Adolescent Rape Victim Forced To Give Birth Tells The Horror Of Anti-Abortion Law
A soon-to-be seventh grader in Mississippi had no choice but to give birth to a baby after she was raped by a stranger, Time Magazine reports.
The teen, named “Ashley,” was forced to become a mom at a young age after Roe v. Wade was overturned after over 50 years by the Supreme Court in June 2022, restricting women’s rights to abortion.
Following SCOTUS’s ruling, on June 27, 2022, the Mississippi Attorney General certified the state’s trigger ban, which bans all abortions except to save the life of the pregnant person, or in cases of rape or incest that have been reported to law enforcement.
For weeks, Ashley didn’t say anything to her mom, “Regina,” but as her 13th birthday was approaching, she started experiencing some pain. Regina even asked her daughter if she was pregnant but received no response. Instead of celebrating Ashley becoming a teenager, mom and daughter went to the emergency room at Northwest Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale.
After her blood work came back, reports found Ashley to be almost 11 weeks pregnant. The hospital called the police and Ashley was forced to tell her mother what happened. While discussing the child’s options to terminate the baby, Dr. Erica Balthrop, an OBGYN, struggled with the fact that sending clients to abortion clinics in Memphis or Jackson, Mississippi, was no longer an option. The next option would be to send Ashley to a clinic in Chicago—nine hours away. Such a trip required money for expenses, including travel, lodging, and food, not to mention time off work for Ashley’s mother plus the price of the procedure.
“I don’t have the funds for all this,” Regina admitted.
This story tells the harsh reality of what some Black women are going through after Republican lawmakers in Mississippi issued a ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy in 2018. After the Supreme Court ruling, Ashley’s home state along with several others, banned abortion in almost all circumstances. Since then, women’s reproductive health has been put at risk in more cases than one, like in Louisiana where a women was denied an abortion despite the fetus missing a skull, Black Enterprise previously reported.
In March 2023, South Carolina legislators were considering passing a bill that would give women the death penalty if they had an abortion.
There have been some states, including Mississippi, that issued exceptions for abortions, like rape, according to a report from the New York Times. Before Ashley gave birth to her baby, “Peanut,” she was unaware of this rule.
Billy Porter Believes Harry Styles Landed First ‘Vogue’ Male Cover Because He’s ‘White And Straight’
Billy Porter isn’t biting his tongue any longer when it comes to Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour selecting Harry Styles as its first male cover in December 2020. According to Porter, who has long been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ issues, “white and straight” privilege garnered Styles the coveted spot.
The Emmy Award-winning actor was speaking with The Telegraph when he got candid about his true feelings for Styles becoming the first solo male to grace the cover of the renowned fashion magazine. Porter recalled speaking with Wintour months before the cover was released about the magazine moving toward inclusion.
“That b**** said to me at the end, ‘How can we do better?’ And I was so taken off guard that I didn’t say what I should have said,” Porter said.
“Use your power as Vogue to uplift the voices of the leaders of this de-gendering of fashion movement … Six months later, Harry Styles is the first man on the cover.”
Porter doesn’t blame the “Watermelon Sugar” singer for posing in a dress on the gender-neutral cover because he said it’s not his fault he benefits from white privilege.
“It’s not Harry Styles’s fault that he happens to be white and cute and straight and fit into the infrastructure that way … I call out the gatekeepers,” Porter said.
The Pose star believes Styles was selected because he’s “white and he’s straight.”
“That’s why he’s on the cover. Non-binary blah blah blah blah. No. It doesn’t feel good to me,” Porter quipped.
“You’re using my community – or your people are using my community – to elevate you. You haven’t had to sacrifice anything.”
This isn’t the first time Porter has spoken out about the Vogue cover. In 2021, the “Kinky Boots” star blasted the Styles cover, noting the magazine overlooked the strides Porter made by wearing lavish gowns to major award shows.
“I feel like the fashion industry has accepted me because they have to. I created the conversation [about nonbinary fashion] and yet Vogue still put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time,” he said.
“I’m not dragging Harry Styles, but… He doesn’t care, he’s just doing it because it’s the thing to do. This is politics for me. This is my life.”
Porter later clarified his statements saying his issue was not with Harry Styles but with the “systems of oppression and erasure of people of color who contribute to the culture.”
Lionel Richie Cancels Sold-Out Show At Madison Square Garden After It Started
Fans of legendary singer and songwriter Lionel Richie were left wanting more after the singer canceled his sold-out concert on Saturday, August 12 at Madison Square Garden. The real kicker, however, was that the show had already begun and was running an hour behind before its official cancellation.
Citing poor weather conditions, Richie was unable to fly into New York to perform for the 20,000 attendees who had already piled into the historic venue. “Due to severe weather and being unable to land in the NY and surrounding areas, I’m unable to make it to the show tonight,” the singer tweeted. “I’m so bummed. We are rescheduling the show to Monday, Aug 14. Can’t wait to perform for you all. Tickets for tonight’s show are valid for the show on Monday.” Though the show had already been rescheduled, many of Richie’s fans found his late cancellation to be inconsiderate and unprofessional.
Due to severe weather and being unable to land in NY and surrounding areas, I’m unable to make it to the show tonight. I’m so bummed. We are rescheduling the show to Monday Aug 14. Can’t wait to perform for you all. Tickets for tonight’s show are valid for the show on Monday.
“Thank you so much for announcing this an hour after the show was supposed to start,” one user responded. While another user shared, “We bought our parents good seats for a lot of money for their 50th wedding anniversary. They’re 75 and were really looking forward to tonight’s show. Thanks for ruining the gift we got for them.”
According to Deadline, Earth, Wind and Fire, were also slated to perform on Saturday evening; however, it is unclear if they will be able to make the rescheduled New York City date. No word on what Richie will do for fans who are unable to attend the makeup performance.
‘The Fallout Continues’: Lizzo Reportedly Dropped From Super Bowl Halftime Lineup
Things appear to be getting worse for Lizzo amid shocking claims of a toxic work environment she allegedly enforces on team members.
After a bombshell lawsuit on claims of sexual harassment and weight-shaming, the Grammy-winning singer has reportedly been dropped from headlining the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show, The Daily Mailreported. Despite blasting the “false allegations,” Lizzo’s brand appeal has been faltering and her team is reportedly working double time to “save her sinking ship.”
“Talks of Lizzo being a part of the Halftime festivities, or performing the National Anthem, are dead now that she is surrounded by scandal,” an NFL insider claimED.
Super Bowl LVIII is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in February 2024, and Lizzo, who has sold out arenas across the globe, was reportedly a strong contender to headline the widely-watched halftime show. In 2023, Rihanna became the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history.
The gig is a huge opportunity for any artist who secures the spot. But with Lizzo’s current abuse claims, insiders say her brand has been stained.
“It is becoming more and more difficult with more people coming forth accusing her of extremely inappropriate acts,” one source said.
The “Truth Hurts” singer has been silent on the claims since releasing a statement denying allegations made by her three former dancers Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez, and Arianna Davis.
“Lizzo has raked in a massive amount of money but her minute is pretty much up it seems and no one knows if she will be able to recover from this,” one insider said.
“If she speaks out, her statements are shredded. If she stays quiet, she is called a coward. Either way, it does not appear at this moment that she can recover from this,” they added.
Williams, Rodgriguez, and Davis recently appeared on Good Morning America where they spoke about their lawsuit and accused Lizzo of being fat-phobic. The interview came amid six other people joining the former dancers in their legal pursuit against Lizzo.
“I know it’s alarming to hear that Lizzo, a plus-size woman who preaches body positivity, would be fat-phobic, essentially,” Davis said.
“But I want to challenge people to understand that hurt people hurt people.”
Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders Keeps No-Red Rule Alive For Game Against University Of Nebraska
Since Deion Sanders became the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football team, he has made many changes, including turning over almost the entire roster.
However, The Denver Postreports Sanders left one rule at Colorado intact.
“Coach Prime doesn’t like us wearing red in the facility,” freshman wideoutOmarion Miller told the Post during the Buffaloes’ fall sports media day. “I didn’t know it was that bad. No red in the facility.”
The long-standing rule is in place due to Colorado’s rivalry with the University of Nebraska, whose school colors are scarlet (or red) and cream.
The official colors of CU Boulder are gold, silver, and black. No word on if Nebraska’s Cornhuskers have banned the Buffaloes’ school colors.
The two schools have a long and storied history against each other. They first met in 1898 and have played each other 70 times since, with Nebraska leading the series with a 49-20-2 record. The schools last met in 2019, with Colorado winning 34-31 in overtime.
The no-red rule started in 1982, when Colorado head coach Bill McCartney told Colorado students not to wear red during the week the team played Nebraska.
The rivalry could be renewed as Nebraska has a new head coach in Matt Rhule, who joins the Cornhuskers after coaching the Carolina Panthers. Sanders and Rhule have come to their respective campuses with high expectations and have reintegrated the school’s fan bases. It won’t be long before the two men see each other across the sidelines as the schools are set to play Sept. 9 at Folsom Field in Colorado.
Sanders, who left HBCU Jackson State University last December for Colorado, has bought into the rivalry and the school’s dislike for the color red, which is something many of the incoming players have noticed as well.
“They don’t like their red here,” Miller said. “They do not like their red. Crazy, huh?”
Sanders will make his coaching debut on Sept. 2 against TCU, which made the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. Rhule will make his Nebraska debut against the University of Minnesota on Aug. 31.
Tory Lanez Blasted For Releasing ‘Free Tory’ Merch After Megan Thee Stallion Shooting Sentence
Tory Lanez remains seemingly unbothered about his fate after being sentenced to 10 years for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. The disgraced rapper is now selling “Free Tory” merch amid his decade-long prison stint.
Just days after the “Say It” singer was sentenced in the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, the Toronto native took to Instagram to promote his new merch line related to the case.
“Free Tory … Till It’s Backwards … Live Now @ ForeverUmbrella.Com ☔️,” he captioned his post.
Highlights showed images of the black and white merch line that includes t-shirts and hoodies showing Tory’s face surrounded by the words “FREE TORY.”
The merch came shortly after the rapper/singer broke his silence on the case and remained adamant about being “wrongfully convicted.”
“I have never let a hard time intimidate me. I will never let no jail time eliminate me,” Lanez wrote in part. “Regardless of how they try to spin my words, I have always maintained my innocence and I always will.”
In regards to the night Lanez, real name is Daystar Peterson, shot Megan after a party in the Hollywood Hills on July 12, 2020, he took full responsibility in court, telling the judge, “If I could change it, I would, but I can’t,” NBC Newsreports.
“Everything I did that night, I take full responsibility. I truly am just trying to be a better person,” he added.
However, in his Instagram post on Thursday, August 10, Lanez said he was only taking “responsibility for all verbal and intimate moments that I shared with the parties involved … That’s it.”
“In no way shape or form was I apologizing for the charges I’m being wrongfully convicted of,” he wrote.
“I remain on the stance that I refuse to apologize for something that I did not do.”
Clarence Avant, The ‘Black Godfather’ Of Music’ Passes Away At 92 At His Los Angeles Home
A music industry great has recently passed away.
According to NBC New York, the man called the “Black Godfather,” Clarence Avant, has died at the age of 92, according to a statement from his family. He reportedly died peacefully at his Los Angeles home on August 13, 2023.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” according to a written statement from Avant’s immediate family, his children, Nicole and Alex, and son-in-law Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
Avant’s wife, Jacqueline Avant, was killed in a home invasion in November 2021. They were married in 1967.
Avant was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. The critically acclaimed 2019 Netflix documentary, The Black Godfather, told his story. His daughter, Nicole Avant, is married to Netflix CEO Sarandos, who produced the documentary.
The documentary showcases Clarence’s influence on the recording industry, which includes founding Sussex Records in 1969, where he signed music legend Bill Withers. The film also recalls how Avant went up against Dick Clark after the American Bandstand icon tried to launch a rival Black television program to go up against Don Cornelius‘ Soul Train. Avant convinced ABC to back off of Clark’s venture, which allowed Soul Train to remain successful.
In the 1970s, Avant founded of Tabu Records, which led to the signing of Kool & the Gang. Tabu Records and launched the careers of famed music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, as well as Alexander O’Neal and the SOS Band. Avant was instrumental in promoting Michael Jackson‘s first solo tour, Bad, which became one of the largest tours ever.
Later, as chairman of the board at Motown Records, Avant served as an executive producer on such films as 1977’s Deliver Us from Evil, 1989’s Living Large, and 1994’s Jason’s Lyric. Building a multimedia portfolio, he worked to capitalize on the digital boom as chairman of the site Urban Box Office.
In 2008, Clarence Avant received the BLACK ENTERPRISE trailblazer award for his business prowess in the entertainment industry. His company was also recognized on the BE 100‘s list of the nation’s largest Black companies.
‘Touch Down’ Jalen Hurts Scores as The Jordan Brand’s Newest Official Partner
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been having quite the summer break following a remarkable football season that ended in a near Super Bowl LVII victory. From signing one of the largest contracts in league history to starring opposite Teyana Taylor in a global campaign, Hurts’ name has been on everyone’s lips.
And when the 25-year-old enters the 2023 NFL season, he’ll have more than high expectations on his back as the Texas native formally announced that he is now an Air-Jordan endorsed athlete.
Joining the likes of iconic veterans Daunte Culpepper, Donovan McNabb, and Michael Vick as well as current Dallas Cowboys player DakPrescott, Hurts is part of a small yet distinguished group of Black quarterbacks to wear the Jumpman logo. To date, former Minnesota Vikings wideoutRandy Moss is the only football player to receive his own signature shoe with the brand; however, many expect to see that honor bestowed upon the newest Jordan ambassador before his time on the gridiron comes to an end. “I’m excited and thankful to join the Jordan Brand,” Hurts said in a statement. “I share a lot of important qualities with the Jumpman: dedication to goals, commitment to excellence and values, and an unwavering sense of self-belief that not only drives me but inspires me to make an impact for the next generation.”
According to Andscape, the Jordan Brand roster includes over a dozen active NFL players; however, only three of them are quarterbacks. “It takes a special type of athlete to be a part of the Jordan Brand, so we’re thrilled to welcome Jalen to the family,” Jordan Brand president Sarah Mensah said. “On the field, Jalen’s commitment to excellence shines. But perhaps even more impactful is what he personally embodies. Jalen understands the importance of believing in yourself and staying dedicated to your passions. He empowers all of us to help one another rise. That characteristic and commitment is one of the hallmarks of the Jordan Brand, and is what makes Jalen a perfect fit for our team.”
Inspire Brands Multi-Unit Franchise Owner Jerome Johnson Shares Keys to His Success with Dunkin’ and Sonic
In 2002, Jerome Johnson Sr. and his son Jerome Jr. were the first to open a Dunkin’ store in the Pentagon. Now, Jerome Johnson Jr. is a multi-unit franchisee owning 20-plus units from the Inspire Brands portfolio, including Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins and Sonic Drive-In.
Johnson didn’t start out planning to be a multi-unit, multi-brand franchise owner. “I never imagined opening a Sonic. My father, Jerome Sr., and I had been Dunkin’ franchise owners since 2002, and I never thought about owning other brands. From 2002 to 2009 we opened nine Dunkin’s and four Baskin-Robbins, all really focused inside government buildings. We’re inside the Pentagon, Defense Intelligence Agency, and on military bases. In 2009, we made a purchase that was a bad decision. We took over a store that was in the middle of construction, and the owners were having
Jerome Johnson Jr., owner-operator of Dunkin’ Pentagon locations.
conflicts. We were asked to step in and take over the business and given certain assurances that weren’t kept. It took us a while to recover from that. While fighting to get back on track, other franchisees started to enter the market, buying up territory around us. In 2013, we were finally ready to start growing again but were boxed in. That’s when I started to look at other opportunities,” explained Johnson.
No Such Thing as Coincidence
There are no coincidences in business. “People would ask me, ‘If you were to purchase another franchise, what would it be?’ and my answer was always ‘Sonic,’ Johnson recalled. “At the time, the closest Sonic was 45 minutes to an hour away, but they were always running commercials. In 2014 I attended the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference and met a Sonic rep. Two years later I signed a franchise agreement, and in 2019 we opened.”
Being a franchise owner opens you up to many different opportunities. By already being part of a franchise family, particularly one with multiple brands, you’re usually first at the table for opportunities, and that’s where Johnson found himself.
From left: Jerome Johnson Jr., Paul Brown, CEO of Inspire Brands, and Jerome Johnson Sr.
Inspire Brands is the perfect example. With its powerful portfolio of food brands, also including Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Jimmy John’s, franchise owners have opportunities to expand their portfolio by opening new brands or acquiring existing ones.
“That’s one of the great things about buying into a franchise. The training that happens is incredible,” said Johnson. “They literally walk you through everything you need to know, from helping with the construction to making the products. I always tell people I graduated from Dunkin’ University. That’s an eight-week, hands-on training program.”
In addition to the extensive training, there are brand meetings with fellow owners who collaborate and network, plus business consultants who help owners scale their organizations.
Get Rich Quick? Hardly
In a 2016 article from the Dunkin’ Donuts Independent Franchise Owners website, Johnson Sr. said, “The thing I always tell people is that this is no get rich quick scheme. It takes time to build an organization. Unless you have deep pockets to fund your business, it takes time to pay off those small business loans, and I’m anticipating the time when all my hard work will reap the rewards.” Johnson, Jr. echoes that sentiment and goes even further: “I reduced the amount we paid ourselves. We are big believers in delayed gratification— I get that from my dad,” he said. “We paid ourselves the bare minimum and reinvested the rest back into the business because we knew we were looking to scale.”
Jerome Johnson Jr. at a ribbon-cutting for one of his Dunkin’ locations.
Johnson, Jr. also advises those planning to quit their job, open one store, and get rich to think again. “You’re replacing your 40-hour a week job with a 60-plus hour a week job. Focus on building and investing in your people while starting up. One of my favorite sayings is ‘Your network is your net worth.’ Don’t try and do these things on your own. If you’re looking to start a business, I highly suggest you attend a conference centered around whatever you’re planning to do. Start talking to people. Doing this changed my life. I talked to people next to me at conferences — one owned 100 restaurants, another 250! People are willing to share information — but you have to ask.”
Success Isn’t Without Fear
With the success that Johnson Jr. has had comes risk. “Who doesn’t have those fears that everything will come crashing down? Especially knowing that you have a family that depends on you, and having all those employees’ families counting on you. We have several Dunkin’, Baskin, and Sonic babies. I’ve even had my own — my wife gave me one for every brand! Some employees have been with us for over a decade and started their families working for us. So with every decision we make, we do our best to keep everybody in mind. We’re all eating from this same tree.
“I use the fear to push me forward. When I have a fear of doing something, I do it anyway. I get a lot more out of doing the uncommon or unexpected. I think that’s how you become a serial entrepreneur — going toward things that scare you. On social media I always use the hashtag ‘motiv8.’ I like to motivate people and shine light to show that this can be done. Thanks to my father, I started franchising when I was 22, and I now have 20 years of experience. As an African American, when I walk into a crowded room with other successful business owners, I still stand out, but I’m working to change that.”
Angela Yee Opens Doors For Women Investors With Airbnb Partnership
Angela Yee has been involved in the entertainment industry for over two decades, and she has more than 20 years to go at the pace she is going!
She moved to radio after getting her start with the infamous Wu-Tang Clan. She has worked with the likes of Paul Rosenberg, Cipha Sounds at Sirius Radio, and of course, with Charlamagne the God and DJ Envy at Power 105 while hosting her radio show and podcast.
The Radio Hall of Fame inductee (2020) is now back hosting her own radio show, Way Up with Angela Yee, and has been a budding entrepreneur for years. Her partnership with Airbnb hints at her moves in real estate. Yee recently closed a deal on a residential building in Detroit’s Midtown area and will give 10 of the apartments to formerly incarcerated women.
BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke to the successful entrepreneur to discuss her current partnership with Airbnb.
The radio host purchased some property in the Catskills in 2022 for her first Airbnb. It has seven bedrooms, and time was taken to make the place comfortable enough that Yee would also stay there. The amenities include a dipping pool and a Jacuzzi. The first test was allowing her friends to stay there to get honest feedback before allowing it to be opened to the public.
“It did take some time for me to get the Airbnb to the space where I felt like, ‘OK, I’m comfortable with people coming here because we also care about reviews.’ I didn’t want to put my property and list it without feeling comfortable knowing that it was as up-to-par as possible. And then I had a couple of my friends go up and stay and test it out and give me some feedback on what they thought, ’cause it is a luxury property, and so I just wanted to make sure.
“So now that I have this one under my belt, I think the next one I’ll probably do would be on an island somewhere.”
Yee also is all about female empowerment and entrepreneurship. She typically gets involved in a way where she can pass that experience on to others in a “do what I do” mindset. Yee likes to “take the leap. And lead by example so that I can give you a more educated from an experience standpoint of, ‘OK, these are some of the things that I had to do. You know, make sure you know to do this, make sure you know to do that.’ I never want to tell somebody to take a risk that I wouldn’t take myself.”
The Detroit property was handled by an all-women team, for example.
“I feel like sometimes we feel discouraged when it comes to investing in things like Airbnb and investing in properties,” Yee explained. “Maybe because we don’t know the proper steps to take, and some people do. And it does take some research, and it definitely takes some time for you to get it together the way that you need to. So for me, I wanted to do it so that I could be like, ‘OK, here’s what I did. Here are some tips that I can give you to make things a little smoother for you,’ and so that’s why I really wanted to make sure that I did it first. And then when you show people, look, I did this, it makes people feel like, ‘Oh my God, I can do this.'”
Yee initially got into real estate when she purchased her first home in Brooklyn, NY. After realizing she was able to take this on as a business, she bought several properties in Detroit and has been able to successfully flip them to her advantage.
But why Detroit?
“I was in Vegas, at the iHeart Festival, and there was this whole thing on television about investing in Detroit and why it’s a great idea and paying attention to what’s going on in the neighborhoods and doing your research. When you see the Pistons came back downtown, you see there’s a Google headquarters there. You see Stock X, you see Quicken Loans, you see Rocket Mortgage. You see everything that’s happening in the city, and then it makes you feel like, ‘OK, I see all this movement, and I see that there’s opportunity there, and I see that the economy is growing in this city. That’s a great place to invest.'”
With the vision and aspiration to be better at what she does, the entrepreneur’s business and real estate portfolio is definitely “Way Up with Angela Yee.”
