Conservative Legal Group Calls Kellogg’s ‘Woke’ Workplace Diversity Programs Illegal
America First Legal, a conservative legal group, urged a U.S. anti-discriminatory agency to investigate Kellogg’s due to workplace diversity policies and claims the cereal brand sexualizes its products.
America First Legal is a nonprofit run by former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller. The group also attacked Cheez-It’s for its marketing campaign featuring drag queen Ru Paul and Kellogg’s cereal boxes celebrating LGBTQ pride month, Reuters reports.
“Management has discarded the company’s long-held family-friendly marketing approach to politicize and sexualize its products,” the group said in a statement.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates complaints, known as charges, filed by workers. Each of the five commissioners can also launch their own investigations and file charges if workplace discrimination has occurred.
Commissioner charges are rare, but last year, a vacancy on the commission created a 2-2 stalemate between Democratic and Republican appointees leading to commissioners filing 29 charges and affecting the commission’s ability to bring large-scale cases against corporations.
The EEOC has not indicated whether it would investigate America First Legal’s claims.
Kellogg’s, the maker of Corn Flakes, said in a statement on Thursday, Aug. 10, that it is committed to complying with employment laws and has policies prohibiting workplace discrimination.
“At Kellogg, our aspiration is to better reflect the diversity of our consumers and to strengthen our inclusive culture,” Kellogg’s said in a statement.
Last month, the U.S. Senate confirmed civil rights lawyer Kalpana Kotagal, a Democratic nominee of President Joe Biden, as Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, giving Democrats a 3-2 majority.
Many expect increased challenges to diversity programs in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in college admissions.
America First’s letter to the EEOC cited Kellogg’s desire to have “25% underrepresented talent at the management level” by 2025 and running fellowship programs only open to racial minorities.
“Kellogg’s employment practices are unlawfully based on ‘equity,’ which is a euphemism for illegal discrimination,” Reed Rubenstein, an America First lawyer, wrote in the letter, according to Reuters.
The group also sued Target concerning its LGBTQ-themed merchandise during Pride Month earlier this year. The complaints are part of a campaign by conservative groups against gender and diversity policies established during the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement.
From TikTok to Broadway: Nichelle Lewis Lands Lead Role In ‘The Wiz’
TikTok has turned numerous people into stars on its platform, and yet another one has emerged. This time the social media sensation is headed to Broadway!
According to The Associated Press, the newest Dorothy for the next Broadway production of “The Wiz” is a 24-year-old named Nichelle Lewis, who has appeared on the road in a production of “Hairspray” and competed on “American Idol.” But her big break seems to have come via TikTok, where she was discovered by the casting agents of the Broadway musical.
Lewis performed a rendition of the famous song “Home” from “The Wiz” on the platform, and the casting agents came across it and invited her to audition.
“I’m so excited that this is a part of my story, because I feel like there’s so many people out there who started out with such a small following and I feel like they’re hard on themselves about it,” Lewis said. “But I’m like, ‘You never know who’s watching those videos.’ I never knew that ‘The Wiz’ was looking at my videos.”
For the few who do not know, “The Wiz” is in effect the Black version of the classic “The Wizard of Oz.” Superstars who played the lead role of Dorothy included Diana Ross, in a film version in 1978, and Stephanie Mills, in the first Broadway production in 1975. Now, it’s time for Lewis to shine.
“It’s been a pretty crazy journey,” Lewis expressed to The Associated Press. “I’m honored to be making my debut as Dorothy. I know I’m following in some really big footsteps.”
Before hitting the stage on Broadway, Lewis will star in the national touring show of “The Wiz” that’s taking place this fall. The production is expected to debut on Broadway sometime next year.
There are some familiar names taking part in this production. Wayne Brady and Alan Mingo Jr. will be sharing the role of The Wiz. Deborah Cox is playing Glinda, Kyle Ramar Freeman is taking on the role of the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson is the Tin Man, and Avery Wilson will have the Scarecrow role.
The musical will have shows in Baltimore this fall before hitting Broadway.
Lewis won a Golden Ticket on “American Idol” but didn’t advance to Hollywood. Now she will take the Yellow Brick Road to Broadway in 2024.
In a moment that has been a long time coming for the 25-year-old safety, Damar Hamlin took the field Aug. 12 for the Buffalo Bills, CBS News reported. Hamiln’s football career, and more importantly his life, hung in the balance in January 2023 after a routine tackle caused him to have a heart attack on the field.
At June’s ESPYs, a tearful Hamlin presented the Buffalo Bills training staff with the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Just before he presented the award, the crowd at the ceremony gave him a standing ovation before he could even say a word.
Hamiln’s journey back represented a significant undertaking on his part, and in an interview with Michael Strahan on Dateline, Hamlin revealed what he said when he first woke up, telling Strahan: “ I wanted to know, like did we win? And he (the doctor in ICU) said yeah I won, I won the game of life.”
Over the next several months, Hamlin’s recovery became a national story. His doctors called his recovery remarkable and Strahan said that Hamiln’s story has caused a shift in the number of people who have applied for CPR training.
To that end, Hamlin partnered with the American Heart Association to create a #3forHeart CPR challenge fundraiser which has raised nearly $3 million for the organization as well as increased the number of people who know how to administer CPR.
Hamlin has maintained throughout his recovery that he intended to return to the game he loves and he did just that in a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The game marked the first real test of Hamlin’s intention to continue playing football. He appeared in 24 snaps, recorded 3 tackles, and showing a willingness to get involved in the action. His first snap? A big fourth-down stop in the first quarter
After the game, Hamlin spoke to reporters from USA Today. “It was fun, it was super fun, it was a great experience, just another milestone and a step up to just getting back to myself as far as the football space,” he said. “Just chopping this tree down as much as I can, one step at a time.”
Chair-Swinging Hero Of The Alabama Dock Brawl Posts Bail
Following last week’s brawl at an Alabama dock, one man emerged as a hero. The chairman himself, Reggie Ray, turned himself in on Aug. 11 after Montgomery authorities made pleas for the Black male wielding a folding chair to turn himself in as part of their investigation.
According to WSFA, the 42-year-old Ray was eventually charged with disorderly conduct by the Montgomery Police Department. Ray’s attorney Lee Merritt established a Go Fund Me for Ray and posted it to social media, but it is unclear if those funds were used to meet Ray’s bail cost.
At present, the fund has raised more than $265,000 of its $275,000 total. The comments section is filled with well-wishers and folks celebrating the actions of those who took part in defending Dameion Pickett, the riverboat co-captain.
The Daily Beast reports that the captain of the Hariott II, Jim Kittrell, thinks that the attack from five white people was racially motivated. Kittrell said “The white guys that attacked my deckhand—and he was a senior deckhand first mate—I can’t think of any other reason they attacked him other than it being racially motivated,” Kittrell explained.
“All he did was move their boat up three feet. It makes no sense to have six people try to beat the snot out of you just because you moved their boat up a few feet. In my opinion, the attack on Damien was racially motivated.”
In contrast to Kittrell’s read of the situation, the Montgomery police department has decided that the attack was not a result of any kind of racial animus, saying that the circumstances of the attack did not fit with either a hate crime or charges of inciting a riot.
Merritt discussed the case via a statement he released to ABC News, “Mr. Ray will continue to participate with the ongoing investigation concerning the same and is committed to be forthcoming about his limited role in the brawl.” Merritt also said that his client had been roped into the brawl due to the actions of the white people who started the brawl.
In an update posted to his Instagram account, Merritt shared that Ray was in good spirits after learning how the community banded together to bail him out: “Mr. Reggie Ray is out,” Merritt writes. “He is in good spirits. He got a speeding ticket on the way home but he was relieved to discover the community showed up for him and others in such strong way.”
School Board Lawyers in Virginia Say Getting Shot Is An Occupational Hazard
Abigail Zwerner, a Virginia first-grade teacher, has been informed by lawyers for the Newport News school board that she is only entitled to file a worker’s compensation claim because the injury she sustained when a six-year-old child shot her is a “workplace injury.”
The board’s lawyers claim that being shot is simply a hazard of her occupation. James Graves, the president of the Newport News teachers union, told the (Norfolk, VA) Daily Press,“This is not military, this is not the police department. This is an education system,”
On Facebook, Graves posted more thoughts: “These lawyers have started a significant hurricane in our district by saying that being shot is part of what teachers signed up for.”
Graves indicated that other school employees such as security officers and janitors have privately expressed their concerns to him and he implored every employee of the school to attend upcoming school board meetings.
The school board’s lawyers have been pushing back against Zwerner’s $40 million lawsuit. She filed it in April 2023 against the board, former superintendent George Parker III, and ex-principal Brianna Foster Newton. As reported by NBC News, Zwerner’s lawsuit attempts to hold those parties responsible for ignoring repeated warnings that the child who eventually shot Zwerner had possession of a gun.
The child, referred to in the lawsuit as John Doe, reportedly had several issues over the course of the school year that led to the shooting, including strangling a teacher. The school board had said that it would work with legal counsel once it received the suit.
In newly unsealed court documents, it was revealed that the child could be heard making statements such as “I shot the b—– dead” shortly following his shooting of Zwerner.
It remains unclear exactly how the 6-year-old obtained his mother’s firearm and loaded it, but his mother, Deja Taylor, is due to be sentenced in Oct. 2023 for the use of marijuana while possessing a firearm, a federal offense. Taylor faces between 18 and 24 months in prison for that charge. Her son will not be charged because he is too young to assist lawyers and likely would not understand the complexity of the legal process, according to a Newport News prosecutor.
In a well-deserved moment for the NBA champion and all-star, Dwyane Wade was officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Aug. 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father, Dwyane Wade Sr., was there to share the special moment.
In the speech, detailed by Clutch Points, the younger Wade, a father of five, praised his own dad for inspiring him.
“We had the same exact dream, and we carry the same exact name, Dwyane Tyrone Wade,” shared Wade, best known for his years with the Miami Heat. “To know we hustled all the way to the Basketball Hall of Fame, is God’s will. So pops, I know your knees are a little sore, but will you join me on stage as we take our rightful step into basketball heaven.”
The 41-year-old continued on as his dad walked up to the stage.
“This one right here, this one is for my father,” Wade said as the two men embraced. “We in the Hall of Fame, dawg.”
The Miami Heat legend shared how he initially hated how his namesake granted him a certain nickname, but his love for his father overshadowed it.
“Even though I hated being called ‘Little Dwyane,’” Wade laughed, “I admired you as a kid. I admire you now.”
The Basketball Hall Of Fame Ceremony inducted other legends, including German player Dirk Nowitzki, Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. The honorees celebrated the occasion with a golf match, footage of which The Cube star shared on Instagram.
Tiffany Haddish is set to release a new documentary focusing on the lives of successful women who also happen to be dating homeless men, a project that has significance for the hilarious movie star.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, conducted before the current SAG-AFTRA strike, Haddish revealed why this particular conversation is so dear to her heart.
“I experienced homelessness myself and found that there was a stigma on it that I don’t think should be there,” shared the star of Girls Trip. As she struggled to make her way into the industry, Haddish slept in her car while performing at comedy shows to make a name for herself. Although Haddish is a success now, her upbringing was also challenging and included a few years in foster care during her youth. To deal with her trauma, Haddish used comedy as an outlet.
The prolific comedic actress hopes that the homeless dating show will shine a light on how all people “deserve” to be loved.
“Everyone deserves to have someone supporting them and caring for them—not necessarily carrying them all the way,” Haddish said. “It’s really important for people to make sure that they know that because it’s really hard to be homeless. So many people are isolated and living on the streets alone.”
Haddish’s development deal with Hearst Media Production Group through her company She Ready productions will create two non-scripted programs. Including the documentary on love and homelessness, the other will focus on Elliott Connie, a psychotherapist and author, in a show with a premise yet to be revealed.
Though Haddish is currently in Disney’s latest star-laden adaptation of Haunted Mansion, the 43-year-old is standing in solidarity with fellow actors during the SAG-AFTRA strike, prohibiting her to promote the film or speak further about upcoming projects.
Texas Prison Guard Sues Pro-Life State Over Stillbirth Caused By Work
A prison guard in Texas is suing the state after claiming that her supervisor’s refusal to let her leave a shift caused her to lose her baby. The state’s defense on the matter undermines their pro-life stance impacting their medical laws.
According to The Guardian, Salia Issa filed the lawsuit on grounds that she was prohibited from leaving work to seek medical attention for labor pains. At the time, Issa was seven months pregnant. Hours after initially telling management about her condition, she was allowed to leave. Unfortunately, doctors could no longer locate a heartbeat from the fetus, and Issa gave birth to the stillborn.
Issa claims that her child would have survived had she been able to go to the hospital earlier. She is suing the state’s department of criminal justice as well as multiple supervisors for their negligence.
However, the state’s defense asserts that the agency is not at fault as it is unclear whether the unborn child had rights, which would undermine its pro-life stance. Despite this, the state assures that its pro-life principles remain intact despite fetal rights not applying in this case.
“Just because several statutes define an individual to include an unborn child does not mean that the 14th amendment does the same,” the office of the Texas attorney general said in response. The state also noted that the incident happened before Roe v. Wade was overturned, pointing out that the stillborn occurred while abortion rights were still enacted.
“This Court need not weigh into the difficult question of whether, post-Dobbs, an unborn child possesses constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment,” the filing additionally stated, as re-shared by the Texas Tribune. “Even if he or she does, that right was not clearly established on November 15, 2021.”
The magistrate court is allowing the lawsuit to continue, potentially leading to further contradiction from the Alamo state.
Minnesota Woman, 72, Claims Racial Bias In Conviction
A 72-year-old nurse in Minnesota is now having to report to jail after, what she claims, was an act of self-defense against a co-worker’s assault.
Having been a nurse for more than four decades, Sybil Garbow says her alleged actions do not add up considering her work history, where she has not had any issues that escalated physically “until now.”
However, the jury did not find her clean record to be enough evidence that Garbow acted solely out of protecting herself, as they found her guilty on felony charges of assault against a white coworker. According to Insider, the presiding judge sentenced her to six months in prison, with five years of probation.
On top of jail time, Garbow will also have to pay over $51,000 in restitution. However, she is unsure of how she will pay this fine, given that she has no job after the incident. She also believes that racial discrimination played a role in her wrongful conviction.
The trial was conducted in Anoka County, an area in Minnesota where 80% of the population is white.
“If I’m the only person of color in an environment, I’m used to it because I’ve been here since 1973,” Garbow said. “But it became obvious to me that I didn’t have a strong position in this whole situation. It was scary.”
According to Garbow, her altercation with her white co-worker, Devlin Stitt at Touchstone Mental Health. Allegedly, Stitt pushed her in the chest after believing she was intentionally spraying her with disinfectant, then used a phone Garbow was using to call for help to hit her again.
Garbow proceeded to fight back with the aerosol can, hitting Stitt in the head with it then fleeing the room. However, prosecutors began to invalidate her story.
A criminal justice nonprofit in Minnesota, We Resolve, also believes Garbow’s case had racialized elements that led to an extensive sentencing, especially of an older woman with no prior convictions.
“With Sybil being Black and the victim being white, it seemed that they were really going to make sure that they taught Sybil a lesson about coming into conflict with a white person or hurting a white person,” said Damon Drake, We Resolve’s executive director. “They wouldn’t even entertain that somehow Sybil was attacked first and was defending herself. They wouldn’t even entertain the thought.”
In the meantime, Garbow and her lawyer are reviewing their next steps.
BLACK ENTERPRISE Talks To Jodi Lewis, Head Of Marketing And Operations For UBERSoca
In this informative Q&A, we will dive into the origins and growth of the UberSoca Cruise and learn about the challenges and triumphs faced by its organizers.
We will explore how this floating festival has brought together leading soca artists, DJs, and fans from across the globe, providing an unparalleled experience that marries music, culture, and camaraderie amid breathtaking Caribbean backdrops.
BE: What is the history and background of UberSoca Cruise, and how did you all decide to start the company?
Jodi Lewis: UberSoca Cruise was born out of a desire to create a unique and unforgettable experience that combined Caribbean culture, music, and entertainment. In 2000, Nathaniel Turner, its founder and CEO, was on a family cruise and had a few choice words to describe the experience or lack thereof. The cruise lacked any cultural elements and was bland and monotonous. Recognizing the absence of a Caribbean music festival at sea, he decided to change that by launching the first-ever Ubersoca Cruise. Since then, the company has become the largest music festival at sea, with thousands of passengers worldwide attending each year.
In 2015, after securing the cruise ship, Nathaniel connected with Bermudian promoter Daniel Reece and Bermudian marketing professional Jodi Lewis. The team remembers having one of its initial meetings and Lewis asking, “What if the ship doesn’t sell?” Turner looked at Lewis and Reece and replied, “The ship sails no matter what, whether it’s full or if it only has the three of us on it.” To date, UberSoca Cruise has completed seven successful sailings. It has taken out over 20,000 people (many first-time cruisers) to Jamaica, Mexico, Turks & Caicos, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and St. Thomas.
What types of events and experiences does UberSoca Cruise offer, and how are they different than your average cruise?
UberSoca Cruise offers a range of events and experiences that go beyond the typical cruise offerings. In addition to world-class soca music performances from top Caribbean artists, UberSoca Cruise features live concerts, themed parties, pool parties, comedy shows, sports tournaments, cultural experiences, and workshops. Guests can expect to participate in everything from carnival parades, J’ouvert, fitness classes, and mixology workshops to beach parties and masquerade balls. Unlike traditional cruises, UberSoca Cruise also provides an opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share a passion for Caribbean culture and music.
What has changed the most about the company regarding how you put together experiences now compared to when you started in 2016?
As UberSoca Cruise has grown, we have become more intentional about creating experiences that truly embody the spirit of the Caribbean. We work closely with our partners and vendors to ensure that every aspect of the cruise, from the food to the activities, reflects the culture and energy of the Caribbean. Additionally, we have invested in new technologies and production equipment to enhance the overall guest experience and provide the highest quality entertainment.
If you could change anything about the first cruise you launched, what would it be?
Our 2016 sailing was, by far, the most difficult and challenging. With that said, I wouldn’t change a thing. The vibe, connections, and amazing experience we created were second to none, and many of the passengers that took the chance and sailed with us still sail with us today.
What are some of the biggest obstacles in growing your company?
One of the biggest obstacles in growing our company has been managing the logistics of hosting a large-scale event at sea. We work closely with our partners and vendors to ensure that every aspect of the cruise runs smoothly, from coordinating the music performances to arranging shore excursions. Additionally, we have had to navigate the complexities of operating within the cruise industry, navigating the pandemic, and complying with regulations unique to our business.
How does UberSoca Cruise coordinate with Caribbean governments to ensure local communities and cultural initiatives are part of the cruises’ programming?
At UberSoca Cruise, we believe in supporting the communities we visit and highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean. We work closely with local governments and organizations to ensure our programming includes authentic cultural experiences and initiatives that benefit the local communities. For example, we have partnered with US Virgin Islands and other islands to further their cultural initiatives and objectives and support social causes.
Soca is often considered a musical genre that primarily appeals to the Caribbean demographic. Are you currently planning on expanding the themes to reach a broader audience? Also, will there be any cruises outside the Caribbean region?
While soca music is at the heart of UberSoca Cruise, we are always looking for ways to expand our brand and reach a broader audience. We have introduced new themes in recent years, such as the UberAfro Cruise, which will be the World’s First Afrobeats, and Amapiano Festival at Sea, which promises to be an Experience Beyond the Continent. As for future cruises, we are always exploring new destinations and experiences that will appeal to our guests, so stay tuned!
How have leadership’s prior professional and life experiences contributed to Ubersoca’s success?
The leadership team at UberSoca Cruise brings a wealth of professional and life experiences. Although nothing completely prepares you for UberSoca Cruise, our leadership team has backgrounds in law, accounting, risk management, event promotion & planning, and business management. Our collective expertise has been instrumental in shaping the vision and growth of UberSoca Cruise. Additionally, our team is made up of individuals who are deeply connected to Caribbean culture and have a passion for sharing that culture with the world.
If there was one word or phrase to describe the UberSoca experience, what would it be?
If there were one word or phrase to describe the UberSoca experience, it would be “An Experience Beyond the Music.” While soca music is a big part of what we do, UberSoca Cruise is about much more than just music. It’s about connecting with like-minded people, immersing yourself in Caribbean culture, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
