Despite Being A Billionaire, Elon Musk Faces Lawsuit For Not Paying His Employees Promised Severance

by Lauren Nutall

July 24, 2023

Despite Being A Billionaire, Elon Musk Faces Lawsuit For Not Paying His Employees Promised Severance

Since acquiring Twitter, Elon Musk has been mired in controversy. His latest scandal, according to former employees: not paying severance. Twitter’s Africa team was laid off to cut costs for the billionaire, but the team says he did not provide them with severance pay or benefits.

The team, based in Ghana’s capital Accra, was promised three months of severance pay when they signed their contract. However, after they were dismissed, the former employees say Musk reneged on their agreement and ceased communication, CNN reports.

Some former employees anonymously spoke to CNN about Musk’s mistreatment as they signed non-disclosure agreements.

“Although Twitter has eventually settled former staff in other locations, Africa staff have still been left in the lurch despite us eventually agreeing to specific negotiated terms,” one person said. The team was initially hesitant to take severance pay without benefits as it was significantly lower that what other employees received. However, they eventually accepted.

“Twitter was non-responsive until we agreed to the three months because we were all so stressed and exhausted and tired of the uncertainty, reluctant to take on the extra burdens of a court case so we felt we had no choice but to settle,” said another former staff member.

Now, the wronged party is seeking legal recourse against Musk, and is represented by attorney Carla Olympia. Olympia said the former employees have not received any contact from the social media company since May 2023, shortly after they reached a settlement.

Musk and Twitter representatives have yet to respond to the situation. Apparently all requests for additional information garner the same response—a poop emoji.

In March, Musk shared that this would be the standard response to all media inquiries.

press@twitter.com now auto responds with 💩

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2023

Caress Grants Extra $500k To Uplift Women Of Color Entrepreneurs

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 24, 2023

Caress Grants Extra $500k To Uplift Women Of Color Entrepreneurs

The Caress Dreams Fund has donated millions, $2.25 to be exact, over the past three years toward women of color entrepreneurs who want to enact change in their industry.

Now, in partnership with IFundWomen, Caress has recommitted to supporting and uplifting women and minority-owned brands through its financial support of an additional $500,000 to be dispersed amongst its 2023 cohort.

The monetary gift will be allocated to the members of this coveted group, who are inspiring business owners. Caress will bestow a $5,000 grant to each recipient to help take their businesses to the next level.

In addition, each entrepreneur will become a part of IFundWomen’s Crowdfunding Accelerator coaching and networking group. This award-winning program benefits these business-minded women with mentorship and guidance as grow advance their brands.

Caress and its co-founding group, IFundWomen, seek to bridge the gap between venture funding and businesses spearheaded by women of color. They report that less than 1 percent of these entrepreneurs are afforded this type of financial support. Under the mission of creating an equitable business landscape for diverse businesswomen to thrive, Caress has aided multiple cohorts to gain capital, receive coaching, and build connections to expand their network.

As their primary demographic is women, the beauty and body care company has sought to champion business owners whose opportunities are often rare and not as accessible in comparison to their white, male counterparts. However, in partnership with IFundWomen, Caress is able to directly provide those moments to change a business’ trajectory.

Taking a chance on Black women and other women of color is a step in an inclusive direction that allows all entrepreneurs, no matter the background, to succeed. As the program is only growing, potential applicants are encouraged to check on the next opening rounds during the summer. To learn more and support the endeavor, especially in its crowdfunding, explore iFundWomen’s homepage.

Social Experiment Exposes Racist Treatment Of Disabled People

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 23, 2023

Social Experiment Exposes Racist Treatment Of Disabled People

A popular content creator’s recent video of a social experiment unveiled racial disparities about how disabled people are treated by the general public.

The video showed two men portraying themselves as blind who reached out to pedestrians as they walked by. Based on the results, pedestrians were more willing to help and touch the white man as opposed to his Black counterpart.

Both actors in the clip behaved similarly, but each yielded starkly different results.

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The social media influencer who posted the series of videos, BARRY TV, has millions of followers across sites such as YouTube and TikTok, in addition to the over 400,000 he has on Instagram. The France-based content creator is known for posting his videos exposing the racial sentiments of everyday people.

The video gained traction on social platforms for the blatant display of racism toward the Black person. As one part of the experiment included grabbing onto a passerby in an attempt to see whether they would allow the physical interaction, more people were welcoming to the white “blind” man’s hand as opposed to the Black man’s, with one person pushing him away and scoffing at him.

Although it was a fake scenario that showcased how Black disabled people are subjected to hostility when engaging in casual settings, the systemic impact of these actions and feelings are not that unfathomable.

Disability discrimination affects people of color in and beyond the health care industry. To combat these issues, national studies, such as its impact on children, have brought awareness, while advocates seek to uplift Black people who are mentally and/or physically disabled.

People with disabilities are at greater risk of disadvantage when they are mistreated due to their Blackness. The racial disparities surrounding disabled folks is not a new phenomenon, but one that must be considered in policies and in the general awareness of how people treat marginalized groups.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 23, 2023

Anthony Anderson And Cedric The Entertainer Start BBQ Brand

Anthony Anderson and Cedric The Entertainer are household names in comedy who hope to make their mark in the food industry. The duo has created a barbecue lifestyle brand, AC Barbeque, with signature rubs the first products released to the public.

To commemorate the announcement and to document their journey in the food business, the two will host a docuseries on A&E called Kings of BBQ, set to debut this summer.

The show unveil and highlight Black excellence in barbecuing, as the comedians voyage across the country to see how the pit masters do it best.

“In each one-hour episode, Kings of BBQ will follow Cedric and Anthony as they meet with barbecue chefs, pitmasters and everyday experts who share their knowledge and secrets of the trade, highlighting Black Excellence in the industry along the way,” according to the show’s official logline, shared by Variety.

With additional celebrity guests and special family members along for the ride, the history of barbecue in the Black community will be on full display.

In an interview with Blavity, the entrepreneurs shared why they decided to venture into the food industry space through this medium.

“Barbecues are the perfect medium because it’s like a family reunion every time you get together,” expressed Anderson. “Without it being a family reunion every few years and traveling someplace, it’s a communal thing. It’s a family thing.”

Cedric The Entertainer described what barbecues mean from a communal standpoint.

“I really think the key thing for us is that we saw this as a way to build community and share our culture. The idea of grilling and cooking food goes way back in slavery and beyond. For us, as a culture, it is the way that we were.”

They seek to grow their Black-owned business through a wide range of products, such as spices, rubs, and equipment. For now, you can purchase the rubs (The MVP, Midnight Smoke, and Lemon Stepper) online and in Walmarts nationwide.

Vince Carter Heads Basketball Camp Ahead Of Hall Of Fame Ceremony

by Daniel Johnson

July 23, 2023

Vince Carter Heads Basketball Camp Ahead Of Hall Of Fame Ceremony

Vince Carter continues to give back to his high school alma mater, Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, with his yearly basketball camp.

Carter, who will be inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame this fall, hosted the camp for the 25th consecutive year.

“I enjoy doing camps,” Carter told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “I enjoy working with kids. I enjoy trying to teach them life skills and value …We’ve been doing it so long, it’s kind of a part of my schedule, for one. And it’s just something I feel I’m supposed to do.”

Carter began his camps ahead of the 1998 NBA Draft, when the camp was named after his high school head coach, Charles Brinkerhoff. As Carter’s fame grew, the name changed to the Vince Carter Youth Basketball Academy camp.

This year, the camp ran from July 20 to July 23 and had 141 attendees, ages 7 to 17. . According to the site, campers were “taught basketball skills, teamwork, life skills and have fun! Vince participates on a daily basis, campers receive a team picture with Vince, one autographed item of their choice, and various give-aways and recognitions.”

A 1995 McDonald’s All-American, Carter led Maitland to its first state title in 56 years and later starred at the University of North Carolina. Regarded as one of basketball’s greatest slam dunk artists, Carter enjoyed a 22-year NBA career and holds the distinction as the only player to have a career that touched 4 different decades. Carter, whose best years were with the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets, was selected to the All-NBA Team twice and was an eight-time All-Star.

Along with Carter, LeRoy Butler, Greg Coleman, Tom Coughlin, Ashlyn Harris, Jeff Johnson, Elaine Larson, and Shannon Miller will be inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. Carter will be eligible for induction into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2024.

Buju Banton Denounces High Costs of Concerts In Jamaica

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 23, 2023

Buju Banton Denounces High Costs of Concerts In Jamaica

Jamaican musician Buju Banton has urged his fans not to go broke just to see a show, contributing to the growing cause against ticketing platforms charging high costs and predatory fees.

In an interview with radio station Irie Fm, Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, spoke about not wanting fellow Jamaicans to go into debt to enjoy artists’ music.

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“I am aware of what’s going on in Jamaica, I don’t want Jamaica to come take out a loan to come and see Buju, in the name of Jesus, you understand, I want to make the price affordable, so that Jamaicans can enjoy their culture and see their culture on display,” the musician said.

His consideration of his people’s pockets led him to change the date of his headlining “Intimate” concert to 2025, as reported by World Music Views.

“I don’t want you to go and take out a loan and put yourself in debt for six years,” Banton said. “Why would you pay so much money where you have to put yourself in debt, so we want to space ourselves out so my people can sort themselves out and live their lives and we celebrate.”

The concert will also feature some of Jamaica’s prominent artists, including Beres Hammond and Tarrus Riley, on the same stage as Banton. The performance, to be held at Grizzlys Plantation in Priory St. Ann on New Years Day, will be pushed to January 2025.

The performance will be held bi-annually to give attendees time to plan and pay for tickets.

However, it is not just the costliness that the 50-year-old wants remedied, but also the infrastructure that limits the quality experience concertgoers on the Caribbean island deserve.

“We are not paying attention to our culture, its all about tourism so why don’t we have a facility?” questioned the singer. “We are in this position where we have to play outside. […] It’s something that the powers that be need to look at.”

Florida A&M Suspends Football Activity Following Music Video

by Daniel Johnson

July 23, 2023

Florida A&M Suspends Football Activity Following Music Video

Florida A&M Head Coach Willie Simmons has suspended all football activities following what is being described as an unsanctioned rap video filmed in the team’s locker room. Tallahassee rapper Real Boston Richey, real name Jalen Foster, who performed at the team’s homecoming game last year, is the artist who recorded and later posted the video, which caught the attention of the university. The university, in turn, alerted Simmons who took swift action. The team will reportedly have a team meeting on Monday, July 24, where Simmons says any further disciplinary action will be determined. Simmons says the only players who can access team facilities at this point are players who need treatment from the training staff and doctors.

Simmons discussed it with the Associated Press on Saturday, July 22, telling the outlet that he and the administration planned to meet with players who were visible in the video over the weekend. Simmons released a statement on Twitter which reads in part, “The video contained graphic language that is not consistent with Florida A&M’s core values, principles, and beliefs, and an internal investigation is underway to determine who authorized the use of not only the athletic facility at Galimore-Powell, but also licensed apparel that potentially violates university branding and licensing agreements.”

Florida A&M still plans to participate in the SWAC’s media day on Tuesday, July 25, in Birmingham. According to Florida A&M’s spokesman for the athletic department, Josh Padilla, the team plans for quarterback Jeremy Moussa and cornerback Javan Morgan to address the media. The pair do not appear to have been present during the filming of the video, and Florida A&M will open its season at home against Jackson State on September 3rd.

White Woman Who Spat On BLM Protestor Has Charges Dropped

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 23, 2023

White Woman Who Spat On BLM Protestor Has Charges Dropped

Yuliya Gilshteyn, the white woman who spat on a BLM protestor in 2021, has had her hate crime and other charges dismissed by a judge. The victim, Keren Prescott, feels that the justice system “failed” her by allowing the woman to go through a special probation program instead of serving time.

In the January 6, 2021, incident, both women were protesting their differing causes at the Connecticut State Capitol. To show their stance as the new legislative session began, Prescott was advocating on behalf of the Black Lives Matter movement.

According to NBC News, Gilshteyn was protesting against COVID-19 related mandates but began chanting antagonistic slogans to the BLM protestors.

Tensions between the two groups, and especially the two women, escalated to the point where Prescott told Gilshteyn to back away from her due to her lack of masking. In response, Gilshteyn spit on her.

To elude hate crime charges, the anti-masker’s defense urged that his client’s motive was not racially charged, but the tense situation prompted her wrongful action. The judge presiding over the case, Hartford Superior Court Judge Sheila Prats, concluded that while the deed was “despicable,” it still fell under the requirements for one to bypass a criminal record if they are a first-time offender.

The defendant’s dropped charges, such as deprivation of rights, will now be dismissed upon finishing her new accelerated rehabilitation. The program requirements differ based on the case. Gilshteyn will have to complete 100 hours of anti-hate instruction.

Prescott slammed the outcome, telling the judge that the verdict feels like “being spit on once again.” She also declared that this is another occurrence of Brown and Black people being let down by the criminal justice system, implying the results unfairly benefit the white woman who assaulted her.

The usage of the special probation program for Gilshteyn is especially concerning to those advocating for the racial justice movement. The incident is another in a growing list of those attacking BLM protestors without facing any serious prison time.

by Daniel Johnson

July 23, 2023

John Lewis Honored With Forever Stamp, Ceremony

Late Civil Rights activist and Congressman John Lewis was revealed as the United States Postal Service’s newest “forever stamp” at an event at Morehouse College. Lewis, who died three years ago at the age of 80, was honored at a star-studded event featuring actress Alfre Woodard as the mistress of ceremony.

Other guests included activist Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.; Lewis’s son, John Miles-Lewis; Morehouse VP of external relations and alumni engagement, Henry M. Goodgame Jr.; president and CEO of the John and Lillie Miles-Lewis Foundation; Linda Early Chastang, chair of the board of the John and Lillie Miles-Lewis Foundation; Lewis’ longtime chief of staff, Michael Collins; Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), author and activist Peggy Wallace Kennedy, and former Atlanta mayors Bill Campbell and Shirley Franklin.

Lewis was the face of the Nashville Student Movement, one of the original Freedom Riders, and one of the keynote speakers alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington. Following his activism, Lewis was elected to the House of Representatives where he served for more than 30 years.

No matter his role, Lewis remained an advocate for non-violent protest throughout his life. Lewis was highly regarded by his colleagues, often referred to as the “conscious of the Congress” due to his strong moral stances.

“As an avid collector, stamps were important to Congressman John Lewis who always made sure he purchased stamps on their first day of issue,” Collins said, according to a press release from the USPS. “We are deeply grateful to the United States Postal Service for recognizing the congressman with this official Forever stamp, a testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment of a true American hero. The congressman was a treasured civil rights icon and a timeless advocate for justice, equality, and human rights.”

You can watch the full ceremony here

National Monument Honoring Till Family To Be Created

by Daniel Johnson

July 23, 2023

National Monument Honoring Till Family To Be Created

President Joe Biden is expected to establish a national monument honoring Emmett and Mamie Till on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, according to NBC News.

Emmett Till’s brutal murder in Mississippi is seen as the event that sparked the civil rights movement in 1955 and his mother’s insistence on an open casket funeral made sure that no one could look away from what happened to her son.

The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument is expected to comprise three sites in Illinois and Mississippi, according to a White House official. The official spoke anonymously because the White House has not made an official announcement regarding the monument’s creation.

Tuesday marks the birthday of Emmett Till in 1941, and the monument will protect places central to the story of Till’s life and tragic death at 14 at the hands of white men as well as his mother’s activism.

Jet Magazine published the now-famous photos of Till’s body lying in the casket, his young face deformed beyond recognition by a cotton gin. The plans for the memorial come at a time when conservatives are trying to rewrite history, Florida governor Ron DeSantis recently signed legislation that allows teachers to say that slaves benefited from being taught skills by their captors.

Vice President Kamala Harris responded to this development in a recent speech in Jacksonville: “How is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization?”

Till’s monument will include Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Bronzeville, IL, a historically Black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side where thousands gathered to mourn Till’s death; Graball Landing, where Till’s body is believed to have been pulled out of the Tallahatchie River; and the Tallahatchie County Second District Court, where Till’s murderers were acquitted by an all-white jury just a month after Till’s death.

The monument comes as there is a wave of backlash against diversity, inclusion, and equity practices that began as a response to the 2020 murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department.

Many of those positions are being eliminated, as Jamie Adasi told SHRM that the companies were engaging in “diversity theater”, that is, engaging in creating DEI positions for optics sake instead of any real commitment to the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Amy Hull, director of DEI at Paycor added, “If they weren’t invested for the right reasons to start when they created these positions and hiring, and it was more for optics, it’s of no surprise that they are removing these positions when no one is apparently watching.”