In a statement, LRSD said that students were excited to take the course, and considering the district’s history, it was proud to offer it. “We are fortunate to have one of the foremost subject matter experts leading the instruction at Central High School who has expressed that her students are enthusiastic about the opportunity to take the course,” the statement read. “AP African American Studies will allow students to explore the complexities, contributions, and narratives that have shaped the African American experience throughout history, including Central High School’s integral connection.”
Close to 100 students at Central have enrolled in the course this year.
Central is a pivotal landmark in the Civil Rights movement. Nine Black students in 1957 enrolled in the school, testing the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling declaring the end of segregated public schools. Nicknamed the “Little Rock Nine,” the students were met with an angry white mob on the first day, blocking the entrance.
New laws handed down by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders are targeting the ban on “teachings that would indoctrinate students with ideologies,” including critical race theory, discussions on gender nonconformity, and sexuality, according to The New York Times. Not only would the enrolled students not receive college credit, the education department won’t offer assistance with test fees. However, LRSD guaranteed that the fees—on average, $98 per exam—would be taken care of.
April Reisma, president of the Arkansas Education Association, applauded the district for being so bold in their stance but also said teachers offering the course were very concerned about job security. “They can be let go at any moment for any reason,” Reisma said.
After students expressed their unhappiness, the College Board said the course would receive another round of revisions before a final version was released publicly. According to the College Board, 700 schools will pilot the class this year, with 200 colleges agreeing to accept credit for the course.
12-Year-Old Becomes CEO Of Family Skincare Business Thanks To His Mom
When Patrice Chappelle noticed the lack of products specifically formulated for Black and brown children, she saw an open pathway to a successful small business venture. She also envisioned a way to introduce her 12-year-old son to life as an entrepreneur, then took it a step further.
According to TheGrio, Chappelle and her son, Bron Echols, are co-founders of MelanBrand Skin, a skincare brand designed specifically for melanated skin of all ages, of which Echols is CEO.
“When he was younger, we just had a hard time finding products that were for Black and brown kids and just kids in general for their skincare,” Chappelle explained.
“I was like, ‘This is just not right; we need something that is for children—and especially for children with melanated skin.’ So that’s how MelanBrand Skin came about.”
For her son’s 12th birthday, she gifted him $1,200 to start a business instead of a party. And the rest was history.
Echols has confidently matured into his role as CEO, taking a hands-on approach to every aspect of the business. He processes orders, oversees the brand’s social media accounts, and is involved in the day-to-day operations of the skincare products.
“Right now, we’re taking baby steps because he’s 12, and so trying to get him to understand the fundamentals of running a business and just the day-to-day operations,” Chappelle said. “As he gets older and progresses through the process of understanding how we run and operate MelanBrand Skin, it can be something [he does] when he’s of college age or getting ready to go into college and graduate [high school].”
The brand, which launched in May 2023, offers everything from a comprehensive three-step starter kit for young skin to body butters and handmade soaps. The products are also formulated to treat conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, which commonly affect darker skin tones.
HBCU Grad, Black Senior Engineer at IBM Says That AI Empowers and Deepens Systemic Racism
Calvin D. Lawrence, a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, is a Distinguished Engineer who has been working at IBM for the past 25 years. In his new book, Hidden in White Sight: How Artificial Intelligence Empowers and Deepens Systemic Racism, he reveals startling evidence of the technology used by policing and judicial systems that contain in-built biases stemming from human prejudices and systemic or institutional preferences.
Lawrence attests that there are steps that AI developers and technologists can do to redress the balance. However, a growing mountain of evidence suggests that the AI used by these organizations can entrench systemic racism. This can negatively impact Black and ethnic minority groups when applying for a mortgage or seeking healthcare, according to an industry expert. Hidden In White Sight explores the remarkable breadth of AI use in the United States, Asia, and Europe, from healthcare services, policy, advertising, banking, education, and applying for and getting loans. The sobering reality is that AI outcomes can restrict those most in need of these services.
“Artificial Intelligence was meant to be the great social equalizer that helps promote fairness by removing human bias,” Lawrence writes. “But in fact, I have found in my research and in my own life that this is far from the case.” According to his research, Lawrence has found that bias in AI affects a range of vital industries that pervades all aspects of modern society – yet these biases are rarely confronted.
Lawrence has been designing and developing software for the last thirty years, working on many AI-based systems at the US Army, NASA, Sun Microsystems, and IBM. With his expertise and experience, he advises readers on what they can do to fight against it and how developers and technologists can build fairer systems.
These recommendations include rigorous quality testing of AI systems, full transparency of datasets, viable opt-outs, and in-built ‘right to be forgotten’. He also advocates for why people should be able to easily check what data is held against their names, and be given clear access to recourse if the data is inaccurate.
“This is not a problem that just affects one group of people, this is a societal issue,” Lawrence writes. “It is about who we want to be as a society and whether we want to be in control of technology, or whether we want it to control us. I would urge anyone who has a seat at the table, whether you’re a CEO or tech developer or somebody who uses AI in your daily life, to be intentional with how you use this powerful tool.”
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity & American Foundation For Suicide Prevention Partner To Fight Suicide, newsletter 3,
With a keen emphasis on collectively addressing suicide prevention and the mental health challenges that are a contributing factor, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) have entered into a two-year partnership. The formal signing and announcement of the partnership took place at the Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr. Leadership Conference, which convened at Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, on July 13, 2023, at Noon EST.
According to the CDC, the number of suicides in 2021 rose by 4.79% from 45,979 in 2020 to 48,183, making suicide the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. During this period, the suicide rate for Black males increased by 11%, the second highest increase by demographic and gender group. Between 2018 and 2021, increases in age-adjusted suicide rates were highest amongst Native Americans (26%), with Blacks (19.2%) and Hispanics (6.8%) also evidencing significant increases. Specifically, between 2018 and 2021, the largest increase (36.6%) for Black people was seen in people aged 10-24.
42nd Grand Basileus, Ricky L. Lewis shared, “With over 200,000 college-educated members, this alliance speaks to the unseen needs of our members and their families. This issue is of tremendous concern in the Black community. This collaborative effort with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will save countless lives for years yet to be seen.”
“We are honored to be a trusted partner with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Through this partnership, we will collaborate to prioritize mental health and suicide prevention in Black communities nationally and at a grassroots level through our collective chapters. It’s more important than ever to deepen awareness and make help truly accessible and equitable,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia.
In collaboration with AFSP, Omega Psi Phi’s International Medical and Health Affairs Committee will soon announce specific measures and initiatives to support those struggling, people interested in helping their communities, and survivors of suicide loss. AFSP’s signature Out of the Darkness Walks and culturally relevant educational programming reaching Black communities through faith-based channels will be central to collaboration conversations.
Unhoused Young Man Needing Help Impersonates Student In Atlanta Public School
The circumstances behind the young man impersonating an eighth-grader has prompted an investigated by Atlanta Public Schools.
On Tuesday, Aug. 10, a yet-to-be-identified young male checked into Micheal R. Hollis Innovation Academy in Atlanta. After going through the tardy process, he was escorted to a homeroom class by school employees, according to Channel 2 Action News
The supposed student was approached by school administrators who questioned and searched him, finding “a small knife and a few bullets.”
The young man was approached before he was able to engage with anyone. In a statement, APS officials detailed the steps taken to ensure student safety:
“Out of an abundance of caution, administrators contacted APS Police, who dispatched K-9 officers to search the campus for weapons. None were found.”
The man is reported to be a previous student of Hollis Academy. His last recorded year of attendance is the 2018-2019 school year.
The person was allegedly checked into school by his mother. He claims that he is homeless, which led him to search for help at his former school. It is unclear what, if any, discipline he will face. As of now his identify remains undisclosed.
“Office of Student Services is working with him to determine the best plan of action for his well-being,” school leaders said.
Hollis Academy engages in community enrichment by partnering with community outreach programs. Still, the plan of action may be outside of the school system’s reach.
Depending on the person’s age, the Atlanta public school system may not be capable of providing resources. The Atlanta Mission claims there are roughly 10,000 unhoused people in the city of Atlanta alone. With such staggering numbers and limited resources help may be hard to find.
To help support the unhoused community in Atlanta, donate to the Atlanta Mission here.
Popular Atlanta Vegan Pop-Up Restaurant Will Soon Have Permanent Home
The Black-owned vegan restaurant, Plant Based Zo is set to open its first permanent location in Atlanta.
The Haitian-fusion restaurant currently exists as a pop-up shop at 1099 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. in Southwest Atlanta. It offers plant-based versions of popular Haitian dishes and promises to bring the “vibrant tastes of Haiti to life.”
The pop-up restaurant is currently open Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday and it offers a weekly rotating menu “showcasing the culinary creativity of our chefs, presenting new and exciting plant-based creations inspired by the rich tapestry of Haitian flavors.”
Popular dishes include Haitian staples such as djon-djon rice and the fan favorite, the Vodou Burger. They also offer cuisine inspired by other regions of the African diaspora such as the Jamaican staple pigeon peas and rice, Latin American empanadas, and African American-inspired gumbo. Patrons can also enjoy freshly prepared smoothies and desserts.
The pop-up restaurant is known for the lively and welcoming atmosphere where guests can dance to Caribbean music playing over the speakers. Live drummers also put on impromptu shows in the establishment’s lobby.
According to a building permit obtained by What Now Atlanta, the former restaurant will be altered into a commissary kitchen at 940 McDaniel St. in Southwest,Atlanta.
The official opening date is unknown. But the restaurant’s Instagram page hints that a brick-and-mortar location will be coming soon.
“We are working hard to bring you the best flavor permanently. We won’t be able to do our pop up this weekend.. we are excited about bringing you flavors on a consistent basis all days of the week.”
What Now Atlanta‘s attempts to reach the restaurants’ owner, Belineda Febe, for comment were unsuccessful.
Parent PLUS Loans Are A Driving Force Of Debt In Black Families, newsletter 2,
Going to college is a dream come true for both students and their parents. However, the road traveled to get that degree comes with a heavy price tag. Over the years, thousands of Black college students and their guardians have signed for Parent PLUS loans—the start of financial burden, Word in Black reports.
Parent PLUS Loans offer additional funding for higher education, but for families of Black students, the long-term effects are detrimental. These loans account for $111 billion, with over three million borrowers; education analysts acknowledge that people think it’s another means of support.
“Our borrowers and our parents don’t think of it as a trap, they think of it as a means for support,” senior policy analyst at The Education Trust, Brittani Williams, said. “I use that term loosely because loan and support are not synonymous.”
Without these uncapped, high-interest loans, Black Americans would continue to struggle to pay for college due to the cost and insufficient financial aid. Parent PLUS Loans are a type of federal Direct PLUS Loan launched in 1980 through the Higher Education Act. A report from The Education Trust points out how the loans affect Black borrowers and offers recommendations for changes.
Some changes: canceling at least $50,000 of federal student loans per borrower, lowering interest rates, doubling the Pell Grant and creating federal-state partnerships, and making public college debt-free.
Originally intended for middle-class families, those with fewer resources like low-class families are turning to them like Sheila Spence. At first, she looked at the loans as a blessing but after sending her three daughters to college, it became a “double-edged sword.”
“It’s chop-chop. There are 25 people in the line behind you,” Spence said, according to Word in Black. “At that point, at that moment, I’m willing to sign anything. If this will get her into the dorm, we’re going to do it.”
According to Inside Higher Ed, Parent PLUS loans “took up, on average, 25.3 percent of a typical Black family’s income, versus 14.2 percent of a typical White family’s income” during the 2015–16 academic year. Researchers from the Century Foundation found that Black and Latino parents are disproportionately taking out Parent PLUS loans. Almost 20 years after being approved, data show the average borrower will still owe 37 percent of what was borrowed.
But there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. While the country awaits another decision from the Supreme Court on student loan forgiveness, the Biden administration’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loans includes Parent PLUS loans borrowers.
‘Level Up’ With 6 Certifications To Elevate Your Online Business
There is no better time for business and professional development than now.
The rise of e-commerce is a gift that keeps on giving for entrepreneurs and consumers alike, including low startup operating costs, work location flexibility, wider customer reach, marketing made easy, and more. Though managing an online business takes time and energy, so does developing your career for the betterment of your business and its longevity. Why put one on the back burner when you can potentially do both?
If you don’t know where to start, here are some recommended certifications that will crank your skill level up to entrepreneur with a highly sought-after business.
Black-Owned Business Certification
For small business owners in underrepresented groups, obtaining a certification can open the doors to sustainable growth and success. The U.S. Small Business Administration, for instance, offers an 8(a) Business Development program for disadvantaged businesses to become solid competitors in the federal marketplace.
Make your business stand out and unlock opportunities with the ByBlack Black-owned business certification. In partnership with the United States Black Chambers Inc. (USBC), all eligible Black-owned businesses can now apply at no cost to them. Once your application has been approved, you will receive the official seal designating a business as Black-Owned and Operated. It is awarded by the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and the ByBlack.us platform. Among the many perks: free access to major USBC events and national conferences, skill-building seminars and training, and ultimately large potential buyers and contract agreements.
Digital Marketing
Get creative with digital mediums and stand out from your competitors with digital marketing certifications. From search engine optimization to social media selling, free online programs are just a click away. They include HubSpot Academy, Skillshare, Google Digital Garage, and the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate via Coursera.
Additionally, the HubSpot Inbound Marketing Course aims to help you scale your marketing with ease. This free certification program is for business owners looking to boost their marketing strategy and maximize their return on investment (ROI). Through interactive lessons, you’ll learn how to create accurate buyer personas using HubSpot tools and map out your buyer’s journey to develop impactful content that drives action.
Project Management Professional
Project management is vital to any team. Project professionals help drive economic growth and are necessary in order to continue to scale and develop products or services. The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is the most recognized and demanded certification within the project management field.
According to LinkedIn, the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) PMP certification is a leading option, with certifications designed for all experience levels. Project managers must meet specific requirements and pass a 180-question exam. Each question applies to established project managers’ real, lived experiences.
Data Analytics
While AI will certainly impact certain aspects of data analysis, it is an opportunity to not only learn how to work with the intelligence of a machine but to diversify your skills in the process. Data management tools are constantly growing with the intention of measuring every aspect of your company, from website performance to employees’ careers.
Coursera offers free training programs, a d LinkedIn’s Data Analytics for Business certification provides you with the tools to assess information, how to design programs that demonstrate what you measure, and how to strategically apply those insights to your company. Take a lesson from companies like Xerox or UPS. 591Lab, one of the leading providers of IT certification, also offers a course toward becoming a Certified Analytics Professional.
Business Management
Obtaining a business degree, or any degree for that matter, comes with challenges. If you don’t want to pursue an MBA, a business management certification can potentially cut costs and time. This certificate can help entrepreneurs build specific knowledge and skills in their area of interest, from finance to human resources.
There are a few options. Coursera offers a plethora of free online business management-related courses. Local universities might also offer exactly what you’re looking for. And certification from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) can enhance credibility.
Sales
From business creation to goal setting and prospecting, sales certification teaches us to look at the sales process in a different way and develop it more effectively for our company. An efficient sales team boosts growth by building loyalty and trust between the business and its customers. For instance, it helps to learn sales strategies as a business owner selling products online and seeking brand awareness and customer engagement.
Black Entrepreneur Says DOJ Is Covering Up the Theft Of Her Firm’s Multi-Million Dollar Federal Contract, newsletter 1,
When Democratic presidential appointees at Treasury and IRS terminated The Writing Company’s (TWC) federal contract so they could pass it to their non-minority associate, TWC turned to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Corruption Unit for help. Rather than investigating TWC’s allegations of contract improprieties, allegedly the DOJ joined the coverup and helped conceal the theft of a Black firm’s multi-million dollar contract and confidential work processes. According to Jerroll M. Sanders, President and CEO of now-defunct TWC, federal officials have gone to unimaginable lengths to prevent TWC from exposing contract improprieties by Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials.
Sanders says when she challenged the improper termination of her firm’s IRS contract, officials began attacking TWC financially. “IRS suspended payments on pipeline invoices despite its 15-day remittance agreement with TWC; refused to pay $300,000 owed TWC in invoice settlement funds; contrived tax debts so it could snatch funds from Sanders’ and her minor children’s bank accounts; and burdened TWC with multiple financial audits and unwarranted investigations,” Sanders adds. With TWC reeling from officials’ financial assaults, the IRS and Treasury inspector generals began secretly sullying TWC’s good name by generating documents that disparaged TWC’s nearly flawless performance, states Sanders. “Officials had a twofold use for the falsified documents,” Sanders explains: First, they used the documents to prevent TWC from securing other federal contracts that would have enabled TWC to recover financially, and second, they used the documents to convince congressional leaders that TWC’s allegations of contract fraud were not credible, Sanders adds.
A legal strategy document TWC was never meant to see attests to the coverup tactics deployed by federal officials, Sanders states. One document, directed to Assistant Attorney General Peter D. Keisler by the IRS inspector general, falsely alleges TWC inflated wage rates, colluded with IRS contracting officers to acquire the Notice Redesign Contract, and submitted false billing. Sanders says the documents also states that “A Grand Jury subpoena was issued to Sanders and subsequently withdrawn by Federal Attorney Michael K. Fagan… due to inability to establish criminal intent.” Sanders says Fagan’s decision to not indict had nothing to do with DOJ’s inability to establish criminal intent but with the fact there was no wrongdoing on TWC’s part.
The IRS inspector general produced another document to sully TWC’s performance, Sanders states. A report titled Increased Management Attention Is Needed to Ensure the Success of Future Redesign Efforts claims TWC’s IRS contract was plagued by project management problems. Sanders—the IRS Notice Redesign Project Manager—says the only project management problem TWC encountered was nonstop interference from Treasury officials who wanted their non-minority associate to have TWC’s contract.
The Notice Redesign Contract was one of the most important presidential-level contracts ever secured by a Black Contractor, according to Sanders. She states that TWC’s outstanding performance on the contract confronts the belief that Black firms cannot perform successfully on mega federal contracts. She says it is time Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray disclose to the American public the truth about the Notice Redesign Contract termination, the subsequent award to Kleimann Communications Group (KCG), and the manner in which federal officials used millions of taxpayer dollars to conceal their improprieties. Sanders says she invites anyone who wants to know more about her contract encounter to watch My Empty Chair: The Jerroll Sanders Story on YouTube.
New Reports Show Chinese Social Media Filled With Racist Anti-Black Content
Chinese social media is filled with anti-Black rhetoric, and advocates want something done about it.
Reports by Human Rights Watch found racist videos mocking Black people or portraying them through offensive racial stereotypes, The Guardian reports. The team analyzed hundreds of videos on Chinese social media and found major platforms, including Bilibili, Douyin, Kuaishou, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu, have done nothing about it since 2021.
Popular videos include “Chinese savior” content, showing people acting as Africans, portraying them as primitive, and the content creators being shown as wealthy saviors. A video posted on Douyin shows a woman in an African country washing her hands in a hut before drinking homemade alcohol from a muddy container. With the caption, “#LifeInAfrica #cleanandhygienic #PrimitiveTribe,” the video has 12,000 likes and hosts several negative comments, such as, “Thank you to my eight generations of ancestors for giving birth to me in China.”
Chinese authorities have openly condemned racism and have pledged to crack down on “unlawful online acts.” Chinese vlogger Lu Ke was arrested in 2022 after a BBC Africa Eye documentary exposed him as the creator of videos featuring Malawian children being sold on Chinese social media for money. In April 2023, Lu was convicted in Malawi on 14 charges, including child trafficking and procurement of children for use of entertainment, and deported from the country.
The vlogger coached the children featured in the video to repeat messages in Mandarin that they didn’t understand, including phrases like, “I am Black monster, my IQ is low.”
In a released statement, a senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, Yaqiu Wang, says the Chinese government sings two different tunes regarding racism. “The Chinese government likes to tout China-Africa anti-colonial solidarity and unity, but at the same time, ignores pervasive hate speech against Black people on the Chinese internet,” Wang said, according to Al Jazeera.
“Beijing should recognize that undertaking investments in Africa and embracing China-Africa friendship won’t undo harm caused by unaddressed racism.”
The report points out that Chinese people in interracial relationships with Black people are major targets of online abuse. Women are often subjected to threats of rape, death, and doxing—publishing personal information about a person without their consent. Chinese descendants who condemn racism or support victims of racism are also targeted. Other posts include calling on the Chinese government to ban Black people from becoming permanent residents of China or marrying Chinese people.
