Kevin Maxen Becomes First American Openly Gay Male Coach

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2023

Kevin Maxen Becomes First American Openly Gay Male Coach

Jacksonville Jaguars assistant strength and conditioning coach Kevin Maxen is the first American male coach to come out as openly gay, Outsports reported.

“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore. Maxen said. I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing or why I am living with someone else.”

Shad Khan, the Jacksonville Jaguars owner, fully supports Maxen’s choice and has even backed city ordinances broadening protections for those in the LGBTQ+ community in Jacksonville, Florida. Marcus Pollard, a former NFL tight end and the current director of player development for the Jaguars, said, “In an environment that is diversifying, it is a privilege to work alongside Kevin, who is hardworking, dedicated, and thriving as a strength and conditioning coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.”

Maxen has the full backing of his organization from the top down, and ex-Jaguars center Brandon Linder shared how much it meant to him that Maxen chose him to come out to:

“It was truly an honor and extremely humbling when I was one of the first people Kevin confided to about his sexuality. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been, not knowing what my reaction would be. I remember the day he told me. I was so elated for him to get that off his chest. Kevin, I’m proud to call you a friend and excited to see what the future holds for you, Kev. I know your story can help so many people. You the man! All shall be well!”

Although the NFL’s lack of racial diversity has been well documented in the past, players seem progressive about accepting players’ and coaches’ sexual orientation. Perhaps this will, as Linder alludes to, lead to more NFL players or coaches feeling like they can be their full selves around their co-workers.

Maxen appears ready to face the world as he contextualizes his racial and ethnic background to his sexuality, telling Outsports: “As a Black Jew who has dated both men and women, who has been a strength coach at the highest level of professional football, I’ve learned that how I look, what I believe in, and especially who I am physically or emotionally attracted to should not impact the way I or other people view my worth. And It should certainly not dictate what I feel I am capable of accomplishing.”

Maxen was once ashamed because he felt he could not talk about his dating life or his partner openly, but now he has freed himself from that perception and looks forward to building the acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in major American sports.

Education Department To Investigate Legacy Admissions At Harvard University

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2023

Education Department To Investigate Legacy Admissions At Harvard University

Following a formal complaint filed by the non-profit Lawyers for Civil Rights, the U.S. Department of Education is opening an investigation into the use of legacy admissions by Harvard University.

According to the New York Times, the department released a statement indicating that the federal government agreed to look into how legacy admissions create an unfair playing field for prospective students which reads in part: “…the Office for Civil Rights can confirm that there is an open investigation of Harvard University under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We do not comment on open investigations.”

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to dismantle affirmative action policies in higher education, legacy admissions—the preferential consideration of applicants who have had immediate family members graduate from an institution—has been under increased scrutiny. Johns Hopkins University ended the practice in 2014 and has seen more diversity in the socioeconomic makeup of its campus as a result.

Harvard is among the number of elite, East coast universities that still use the policy, but there is a growing consensus that diversifying college campuses is incongruent with the use of legacy admissions.

NPR interviewed Wesleyan University President Michael Roth following the university’s decision to end legacy admissions. Roth indicated that a major roadblock to ending the policy among those selective colleges is the fear that they would lose funding from alumni but Roth thinks most alumni will see the value of a level playing field.

There is a view that legacy admissions essentially function as affirmative action for white students, which is also echoed in the complaint that Lawyers for Civil Rights filed.

The ACLU believes that the elimination of legacy admissions can lead to a more equitable admissions process, as it in a 2022 post titled “How Ending Legacy Admissions Can Help Achieve Greater Education Equity“: “Legacy preferences reinforce long standing economic, social, and educational disparities between white students and BIPOC students by shutting them out of spots in universities and further privileging wealthy, white students with more access to resources and institutional connections.”

It is expected that legacy admissions will end at some point based on the momentum against the policy. The practice received increased attention during the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision; justices on both sides made arguments that seemed as though they viewed the policy as an unfair and archaic one. This is reflected in the fact that Democrats who were critical of the affirmative action ruling agreed with Republicans who celebrated the end of affirmative action, regarding the practice of legacy admissions. Both parties essentially seem to see legacy admissions as antithetical to the ideas of fairness and equity.

Moreover, it is irrational to oppose affirmative action under the pretext of giving special treatment to underrepresented groups during the admission process, while simultaneously permitting legacy admissions for individuals who are not part of these groups.

by Stacy Jackson

July 26, 2023

CEO Debbie Dyson Creates Job Opportunities For Black People Without Four-Year College Degrees

OneTen has set an ambitious goal of finding one million jobs for Black people seeking employment without a four-year bachelor’s degree.

CEO Debbie Dyson will head the initiative for the nonprofit organization to find sustainable employment opportunities that will allow Black talent to earn salaries to support their families adequately. Dyson has come out of retirement and will use her 30 years of experience as a corporate executive to head OneTen.

According to Essence, OneTen was established in 2020, during the social injustices that disparagingly affected Black communities and loomed over the United States. Tragic events, such as the brutal moments leading to George Floyd’s demise, marked the beginning of the nonprofit organization.

Dyson told the outlet, “And so you had a group of CEOs, starting with Ken Frazier, Charles Phillips, and Ken Chenault, that wanted to do something. And so they corralled initially about 30 to 40 CEOs and said, ‘What can we do?'”

“They decided to do something to try to close the ‘opportunity gap’ that seemed to be plaguing, disproportionately, the Black population,” she continued.

In addition to closing the opportunity gap, Dyson told the outlet, the goal is to focus on equipping Black talent with the necessary skills required to perform a job rather than obtaining a degree. “So this is not just minimum wage, but to ensure that whatever the dynamics are in the composition of your family that you’re able to afford, obviously the basic necessities: Healthcare, etc., opposed to trying to get a degree it’s like ‘What are the skills required for the job,'” Dyson said.

OneTen is helping companies identify job seekers’ talent and skill sets instead of using traditional standards to employ people.

In the three years OneTen has operated, the organization has helped secure about 88,000 jobs for Black people. Additionally, 70 companies and counting have committed to OneTen’s vision and have joined its coalition.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 26, 2023

Former NBA Player Breaks Down Why Many Pro Athletes Go Broke After Leaving The League

It’s been reported that Jaylen Brown signed the largest contract in NBA history when he inked a $304 million deal with the Boston Celtics. Yes, that’s a lot of money, but even at a third of that, it is still a large amount of cash. Business Insider reposted a story from several years ago about a former NBA player who made over $60 million in his career. He discussed why so many professional athletes go broke after their playing days are over.

Josh Childress, who played on four different teams during his career, made more than $60 million after graduating from Stanford. He was able to avoid the financial pitfalls that many of his peers have fallen into. The thought process with most people who come into money after not having any is the perception that they have more in hand than reality.

“The first mistake is, people say, ‘Okay, I’ve got $11 million,'” Childress said. “You’ve got five [million dollars after taxes] over four years. So that million-dollar house that you thought you had $11 million, that you had $10 million more, that house then becomes more expensive. Most guys buy their mother a house or a car or something. They buy themselves a car. You’ve got a 2-to-4% agent fee. You got the NBA escrow. So that check gets eaten up.”

His saving grace was being around veteran players who were financially intelligent, allowing him to soak in their knowledge, as it could have gone the other way with the wrong influence.

“Some of my veterans spent a little more than others. If those are the guys taking you under their wing, that’s what you get used to. So that’s how you think it has to be, and that’s how you think the life is, and you get caught up in that, and you end up spending way more than you should.”

Luckily for him, he was able to curtail those thoughts and stay on the right track of being able to have money after his playing days were over.

mental health, workplace, personal change, generational change, managers, change, utilize systems, increase communication

by Stacy Jackson

July 26, 2023

Maine Makes History With Its First Black Chamber Of Commerce

Joshua Brister, owner of the Lewiston-Auburn Maples, a women’s semiprofessional basketball team in Maine, is creating the state’s first Black chamber of commerce.

The Portland Press Herald reported that Brister registered the Maine Black Chamber of Commerce in June 2023. The Black chamber will lobby for Black businesses in the state.

Brister, a Navy veteran, secured over $400,000 in startup funding and is selecting 15 people for the organization’s board of directors. Per the Herald, he said, “We’re in the incubation stage. It takes conversations and backing to bring intentional, lasting change.” Brister expects the annual budget to be between $1.5 million and $2 million.

Brister believes the state lacks an entity that advocates for and promotes the interests of Black businesses to state leaders. “You have to be talking with city councilors and economic development directors and the candidates running for the State House and the Blaine House in Augusta,” he said.

The paper noted that the registered nonprofit plans to work hand in hand with other organizations vested in the interests of Black businesses, such as Black Owned Maine. Brister said, “We need intentional allies who have funding and are willing to stand by us when times get tough.”

There is room for everyone to lead, and the creator of the Black chamber of commerce said it was “not looking to be confrontational. We don’t want to be bigger or better. We want to be a good chamber with an intentional plan. There’s got to be an engine to engage with if we want to bring positive change.”

While he knows and understands the struggles Black business owners face, not everyone possesses the same awareness. Brister registered the Maine Black Chamber of Commerce after feeling that Black business owners were not addressed at an election forum by the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce. Brister said about the event, “There were 400 to 500 people in the audience, but very few were Black. If candidates aren’t walking into a room full of people that look like me, they’re not going to develop intentional policies and solutions to the challenges facing Black business owners in this state.”

U.S. Black Chambers, Incorporated (USBC) states on its website that there are more than 145 chambers of commerce and business organizations in 42 of the 50 United States. Those chambers represent about 326,000 Black businesses, according to the organization.

by Iman Milner

July 26, 2023

Terry Crews Brings Awareness To Colon Cancer During Filmed Colonoscopy, Possibly Cancerous Polyps Found

Terry Crews used his comedic talents to draw attention to a health concern that is no laughing matter. Reprising his role as President Camacho from 2006’s Idiocracy, Crews joined Ryan Reynolds and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance for the Lead From Behind campaign, where he underwent a colonoscopy on camera.

According to NBC News, during the procedure, Crews’ doctor found potentially cancerous polyps in his system, proving the lifesaving necessity of regular medical appointments for men, specifically Black men, who are over the age of 45. In the video, the 54-year-old actor is seen entering the facility in full Camacho costume, being prepped by his doctor, and led to the procedure. After 25 minutes, Crews is seen in the recovery room waking up from the anesthesia and being greeted by nurses. “And I didn’t even feel anything in my a**hole,” he said. “This is good.” When the doctor returns, he walks Crews through what he found during the exam with onscreen visual proof of what was removed.

“Listen, this s–t will literally save your life,” Crews, as President Camacho, concludes in the PSA. “So if you 45 or 455 like me, get your ass checked. This s–t killing way too many of my constituents, especially Black men. And I need you all alive to vote for Camacho in 2020FO!”

According to Digestive Health, colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in Black men and women. Black people are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than other ethnic groups. They are also at a higher risk of contracting colon cancer before the age of 50 and of showing proximal, or right-sided, tumors, which tend to be more fatal.

The tragic passing of actor and cultural gem Chadwick Boseman at the age of 43 from the disease was a wake-up call for many and a reminder that colorectal health is as important as ever.

‘From Social to Success’ Teen Who Went Viral In Morehouse Acceptance Video Receives Full-Ride Scholarship

by Iman Milner

July 26, 2023

‘From Social to Success’ Teen Who Went Viral In Morehouse Acceptance Video Receives Full-Ride Scholarship

When Amir Staten received his acceptance letter from Morehouse College, his mother captured his pure excitement over having reached his ultimate goal. Now Staten has another reason to celebrate: He’s secured a four-year full-ride scholarship to the storied HBCU.

Earlier this summer, Staten learned he would be one of 15 Bonner Scholars, a community service-focused scholarship program that will help him and his mother absorb Morehouse’s $51,000 yearly tuition. Staten was a stellar student during his high school years, remaining on the honor roll throughout his matriculation while also being the captain of the basketball team and completing over 120 hours of community service.

“He has gone above and beyond of what is expected of him,” his mother, Karlynne Staten, said. “Now he can kind of breathe easy.”

According to Good Morning America, Staten will have to maintain a 2.5 grade point average and complete approximately 10 hours of community service per week to maintain his place as a Bonner Scholar. As an added bonus, he and the other scholarship recipients will travel to the Dominican Republic during their senior year to work in an orphanage.

Kevin Booker, vice president for student services and dean of Morehouse College, said selecting Staten was an honor for him and other faculty members. “We develop student leaders and we start immediately. It doesn’t happen after they graduate,” Booker said.

“And some of those student leaders selected Amir because they see in him what’s needed to be a man of Morehouse, and eventually a Morehouse man.”

Staten did not use his viral video to elicit votes, but Booker saw the joy the graduating senior had around becoming a part of the legacy of the institution and was moved by his enthusiasm, according to Good Morning America.

“As a Morehouse College alum, as a Morehouse College dad—my son just graduated—and an administrator, there is no better feeling for me than seeing a young man like Amir, who hasn’t even walked these grounds [as a student] yet but feels what this college can do for him,” Booker said.

“He realizes that and wants to be a part of that history, and the history is long. We want Amir to be amongst the ranks of the great men who have come before him.”

The Truist Foundation Pledges $1.5M To Black-Owned Businesses In Virginia

by Iman Milner

July 26, 2023

The Truist Foundation Pledges $1.5M To Black-Owned Businesses In Virginia

On July 24, The Truist Foundation announced a $1.5 million grant to support an initiative to fund a small business loan program for historically undercapitalized communities.

According to The Virginian Pilot, Truist, in partnership with the St. Louis-based nonprofit Urban Strategies and People First, will provide resources and capital to Black and minority-owned businesses in Norfolk, Virginia, and beyond. “There are so many small businesses out there that can use this financial capital to really take off,” Urban Strategies president and CEO Esther Shin said. “Without significant economic intervention, families without financial capacity will not only continue to struggle, but the racial wealth gap will continue to widen.”

Shin, who is of Asian descent, comes from a family of immigrants who relied on the good faith and generosity of those around them to finance their dream of owning a business. “They were fortunate enough to have crucial connections that made their dream possible, because at the time, you were solidly a working-class family without any assets and likely would not have qualified for any sort of traditional business loan,” she said.

For Truist’s Virginia regional president Thomas Ransom, the focus is on organizations with the expertise and résumés to prove they can come into communities and create positive change efficiently. But it’s also a deeply personal mission, he told The Virginian Pilot. “When I was a little kid, we started a convenience store, but we never knew a banker, never knew how to get access to capital, never got training on how to run books,” Ransom said. “So, how do you grow?”

Sustaining a business is paramount to truly seeing the fruit from the labor of entrepreneurship, something that minority-owned businesses often struggle with. The hope is that through this initiative, small businesses and their owners can see a real return on their investments “so these businesses don’t just start, they start, and they thrive. That’s how you change communities,” said Ransom. “Small businesses are core to the health and vibrancy of our communities.”

by Stacy Jackson

July 26, 2023

Netflix Honors Female Game Changers Of Hip-Hop In New Docuseries

A new documentary series is coming to Netflix with some of the most influential women in hip-hop sitting down to tell its story their way.

In August 2023, some familiar faces in hip-hop will appear in Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop. The four-episode docuseries features female trailblazers of the industry and how their contributions to hip-hop changed the music game for the new generation of women artists. According to Netflix, the series will highlight the influence that Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and other female rappers and writers have had on hip-hop music and culture.

“This timely limited doc series recontextualizes the role the irrepressible women of hip-hop played throughout the revolutionary genre’s 50 years by reinserting them into the canon where they belong: at the center, from day one to present day,” Netflix wrote in the series summary on YouTube.

The series includes iconic emcees such as Rah Digga, up-and-coming artists, and current chart-toppers including Latto and Tierra Whack. Hip-hop fans will also learn more about key record labels, stylists, and journalists. “By giving flowers to originators like Sha-Rock and Roxanne Shanté or hearing real talk from contemporary superstars like Saweetie and Coi Leray, Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop contextualizes the history of the music that changed the world within the wider social, racial, and political landscape of the times and, crucially, through a female lens,” the synopsis revealed, according to Okayplayer.

“We have been through a lot,” says Queen Latifah in the docuseries trailer. “We have stood back up, and we’ll always keep standing back up.”

The docuseries was executive produced by Dream Hampton, Troy Carter, Raeshem Nijhon, Carri Twigg, MC Lyte, Nicole Galovski, Justin Simien, and Jennifer Ryan.

Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop will debut exclusively on Netflix on Aug. 9, 2023.

Houston White Celebrates Diversity And Self-Expression With Upcoming Target Product Line

by Stacy Jackson

July 26, 2023

Houston White Celebrates Diversity And Self-Expression With Upcoming Target Product Line

Houston White, founder of the Fresh by Houston White skincare and haircare brand, is set to bring 11 products to Target for diverse hair and skin types, Women’s Wear Daily reported. Fresh x Houston White is for hair that’s curly, straight, and wavy, with the line including shampoo, deep conditioner, three-in-one body, scalp, and hair scrubs, and hair pomades. And the prices are just right: Customers can expect to pay between $8.99 and $11.99 per item.

WWD reported that experts say Fresh by Houston White could bring in $4 million in year one. White himself has set his expectations high: “I have a bold ambition to create a billion-dollar hair and skin care brand—no doubt about it,” he said.

The entrepreneur said that bringing diverse products to stores for different groups of people has long been his mission. “Figuring out how to desegregate the skin and hair care aisles has been my life’s journey; it’s been my barbershop. It’s been my experience personally,” said White.

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White has been in the service industry long enough to know that care for multicultural hair and skin is not always represented on the shelves, and used his decade-plus of experience when creating the collection. “I just didn’t find a brand that spoke to the diverse audience that I was serving at my barbershop,” White said. “We’re entering the cultural economy, and the future is combining a lot of different people’s lived experiences.”

The entrepreneur is focused on making Fresh a combination of “convenience, flyness, and accessibility,” WWD reported.

White has been partnered with Target to provide apparel designs since 2020, as noted by the store’s corporate site, A Bullseye View.