HBO, 'The Gilded Age,' Deneé Benton, Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 9, 2023

Phylicia Rashad To Step Down As Dean At Howard University’s Boseman College of Fine Arts

Phylicia Rashad will formally step down as Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. The news was confirmed in a mass email sent by the school’s president, Wayne I. Frederick.

The letter, re-shared by HBCU Gameday, states that the dean will finish her duties for the final upcoming school year. Rashad returned to her alma mater in 2021 to lead the re-established College of Fine Arts, named after fellow alumnus Boseman.

Rashad spearheaded a new era for the school, helping facilitate a scholarship named after the Black Panther actor that was gifted by Netflix. She also funded for advancements in programming and faculty as well as a Taraji P. Henson-founded donation to uplift the mental health services for all members of the Howard community.

Throughout her years of service to the HBCU, Rashad was committed to leaving an impact that would be long-lasting. The Disney Storytellers Fund has pledged $1.5 million to help the fine arts and communications programs collaborate on new projects that blend media forms.

Rashad’s time at the school was not met with full praise. In July 2021, Rashad’s support of former TV husband Bill Cosby drew criticism from the school and its members. Rashad released a statement of full support for sexual assault survivors following the backlash.

Despite the controversy, relations between Rashad and the university eased.

“We deeply appreciate Dean Rashad’s selfless contributions and commitment to our alma mater during her leadership of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and the many contributions she has made to Howard University’s students, graduates, and global community,” Frederick said in a statement.

As an actress, Rashad is best known for her work on The Cosby Show, one of the 1980s most popular television shows.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 9, 2023

Cardi B’s Infamous Thrown Mic Sells At Auction For Almost $100K

Now both Cardi B and the microphone she tossed into the crowd during her infamous Las Vegas concert are making “money moves.”

In an eBay auction started by the production company that owned the audio equipment for Cardi B’s performance that day, the mic was sold for $99,900.

Cardi B made headlines July 29 when the rapper chucked the mic into the crowd at Drai’s Beach Club in Las Vegas after someone threw a drink as she performed her hit song “Bodak Yellow.” The mother of two reacted swiftly, letting the track play out without her audio.

The auction capitalized off the social media frenzy surrounding the altercation, in which Cardi herself was at risk of getting charged with battery. That following Monday, a concertgoer who was allegedly struck with the microphone tried to get authorities involved to build a case.

However, the investigation was dropped, with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police citing “insufficient evidence.” Cardi B’s attorneys thanked the officials for their “diligent and prompt resolution” to the messy situation. Despite this, the public fascination with the whole ordeal never ceased, leading to the eBay auction and someone paying nearly six figures for the infamous mic.

According to TMZ, bids for the mic started at $500, but 120 offers within the week proved its value on the market to be much more,. Considering the microphone costs ranges from a few hundred to almost $2,000 dollars, the price has clearly gone “Up” for being part of the controversy.

However, the production company over the purchase, The Wave, has announced that the earnings won’t be a payday for anyone. The company owner announced the money will be split between national and local charitable causes, the Wounded Warrior Project and Friendship Circle Las Vegas.

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 9, 2023

Ron DeSantis Suspends Florida’s Only Black Female State Attorney

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seems determined to silence Black people.

In a random move, DeSantis suspended Democratic Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell, NBC News reported. Worrell is the only Black woman serving as a local prosecutor in Florida. The announcement was made during a sudden press conference in Tallahassee. Top law enforcement officials and DeSantis’s administration staffers filled the room. While his team was given a heads-up on Aug. 8, the media wasn’t alerted until almost 30 minutes beforehand.

Worrell is the second elected state prosecutor to be suspended by the presidential candidate. In August 2022, DeSantis suspended Tampa-area prosecutor Andrew Warren after Warren vowed that he wouldn’t bring charges under Florida’s new 15-week abortion ban.

A federal judge declared the decision unconstitutional but wouldn’t overturn the suspension. When Warren filed a challenge, it was thrown out by the DeSantis-leaning Florida Supreme Court.

Worrell and Warren have been targets of DeSantis and his camp for a while, winning their campaigns with assistance from Democratic megadonor George Soros. The controversial governor has mentioned Soros in campaign emails, stating he is the “only elected official in America to remove a ‘progressive’ Soros-funded district attorney”—taking shots at Warren’s suspension.

After receiving news of her suspension, Worrell made a statement, calling DeSantis a “weak dictator.”

“This is an outrage. Three years ago, I was elected by the people of the ninth judicial circuit to lead this circuit,” Worrell said.

“And yes, to do things unconventionally, to do things differently, but I didn’t hide, I didn’t say I would do things and didn’t do them, I didn’t say I wouldn’t do things and not did them. I did exactly what I said I would do, and that is what you want from an elected official.”

State Attorney Monique Worrell responds to Desantis removing her: “If we are mourning anything this morning, it’s the loss of democracy. I am your duly elected State Attorney, and nothing done by a weak dictator can change that.” pic.twitter.com/3Jna55HNQG

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 9, 2023

Worrell’s suspension comes months after she defended her record of high-profile cases, according to Click Orlando, including the headlining February 2023 shooting deaths of Nathacha Augustin, 9-year-old T’yonna Major, and Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons in Pine Hills.

by Jeffrey McKinney

August 9, 2023

The National Business League Launches 3rd Cohort To Enhance Black Contracting Opportunities

The National Business League (NBL) aims to build up contracting opportunities for Black entrepreneurs. It is now taking applications for its third cohort class of businesses to contribute to scaling their business.

Thirteen to 15 companies will soon be selected as participants in NBL’s National Black Supplier Development Program (NBSDP) for the 2023-24 cohort. The development program is geared to make Black companies more competitive globally and better position them to secure contracts with larger companies from the public and private sectors.

Those interested in the new cohort should act soon, as the application deadline is Aug. 18, 2023. The program will run from September 2023 through December 2023.

NBSDP National Director Forrest Carter told BLACK ENTERPRISE about the program’s uniqueness. “We blend knowledge transfer, mentoring with other Black CEOs, and access to Fortune 500 companies. The ultimate goal is for participants to have an actionable growth plan.”

The support is truly needed. Reportedly about 95% of Black-owned businesses are solopreneurs or micro-businesses with only one employee. Unfortunately, Carter says, few Black companies have the scale to supply Fortune 500 companies, and the program’s goal is to address this disparity.

This year’s four-month free program will include online learning, allowing participants to spend about 15 hours monthly mastering a management program. Participants also will receive approximately 20 hours of professional one-on-one mentoring and coaching during the program.

Cohorts will have access to many tools to help them grow and sustain a lasting business model. For instance, they include workshops on best practices like growth planning, branding, and building capacity.

The NBL launched the NBSDP in 2021 to combat some of the challenges. Automaker Stellantis and minority business enterprise MPS Group were initial founding sponsors, committing to support the NBSDP for three years. They have provided over $1 million in financial support and other resources to back the program.

The program is intended to boost capacity, scale, and revenue, creating economic parity for Black businesses across all industries worldwide. With its first-year success, the NBSDP has attracted more support from companies like Cummins, DTE Energy, Ford, General Motors, Lear, Magna, and Toyota. NBSDP reported over $100 million in contracts with Black program participants.

The NBSDP reports it has conducted two successful cohorts: a collective pilot with 13 participants during 2021-22 and its first full cohort during 2022-23 with 15 Black suppliers.

To learn more about NBSDP and apply for the new cohort class, visit here and here.

degree, incarceration, former inmate, graduate

by Iman Milner

August 9, 2023

Formerly Incarcerated Man Earns Bachelor’s Degree In Criminal Justice At Age 79

Reverend Willie Ryals of Tallahassee, Florida, had every reason to let his educational pursuits die after serving nearly two decades in federal prison, but the 79-year-old kept a promise to himself by completing his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from American Intercontinental University.

Ryals will graduate three days shy of his 80th birthday.

According to BlackNews, after a brief stint at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)‘s Developmental Research school, Ryals decided to pursue a singing career but found himself in the Army after he grew tired of life on the road.l

His life would took an unexpected turn when intruders entered his home one evening, resulting in the Florida native being charged with aggravated manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 and 20 concurrent years in prison.

While serving his time, Ryals completed high school and began taking college courses. He was released from prison in 1971. The time he spent incarcerated would help him to find his true passion.

“While I was in prison, I saw a need for criminal justice reform. There are too many young Blacks going to jail for crimes that they didn’t commit, and there needs to be some changes,” Ryals said.

Life would continue to take Ryals in new directions, but he never lost sight of his purpose.

After focusing on his duties as a husband, father, and pastor at the Zion Hope Community Baptist Church, in 2021 Ryals enrolled at American Intercontinental University to earn his degree and keep a promise to his late father.

“I’m happy for myself, because my father always wanted me to go after a degree,” he said.

“He’s passed and gone, but I’m keeping this promise.”

To his own family, wife Mandy and daughter Marionette, Ryals is a source of pride.

“He works all night and sometimes would have to prop his legs up for the swelling, but he would still go after it. I’m proud of him and very, very happy,” his wife said.

RELATED CONTENT: Pell Grants for Prisoners

by Stacy Jackson

August 9, 2023

Slutty Vegan Opens Its 13th Location On Spelman’s College Campus

It’s move-in week at Spelman College, and the students aren’t the only ones unpacking for residency. Pinky Cole has expanded her Slutty Vegan empire with a new location on the campus of the private, historically Black women’s liberal arts college in Atlanta. In a video posted to Instagram, Cole told followers about the new location as she walked the campus and showed a clip of the inside of the restaurant.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Slutty Vegan ATL (@sluttyveganatl)

Welcoming Slutty Vegan as part of the on-campus dining options for its students is part of the school’s mission to “provide fresh, healthy, high-quality foods that are responsibly sourced.”

“Just in time for the new academic year, Spelman College is excited to partner with Bon Appétit to create a new dining experience that reflects the College’s culture of excellence,” Spelman captioned a video on Instagram that briefly showed the Slutty Vegan spot.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the menu will include the One Night Stand, a vegan burger with plant-based bacon and “Slut Sauce,” and the Big Dawg, a bratwurst with sauerkraut and sauce layered between a pretzel bun. Students will also have the option to order plant-based tacos, fries, chicken tenders, and Slutty Vegan desserts such as banana pudding and sweet potato pie.

Cole’s exciting news follows the celebration of the vegan restaurant chain’s fifth anniversary. “Five years ago, when we started this company, we never imagined that we’d literally be changing the world,” Cole wrote on social media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Slutty Vegan ATL (@sluttyveganatl)

Slutty Vegan is located in the Atlanta University Center neighborhood at 350 Spelman Lane SW in the Manley College Center. The restaurant is scheduled to open on Aug. 16, 2023, and will be open to the public.

Tory Lanez, megan shooting, Nicci Gilbert, apology

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2023

Tory Lanez Will Serve A 10-Year Sentence For Shooting Megan Thee Stallion

The verdict is in.

Canadian recording artist Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot on July 22, 2020 after a party at Kylie Jenner‘s house.

Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was convicted in December 2022 for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. A jury convicted the 31-year-old rapper of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford expressed that it was “difficult to reconcile” the father and committed philanthropist with the person who fired a gun five times at the Texas native.

“Sometimes good people do bad things,” Herriford said. “Actions have consequences, and there are no winners in this case.”

Before the sentence was revealed, Lanez addressed the court, apologizing for what took place that night and taking full responsibility for the shooting.

“If I could change it, I would, but I can’t,” he said. “Everything I did that night, I take full responsibility,” he stated. “I truly am just trying to be a better person.”

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón also gave a statement.

“There are many people in our community that endure acts of violence every day from people close to them and feel reluctant to come forward when this happens,” he said. “I hope that Ms. Pete’s (Megan Thee Stallion’s given last name) bravery gives hope to those that feel helpless.”

In her victim impact statement, delivered through a member of the prosecution, Megan Thee Stallion said she’ll “never be the same” after the shooting.

One of Lanez’s attorneys, Matthew Barhoma, said an appeal was forthcoming for both the sentence and the conviction. When the appeal is filed, they will also request bail for the Canadian citizen.

There is also the possibility that Lanez could face possible deportation back to Canada.

by Derek Major

August 9, 2023

JPMorgan Chase’s ‘Advancing Black Wealth Tour’ Heads To Oakland And Chicago On Multi-City Tour

JPMorgan Chase’s “Advancing Black Wealth Tour,” a multi-city series delivering financial health education and real estate workshops to Black communities nationwide is back.

The tour, which is in its second year, will stop in four cities. The first two stops are in Oakland, CA, on August 12, 2023, and Chicago on August 26, 2023.

Each stop will bring together prominent business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and talent to help Black communities with wealth-building, home-buying, and other vital financial insights.

The event in Oakland will feature four-time NBA champion and venture capitalist Stephen Curry and investor and influencer Ian Dunlap. The Chicago event will feature superstar comedian and entrepreneur Kevin Hart. The JPMorgan Chase tour will stop in New York City on November 4, 2023, and Miami on December 9, 2023. Guests for those stops will be named at a later date.

“We’re so excited to be back on the road and deliver financial information and insights to communities across the country,” said Justin Grant, executive director of community development for Advancing Black Pathways at JPMorgan Chase, in a press release. “The Advancing Black Wealth tour’s purpose is to empower everyday people and aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources and tools needed to build and sustain wealth.”

Last year’s Advancing Black Wealth Tour featured stops in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Philadelphia and focused on financial wellness, the best steps to saving money, navigating the real estate market, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and wealth generation.

Rapper MC Lyte, FUBU founder and Shark Tank panelist Daymond John, and Dunlap participated in the first tour.

Registration for the Oakland event is now open. The JPMorgan Chase events are free to attend, and attendees will receive access to personalized consultations, interactive activations, and networking opportunities.

Each event features an inclusive atmosphere designed to help build and grow wealth regardless of participation, age, background, and income level.

TikTok’s ‘Sassy Trucker’ Released From Dubai Jail After Months-Long Detainment

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 9, 2023

TikTok’s ‘Sassy Trucker’ Released From Dubai Jail After Months-Long Detainment

The Black woman detained in Dubai for months for allegedly “shouting” in public was finally released from jail this week.

Social media influencer Tierra Allen was released on Tuesday, August 8, and was on a flight from the United Arab Emirates back to the United States, CBS News reports. The TikTok known as the “Sassy Trucker” paid a $1,300 fee to have her travel ban lifted by authorities.

Allen received help from the international nonprofit Detained In Dubai in securing her return to the States. The Texas woman was arrested in May after arguing with a male car rental employee who reportedly tried to get her to pay thousands she didn’t owe.

“She was told at the police station (Bur Dubai) that she has been accused of ‘shouting,’ which under the UAE’s laws is illegal under ‘offensive behavior,’ which is an unclear and subjective regulation, but warrants up to two years in prison, a fine and deportation,” said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai.

Stirling confirmed Allen’s return home in a case that amplified “the crucial role played by the media, and by the public, in demanding accountability and justice in the UAE.”

“Tierra was living a nightmare and facing fines and lengthy imprisonment, until her case was brought into the spotlight of international media scrutiny,” Stirling said.

“Without that attention, all too often, Emirati authorities pay little heed to due process, fairness, and human rights.”

Great News: Tierra Allen boarded a flight home to the United States today after police lifted her travel ban. She nearly didn't make it through airport immigration and thought she would be jailed but all worked out and Tierra is now relieved her nightmare has come to an end.…

— Radha Stirling (@RadhaStirling) August 8, 2023

Stirling, an activist and lawyer specializing in Arab nations’ laws, said Allen is the latest tourist to get caught up in a “common” rental car scheme that targets UAE tourists.

“Rental car agencies are notorious for opening criminal cases against visitors with the promise to drop the case if they are paid off,” Stirling explained.

“The prevalence of blackmail is damaging to the UAE’s tourism and investment sectors and Dubai’s government needs to crack down on this abuse of process.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2023

Jalen Brunson Hosts Charity Golf Classic To Fund Youths’ Dreams Of Success

First-year New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson hosted a charity golf tournament near his hometown in Illinois. The event showcased and benefitted his organization, Second Round Foundation. He started the foundation to support youths’ dreams through academics, sports, and outreach.

In a recent interview, he discussed his organization and the importance of being a role model. He shared the reason behind the foundation’s name, saying that Second Round’s name comes from “being drafted in the second round and always kind of being overlooked.”

“I just wanted to give people, preferably the younger kids and younger adults, that mindset of no matter what people think or say about you, it’s all about your mindset and how you attack every situation.”

He does know that younger people are looking at him simply because he has made it to the NBA. Some share the same dream, and he wants to show them they can get there.

“Obviously, I play in the NBA, and it’s a lot of younger kids’ dreams to play in the NBA, but for me, my job here is to help you get that mindset. I think the biggest takeaway from this camp should be that your mindset going forward is to attack anything that you do with 110%.”

Outside of being a role model, he stresses the importance of keeping relationships.

“Just keeping relationships and seeing how people have helped you and where you came from is so important. I want to be able to help people know that keeping relationships is important. You can do all this stuff for people you don’t know, but if you get to know these people, it’s a totally different story.”

Brunson is currently getting game-ready for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, which is taking place in Asia. The tournament starts on Aug. 25, 2023, and will go through Sept. 10, 2023.