On top of being accused of battery after an incident in Las Vegas, the Grammy Award-winning artist is the topic of a Black Twitter debate. Los Angeles-based nail tech Taya Hawkins tweeted on July 27 that she turned down an opportunity to take Cardi B on as a client, claiming Cardi wanted her to cancel all her appointments to service her. However, Hawkins says her loyalty is to her customers. “People are so mad I didn’t take the cardi b opportunity today because I decided to service my already booked clients,” Hawkins wrote. “YALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, MY clients deserve to be serviced. I’ve canceled before for a celebrity and regret it because i lost those clients. I’m loyal to the soil.”
people are so mad i didn’t take the cardi b opportunity today because i decided to service my already booked clients. YALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, MY clients deserve to be serviced. i’ve canceled before for a celebrity and regret it because i lost those clients. i’m loyal to the soil
— IG: @nailssbytaya 💅🏾 (@pimpinyapops) July 28, 2023
As the tweet went viral, comments sparked a debate about whether she was wrong. One user said if Hawkins were her nail tech, she would have advised her to cancel her appointment because the opportunity may have been too big to pass up. “How do you know Cardi B wouldn’t have become a regular or started flying you out to do them?” @noelcommaraven wrote. “Could have been a lot of bigger opportunities.” Another pointed out that celebrities tend not to tag small businesses when they work together, so there is no reason to lose loyal customers.
However, when Cardi B caught wind of her name being the topic of another conversation, she quickly indicated that she didn’t even know Hawkins. “Girl who are you,” Cardi wrote under a post.
Fans of the Bodak Yellow rapper jumped to her defense, claiming the nail tech is faking the claims. Known for her long and vibrant nails, fans assume the mother of two would have a personal nail tech that does her nails regularly.
Kylie Jenner’s New Line of Bratz Dolls Faces Social Media Backlash Over Skin Color
Kylie Jenner‘s new line of Bratz dolls has been unveiled and has social media sounding off about the toy’s physical features.
On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Bratz debuted its first-ever celebrity mini collaboration featuring six “Bratzified” versions of Jenner, 25, wearing some of her most notable red carpet outfits.
Looks include the billionaire beauty mogul’s lavender feather Versace gown she wore to the 2019 Met Gala, the all-white streetwear-esque wedding gown she wore to the 2022 Met Gala, and the corseted black dress and crystal crown she donned at the Thierry Mugler show in November 2022.
Bratz is charging $9.99 for the dolls that come with one mini doll, one mini accessory, a collector’s guide, and include Jenner’s convertible cruiser, her Italian Greyhound Norman, or an oversized lip-shaped phone.
As with anything Kardashian-Jenner related, the introduction of the new dolls has resulted in criticism online from many who think the doll has a darker skin tone than the reality star.
“Why her doll so damn dark…Kylie don’t even tan this dark (anymore)” one user wrote.
why her doll so damn dark.. kylie don’t even tan this dark (anymore) . https://t.co/OPGopaUwMA
Other users questioned why Bratz would partner with Jenner and not some of the Black female celebrities who naturally possess the features the toy showcases, like Megan Thee Stallion or Marsai Martin.
Meanwhile, Jenner is over the moon about the partnership with a toy brand she grew up enjoying.
“I have been a fan of Bratz since childhood, and I’ve always wanted my own Bratz doll,” Kylie told The Hollywood Reporter.
“I have loved every step of the process this past year in creating these dolls alongside the Bratz team.”
Jasmin Larian, the founder and creative director of both Bratz and fashion brand Cult Gaia, shared how “sentimental” the new collection is to her.
“Kylie truly embodies everything Bratz has stood for since its inception 22 years ago—from being disruptive and rebellious to energetic and expressive,” she gushed.
“Not only will this collaboration expand to Kylie’s millions of fans, but it will also reach the audiences that grew up with Bratz and are excited to relive the Y2K Bratz lifestyle today.”
This scenario will be a reality for students enrolled in courses at DePaul University in the fall of 2023.
The courses will focus on the link between Black Girl Magic, science, and white supremacy, according to The College Fix. Courses will be offered through the university’s interdisciplinary Department of African and Black Diaspora Studies (ABD).
The College Fix reported some of the course titles to include “Race and Racism,” “Black Women Experiences,” “Race, Science, and White Supremacy,” and “Black Feminist Theory.”
None of the professors listed on the course syllabi commented on their classes for the upcoming semester.
Although, course descriptions provide insight into the type of content that will be covered. For example, The College Fix reported that the course “Black Women Experiences” will “explore varying topics from Black Girl Magic to Black women’s pain and trauma.” The system will examine “representations of Blackness in popular culture, social media, literature, and fine art.” Furthermore, the platform reported that students will engage in critical thinking and “question how Black women and femmes survive in cultures that seek to erase them, exploit their labor, and silence their voices.”
DePaul University’s ABD goal is to encourage “students to explore the Black experience from a variety of theoretical and disciplinary perspectives including but not limited to historical, artistic, sociological, anthropological, and philosophical approaches,” its website notes.
Gabrielle Howard, a student from the class of 2017, said, according to the ABD department’s website, “The ABD major opened my eyes to many of the circumstances locally, nationally, and globally that affect not only the African American community but all parts of the African and Black Diaspora.”
The College Fix said other courses would look at “dynamic connections between stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and privilege,” the development of racial hierarchies, and the dominance of white supremacy in science.
Harlem Clinic To Be Demolished For Affordable Housing With Mental Health Services
The Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center has offered therapy, treatment, and substance abuse services to the Harlem, NY, community since 1969. But the center is gearing for a major shift as it’s set to be bulldozed and transformed into a nine-story tower with 200 apartments and mental health services for the homeless, the elderly, and low-income families, CBS News reports.
Construction is set to take years, with the center operating out of a temporary location 10 blocks away for the time being. Once completed, the building will span Amsterdam Avenue between West 145th and 146th streets and include a new and improved Bowen Center on the first floor.
“Sometimes when you go from an old design to a new design, it makes for a situation where it’s even more comfortable,” Patricia Jordan, Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center board member says.
While the project has good intentions, it has faced opposition from Hamilton Heights residents who fear the new construction would end the services locals have received from the center for 50 years.
Many spoke out after plans for redeveloping the health center were detailed during a September 2022 meeting by Community Board 9, sparking rumors the center’s facilities would be forced into smaller spaces, Patch.com reports.
“I’m a little shocked, surprised, that we were not made aware of this,” community board member Victor Edwards said during the meeting.
It was also reported the clinics would have their rent doubled, something CB9 Chair Barry Weinberg said was “unacceptable.” Other locals believe they’re being forced to suffer the brunt of the city’s continued plans to push supportive housing efforts in their neighborhood.
“We support social services, but the residents of Harlem primarily, people of color, are asked to take a disproportionate share of that burden,” harlem resident Ernest Lyles told Harlem View.
Lyles, who lives near the building with his wife and two children, worries that the community is becoming more dangerous because of shelters, injection sites, and other types of supportive housing.
“The other day, my kids stopped playing in the flower beds because there were capsules from drugs being left over,” Lyles said.
Those behind the development project say the goal is to increase affordable housing in the area.
Award-Winning Journalist And Author Danyel Smith Reflects On Her Service To Black Culture
“You look up. It’s decades later,” said Danyel Smith. “And you’re thinking of Stephanie Mills singing ‘When I think of home, I think of a place where’s there’s love overflowing.'”
Today, she is home. The award-winning journalist and three-time author, who has been serious about shining a bright light on Black music, is back on the West Coast.
For Smith, family is home. It’s the place where her mom gifted her her first biography, She Wanted to Read: The Story of Mary McLeod Bethune. “I love that book. And I still have it,” Smith told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I didn’t realize that little girls could be rewarded for being strong and intentional. She’s such a model on so many levels, as a woman and a little girl.”
But this California girl longed to write. She knew she wanted to be a storyteller as early as Mrs. Gibbs’ third-grade class. “You can tell a story and then give it to people in some sort of package? So they can experience it,” Smith said, recounting her 8-year-old thoughts. She remembered constructing her own book in that class. “It felt so gratifying. I wish I still had it,” Smith said, chuckling. “It was written, like Nas would say.”
Photo courtesy of Danyel Smith
An early-’80s middle schooler, Smith attended a Catholic, all-girl multiracial institution in Los Angeles. She remembered studying Black artistry and getting into rap when it was fresh and new. This was when Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 “Rapper’s Delight” had the “playground on a tilt,” as Smith once described in The New York Times. This was when Sugarhill’s Wonder Mike was rapping “I’d like to say hello/To the Black and the white/The red and the brown/The purple and yellow.”
“Black culture is just as important to global culture continuing to exist and move and grow,” Smith explained to BE. “Sometimes it is the party. But a lot of times, it is about very serious things like cultural segregation, geographical segregation… cultural credit. It’s about who gets to be labeled a genius and who doesn’t. These are not small things.
“It was very clear to me that Black people in music were not receiving the credit culturally or financially for their creative work,” Smith continued. “I saw that white artists were paid much more attention to… And I wanted to be a part of changing that.”
Smith was always a magazine girl, having started her career in 1989. She gave a shout-out to two trailblazing Black women in the magazine industry: Right On! magazine editorial director Cynthia Horner and Susan Taylor, who was editor-in-chief of Essence.“Cynthia Horner was creating Right On! magazine when we didn’t have much of anything, especially as teenagers,” Smith remembered. “She is probably the first Black woman editor-in-chief that I saw with my own eyes.”
Danyel Smith and singer Estelle. (Photo courtesy of Danyel Smith)
In the early ’90s, Smith served as the music editor of SF Weekly and was freelancing as a reporter for Spin, where she wrote a pop culture/music column called “Dreaming America.” In 1993, she moved to New York to become R&B editor at Billboard magazine. From 1994 to 1996, she joined Vibe Media Group as a music editor until she took a break to pursue an arts fellowship at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. This was the era when her good friends Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls were killed. A time when mainstream media tried to convince everyone that hip-hop was dead. In 1997, Smith was promoted as the first Black and woman editor-in-chief of Vibe and vibe.com. People were in mourning. So she put Kirk Franklin on the cover.
“I was just working,” said Smith. “For the most part, happily so.” Though messages of self-care and rest are much louder today, Smith was proud to walk into the Vibe office every morning, where she worked with some of the “best” and “brilliant” multicultural people. Mostly Black people. “Black music needed me. I literally had a place in which I was allowed to be as creative as I could be and was rewarded for that,” she said. “I was living.”
Photo courtesy of Danyel Smith
The ’90s and 2000s were both tragic and uplifting. “When Lauryn Hill won all the Grammys. When Outkast won, also for Album of the Year. These are huge celebratory moments in culture,” Smith recalled. “The ups and downs of Snoop’s career… Destiny’s Child. And that shifting into Beyoncé’s solo career… The neo-soul movement. Erykah Badu on the cover. The T.I. covers….” and the rest is history.
Danyel Smith and T.I. (Photo courtesy of Danyel Smith)
Smith is proud to have witnessed it all. But her advocacy journey came with challenges. She called it a “crisis of confidence.” Those who worked with Smith recognized her as a confident woman. “She is. And she isn’t,” Smith said. In her 20s, she had to get her confidence together. “I had to deal with the fact that men were not interested in a Black woman writing about rap music and hip-hop culture.”
Decades later, Smith is still on an incredible journey of rhythm, resilience, and the power of Black culture. She has been a producer and writer at ESPN and a contributor to numerous publications. Currently she hosts Black Girl Songbook, a music talk show highlighting Black women artists.
“It’s a calling, and I am committed,” Smith declared. “I am in service of Black culture.”
Rep. Jamaal Bowman Hosts Conversation About Black Men In America
New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman hosted a conversation on July 30 about political issues that matter the most to Black men. Bowman spoke to News 12 Westchester after the event, telling reporters about the significant conversations held during the forum.
“We focused on problems and solutions. Some of the problems were gun violence, lack of housing, education, and many others,” Bowman said. “Some of the solutions involve investing in historically under-invested communities, bringing jobs, bring affordable housing and entrepreneurship.”
Bowman has been active in addressing issues relating to Black men and, more broadly, Black people since he was elected as New York’s representative, and this forum is just another example of his commitment to progressive ideals.
Bowman has been pushing the Oligarch Act to address rampant income inequality in America, which he describes as a racial and economic justice issue. He has also authored legislation, the Fair College Admissions Act, which prohibits institutions participating in federal student aid programs from using legacy admissions when considering prospective students.
On a more personal level, Bowman has made headlines for his confrontational brand of resistance to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s politics, which led the Trump-associated Congresswoman to play the “I felt threatened by a Black man” card in her public remarks about their now-viral disagreement. Bowman hosting an event like this feels like a natural outgrowth of the things he is concerned about, not only in his community but also in the country.
According to News 12, the event was sponsored by the Democratic National Committee, which is hosting a national “Black Men Organizing” tour ostensibly to continue courting more Black male voters. Ahead of the 2024 election, the Democrats are aware that Black voters are the key to retaining the White House and that Black support of Joe Biden is slipping. Black men, in particular, voted for Trump at a higher rate than Black women in 2020, which is part of why Trump’s overall share of the Black vote climbed from 8% to 12% between his first and second campaigns. If this event turns out to help the perception of the Democratic Party and its commitment to addressing the concerns of Black men, then it bodes well for the party and is something Bowman can point to and say that he helped address.
Introducing Dayna Bolden, CEO of Define Bold Fitness and Bolden Creative Media
Dayna Bolden is multifaceted. The CEO of Define Bold Fitness and Bolden Creative Media, she is a loving mother, a hardworking entrepreneur, and a famous influencer. Her vast skills and impressive drive have led Bolden to make her mark in the fitness and lifestyle industry.
Bolden differs from countless other influencers because she is her brand. While Define Bold Fitness is a size-inclusive athletic apparel company and Bolden Creative Media a digital marketing agency, she has garnered support across social media platforms for her online personality. A dedicated family woman and undeniable fashionista, Bolden has accumulated over 300,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok and runs a successful lifestyle blog where she discusses everything there is to know about beauty, travel, fitness, and more. Because of her media expertise, Bolden continues to make quite the impact, and as her company continues to grow, so does her passion.
(Image courtesy of Dayna Bolden)
Bolden received her B.S. in business administration with a concentration in marketing from University at Buffalo in 2010. Following her studies, she landed a corporate job where she moved up the ranks. Within a few years, Bolden rose from retail operations, as an intern, to corporate communications for the major athletic apparel company Under Armour. She left her position in 2017 to launch her lifestyle blog, DaynaBolden.com, and a digital marketing company, with clients including VH1, Macy’s, Disney, DSW, and the WNBA.
Her ability to find a niche in curating lifestyle content that caters to all audiences has made Bolden an amazing influencer. She has also gained traction for her commitment to balancing both work and life, serving as an inspiration to all who follow her life journey.
Lizzo Hit With Lawsuit by Former Dancers For Sexual Harassment and Fat-Shaming
In shocking news, Lizzo has been sued by three former dancers for sexual harassment and fat-shaming. Their lawyer claims that Lizzo helped foster a hostile work environment that left the dancers feeling uncomfortable and fearful.
The lawsuit, filed August 1, 2023, and obtained by NBC News, accuses Lizzo of pressuring the one of the plantiffs, Arianna Davis, to touch a nude cabaret dancer while at an afterparty for her Amsterdam show.
Lizzo’s dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, was also named in the suit. It’s alleged that she publicly disclosed a dancer’s virginity while conversing with her team about lewd acts. Quigley also reportedly simulated oral sex in front of the dancers, whose lawyer claims that Lizzo was made aware of the behavior.
The dancers claim that false allegations of drinking before shows sparked a 12-hour rehearsal. Rebuttal by a plaintiff, Crystal Williams, about the validity of the claims prompted her swift firing days later. However, the rehearsal itself left another plaintiff so scared for her job security that she urinated on herself. Instead of concern, the tour’s management resolved to giving her see-through bottoms so that it would not be witnessed.
In another revelation, Lizzo, who has become a prominent face in media for body-positivity, allegedly fat-shamed Davis. The “Good as Hell” singer allegedly commented on her weight gain, saying she was “less committed,” and fired Davis as tensions escalated after she recorded a conversation.
Lizzo was reportedly “furious” at the group after finding out about the recording, with Davis stating she was imprisoned in a room until her phone was throughly searched for the clip. The incident prompted another dancer involved in the suit, Noelle Rodriguez, to quit immediately. In response, Lizzo allegedly called her a slur.
While the plaintiffs did not list a monetary amount they are suing the singer for, they want damages to cover emotional distress, such as loss of earnings and their attorney fees.
The lawsuit has shocked the music industry, as Lizzo’s light-hearted, bubbly persona is now under question. The singer, however, has yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
City of Charleston Honors The Legacy of Prominent Black Business Owners With Intersection Name Change
Two prominent Black Charleston entrepreneurs are getting their flowers in a major way.
Albert and Benjamin Brooks are having a downtown Charleston, South Carolina, intersection named after them, ABC News 4 reports. City officials and Brooks’ family descendants recently gathered at the corner of Morris and Felix streets to dedicate signs at the intersection in their honor.
The new street sign reads, “Brooks Way, Honoring A Legacy.”
For over 60 years, the Brooks brothers owned and operated several businesses on Morris Street, including the Brooks Motel, Brooks Restaurant, and Brooks Realty office. Because of their success, the businesses created a safe gathering space for members of the Black community in downtown Charleston. Iconic civil rights leaders like Coretta Scott King, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King, Sr., and others were frequent visitors.
Brooks family representative Kenneth Reid was present at the unveiling and commended the brothers for their work and for creating a bold legacy. “This event, no matter how small it was, it told us and reinforced the fact that these two men really served the community, and the community remembered,” Reid said to WCBD.
Brooks Motel was the go-to place for Black churchgoers looking for an after-church meal to continue fellowshipping with community members. Jean Brooks Murphy, daughter of Benjamin Brooks, remembers working at the motel while in high school and college. She said her father and uncle also helped other Black entrepreneurs launch businesses in the city.
Murphy partnered with the daughter of fellow Charleston-based business owner Henry Smith and the Preservation Society of Charleston to keep her family’s legacy alive to create the Black Business of Charleston Oral History Project in 2022. Both women were featured in a video that debuted at a local high school, sharing the struggles of their successful parents with the hopes of bringing on a deeper appreciation for Black businesses.
Mastercard Makes Controversial Move To Ban Cannabis Purchases
Mastercard has officially stopped debit cardholders from placing transactions to purchase marijuana. The move will impact the progress of the cannabis industry to gain more legal recognition by U.S. banks and financial corporations.
A spokesperson for the company spoke of its latest ordinance, sharing how they were “made aware” of its purchase availability and quickly rectified the matter, as reported by Reuters.
“In accordance with our policies, we instructed the financial institutions that offer payment services to cannabis merchants and connects them to Mastercard to terminate the activity,” they said in the statement.
“The federal government considers cannabis sales illegal, so these purchases are not allowed on our systems.”
Although the sale and use of marijuana and its subsidiary products are legal for medicinal use in 23 states—and recreational in certain states—this law is not upheld federally. Due to this discrepancy, many financial institutions nationwide have forbidden purchases via their users’ bank accounts.
The legalization of marijuana extends beyond the growth of the commercial industry to how equitable it is internally as well. Aspiring Black entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry face additional setbacks, such as acquiring capital to embark on their brand, alongside the racist history of the criminalization of marijuana still impactful today.
However, Republican politicians are united in their opposition against any legislation to expand marijuana services for U.S. banks. A bill coined the SAFE Banking Act would remedy the issue cannabis businesses face now with financial accessibility for customers, including those who wish to support and uplift diverse brands.
However, cannabis companies are fighting back against the stigma against its widespread availability and use.
Darren Weiss, president of premium cannabis brand Verano, encourages weed enthusiasts to continue advocating for legalization,
“We will continue to advocate for cannabis reform in Washington through further dialogue with elected officials and stakeholders to advance conversations supporting the growth of safe, legal cannabis across the U.S.”
