSF’s efforts include helping young POC transition from adolescence into college, the workforce, and adulthood. McGhee will aim to drive strategies and programs that bring transformative change nationwide for young POCs, their families, caregivers, peers, and institutions. He will focus on helping reduce the stigma around mental health concerns, assisting younger POC to adapt to change, cope with stress, and have healthy relationships.
Reflecting on his new role, McGhee stated, “Our work is critically important to the well-being and future success of millions of America’s adolescents and young adults. I’m proud to lead the strategy, facilitate new conversations, and work with our team to deliver innovative approaches to promote mental health, emotional well-being, and belonging.”
McGhee had been chief strategy and program officer for the Schultz Family Foundation, the family philanthropy of Howard and Sheri Kersch Schultz. In this inaugural role, it was reported McGhee directed strategies and operations for a $30 million annual grant-making budget.
He was vice president of organizational excellence and impact at the Skillman Foundation. It focused on transforming education systems and nurturing the brilliance and power of Detroit youth.
He also served as an adviser and liaison for a Congressional representative and program director for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. McGhee played a key role in the local implementation of national programs and several successful community initiatives, including My Brothers Keeper Detroit.
‘I Can’t Walk’: Kevin Hart Ends Up In Wheelchair After Challenging Former NFL Player To Race
Comedian Kevin Hart always knows how to bring the laughs, and his latest Instagram post does not disappoint, although the matter at hand is a bit more serious.
According to ET Online, the problem started when Hart challenged ex-New England Patriots star Stevan Ridley to a 40-yard dash. “This debate was based on who’s faster. Those that know me know, I’m pretty fast,” Hart explained with his normal candor. “Stevan said, ‘Kevin, there ain’t no way you’re gonna beat me.’ Stevan is an ex-NFL running back, played for the New England Patriots. Very good guy… [So] we get out there, we go run the 40-yard dash.” What happened next may take a bit of time to heal from. “Guys, I blew all my s**t,” Hart revealed. “I tore my lower abdomen, my abductors are torn, I don’t know what that is but I tore them, I tore those, too. I can’t walk.”
With his newfound free time, Hart has been able to rethink his decision to race the former professional athlete. “What are we competing for at this age? What am I doing? Why did I even race? Stupidest s**t ever, now I can’t walk,” he said. “What was I thinking, son? I’ve got to be the stupidest man alive.”
The 44-year-old comic also came face to face with the undefeated presence of Father Time due to his decision to face off against Ridley. “Ladies and gentlemen, the age 40 is real. To all my men, women out there that are 40 years old and above, it’s not a game,” Hart said. “Respect that age, or that age will make you respect it. It just made me respect it.”
Ridley was ever the gracious victor, offering a response on his IG story. “My bad @KevinHart4Real!” he wrote. “Heal up and keep making us all laugh!”
2 of Dwyane Wade’s ‘Li-Ning Way of Wade’ Sneakers To Be Re-Released This Week
Former Miami Heat player and now NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade is a retired basketball player, but he is still working!
According to Complex, the latest sneaker from his signature line is about to drop. Although he has stopped playing, consumers continue to purchase his footwear. The latest release from Wade’s Li-Ning Way of Wade is forthcoming.
Two of his signature sneakers will be available to purchase later this week. The first one is the first-ever re-release of The Way of Wade 6. This sneaker is known to Wade fans because these were the ones the two-time NBA champion wore in the “Buzzer Beater” game on Feb. 27, 2019. This is the game in which Wade hit the game-winning shot to defeat the Golden State Warriors.
The second shoe released this week is the “City of Angels” Way of Wade 10 Low. This particular sneaker was designed for D’Angelo Russell. He donned the sneakers during the NBA Playoffs last season while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
For those interested in these sneakers, they will be available for purchase worldwide on Aug. 24 on the website, wayofwade.com.
Wade has been living in the moment after being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame two weeks ago on Aug. 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts. In this year’s induction, he was joined by other notable basketball players and one coach. Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, Los Angeles Lakers player Pau Gasol, and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
The proud father and husband also recently announced that, PROUDLY, the baby care line he created with his wife, Gabrielle Union, received the EWG VERIFIED® mark from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The proud couple can bask in the fact that their product is recognized to meet EWG’s strictest health standards, meaning the products contain none of EWG’s chemicals of concern and provide full ingredient transparency. As the first product line made specifically for melanated baby skin, PROUDLY is the first in the category for EWG verification.
Reflections On A Transformative Journey For Black Men At Brotherhood Reimagined
Black men don’t often get space to unwind and reflect on our experiences in the world, so when BLK Dating extended an invite to join a “Brotherhood Reimagined” retreat for Black men held in Joshua Tree, California, at the Autocamp Joshua Tree facility, it made sense to accept.
What stood out in a cursory glance over the itinerary was the session on masculinity, but that topic ended up not being the most important part of the experience. What ended up as the most impressive part of that weekend was the revelation that self-care is not solely about things like yoga, facials, or massages, but self-care is about doing the inner work on ourselves to show up as the best version of ourselves that we can.
The weekend consisted of many personal firsts, things that Black men should endeavor to make part of our practices. Imposter syndrome, particularly for Black men, is a real detriment to our ability to love ourselves and it often shows up in how we view ourselves in relation to our work. During the love languages and attachment style session Black men were led to foster an understanding that those descriptions are neither fixed points nor strictly about romantic relationships.
Sometimes, we can feel like we are alone, particularly when we discuss deeply personal thoughts about masculinity and men and our roles in shaping a better world. It is good for Black men to be in spaces where we are reminded that there are plenty of us who are fully invested in doing the work of pouring into ourselves. The weekend functioned as a place to unplug, a place to relax and unwind from the daily stresses of everyday life. Perhaps that’s all vulnerability is, just simply being free, to be honest with ourselves and the people around us. Brotherhood Reimagined was more than a retreat; it was a workshop, a sharpening, a falling into place.
Oftentimes, Black men are not allowed to be vulnerable, but from the opening session, we were encouraged to be open, vulnerable, and truthful. It was a safe space for Black men to be open and honest about our feelings, relationships, and lives. Some of the discussions felt familiar, discussing masculinity in various forms publicly creates a bit of familiarity with that particular topic. The question about what masculinity is that was posed by the “Bridging Masculinity: Embracing Vulnerability and Sexuality” workshop session leader Stevon Lewis felt like an old friend. My own answer to that question felt familiar, a path that had been trodden down too many times to count. The answer provided rendered masculinity as a societally imposed set of values and beliefs. That answer felt too clinical as we sat and discussed the inherent contradictions of masculinity and a few of its positive contributions to the men who gathered to discuss how the expectations of Black masculinity shaped our experience as Black men in the world.
Masculinity often tells men not to be vulnerable, that there is no room for us to be soft or weak, lest we be destroyed. Honest or healthy masculinity walks a line between being a steel beam and a wilting flower, knowing that as a Black man in America, our existence is caught between a world that fears us and the people who keep us from falling apart at our seams.
It is important that Black men not lose sight of the fact that we should take the time to pamper ourselves. Getting a massage or a facial to alleviate the stress we carry in our bodies is not a trivial thing. Stress will kill you if you let it, and it is very much a true statement that our bodies are sometimes physical sites of the suffering of stress. As Black men, sometimes we get so caught up in what we have to do that we aren’t taking the time to do what our bodies are begging us to do: relax, unwind, and allow ourselves to be cared for.
Spaces like Brotherhood Reimagined are important because they keep Black men mindful that we are indeed all connected, even if our lives look different on the surface. Spaces like that are vital for refreshing the spirit, rekindling the fire that life tries to extinguish. It was more than being removed from the distractions and the demands of deadlines for me; it was the addition of brothers committed to becoming the best versions of ourselves despite the noise outside.
It did not take long to quickly realize that what occurred over the weekend of Aug. 17–20 was too big to be contained to a reflection of a single session. The entire weekend was built to make the Black men who attended it question masculinity’s roles in shaping how we show up for ourselves and others.
Whether it be the grace we give ourselves when we are inevitably confronted by the voices that tell us we don’t belong, the open-mindedness required to try new things and take in new experiences, or the willingness to learn from everyone around us, and not become defensive when we are challenged, everything encountered was a direct challenge to the systematic destruction of the way masculinity demands Black men to destroy ourselves. Some would say that a Black man who is introverted and introspective is rare, but the weekend invited us all to meditate on how important it is that we each do the work on ourselves and then find brothers to do the work with because this world will absolutely destroy us unless we are connected.
Every Black man owes it to ourselves to open up to experiences outside our comfort zones that stretch and grow us. Experiences like those created by attending Brotherhood Reimagined, presented by BLK Dating are keys that allow Black men to unlock the best versions of ourselves, despite the noise around us.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of this publication.
