by Iman Milner

July 21, 2023

Pamela Smith Makes History As Washington D.C.’s First Black Female Police Chief

Pamela Smith made history on July 19 when she received the nomination to become the very first Black female chief of police in Washington, District of Columbia. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser made the landmark announcement after Smith joined the Metropolitan Police Department in 2022 and now awaits official appointment.

“I am proud, I am humbled, and I am excited to work alongside this team,” said Smith. “This historic moment is not lost on me. I join a legacy of strong African American women who lead public safety in the District of Columbia.”

Smith has an extensive résumé in law enforcement and security, previously serving as the assistant chief of the Homeland Security Bureau, overseeing the Special Operations Division and the Joint Strategic & Tactical Analysis Command Center. She served in various field offices across the country for more than two decades and was promoted to chief of police at U.S. Park Police in 2021.

As D.C.’s chief of police, Smith says her focus will be “driving down” rising crime rates in the city, according to BlackNews.com.

While she awaits final confirmation from the D.C. council, she is serving as acting police chief, according to WTOP News. Along with meeting with other city officials, Smith has already begun her “boots on the ground” approach to turning the city’s homicide rate around. “I think that we are poised to really have some impactful engagement when it comes to homicides,” Smith said. “What’s really important for me is that we have an ‘all community approach’ to what’s happening.”

A chief concern for Smith is having D.C. residents unify through a desire to make public safety the norm. “One of the things that I would like to say to the community is to provide us with that information so that we can get some of these guns and drive down some of this violence,” she said. “We want to be able to have a more effective relationship with our community.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 21, 2023

Alabama GOP Is Playing In People’s Face, Blocks Another Black District Despite Supreme Court Backing

The Supreme Court ordered Alabama to draw a second majority-Black congressional district this week but the state’s GOP leadership is refusing, NBC News reports.

Last year, the Supreme Court called on Alabama to redraw its congressional map in order to include two districts where Black voters make up the voting-age majority. A special session was prompted for the legislature to create at least “something quite close to it” this week.

However, the GOP-controlled legislature is proposing a map with only one majority-Black seat.

There are two maps being considered. One House map would include a second Alabama district that is 42% Black; the other holds a district that is 38% Black. Both options don’t propose giving Black voters a chance at winning congressional seats. Democratic Senator Rodger Smitherman, who serves Birmingham, called the plan nothing but “an opportunity to fail.” Lawmakers are expected to meet on July 21 to select one of those maps or agree on a compromise.

The state’s House Speaker, Nathan Ledbetter, says U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) have already reached out to Republican legislators. McCarthy is worried about keeping his House majority while Tuberville seemed to be shocked that the Supreme Court voted against them.

“He was kind of surprised that we were in the situation,” Ledbetter said. “There are a lot of eyes on Alabama.”

And it’s not just the Roll Tide state that is under a microscope when it comes to its redistricting efforts. Plans in New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and other states could decide control of Congress.

The high court handed down the 5-4 vote in June, according to Business Insider, agreeing with a group of voters that feel the current district map violates the Voting Rights Act. It only includes one Black-majority district out of the state’s seven—in a state that has a 27% population of Black voters. The surprise came from Chief Justice John Roberts and conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who both sided with the court’s three liberal justices.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 21, 2023

Venus And Serena Williams Auctioning Unseen Ernie Barnes Artworks For Charity

Venus and Serena Williams have teamed up with their sister Isha Price to auction off four never-before-seen works by Ernie Barnes for charity.

The sisters consigned four of Barnes’ pieces – two paintings, “Holding Court” (1986) and “Mentors” (2008), and two drawings, “Saxophone Study #1” (1993) and “Study for Brother to Brother” (1994), Art News reported. The pieces will be available for bidding as part of a charity auction from July 24 to August 1 on Pharrell Williams’ digital-first auction house platform, Joopiter.

The pieces are expected to go for high amounts, with “Mentors” carrying a pre-sale estimate of $120,000 to $180,000 and “Holding Court” estimated between $80,000 to $120,000. Ernie Barnes, born Ernest Eugene Barnes Jr., was an American artist best known for his unique style of elongated characters and movement. He passed away in 2009 at 71, and his artwork has had a resurgence of interest in recent years.

The sisters worked directly with the Barnes estate on the charity auction that will benefit the Yetunde Price Resource Center, a community-based organization the sisters founded in 2018 in honor of their late oldest sister, Yetunde Price, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2003.

Serena, who is an avid art collector, shared her admiration for Barnes’ work and her hopes for how the charity auction will benefit their hometown of Compton, Los Angeles.

“Ernie Barnes is an iconic Black artist my family and I have long admired,” Serena said.

“Through his vibrant imagery, he envisioned a colorful world of harmony between all communities, backgrounds, and races. These never-before-seen works of Ernie Barnes will help fund and provide vital resources to those affected by violence in Compton and underserved communities across the country.”

It’s also the second charity art auction for Venus Williams in recent months, following the auction she hosted at Sotheby’s in May aimed at raising funds for the preservation of Nina Simone’s childhood home in North Carolina.

“This collaboration allows us to share our deep love of art in a way that enriches and empowers the broader community. Ernie Barnes’ artwork played a profound role in creating societal change, and we hope this partnership will similarly inspire, uplift, and make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and the communities we serve.”

by Daniel Johnson

July 21, 2023

Bow Wow Owns Part Of The Scream Tour ’23

The Black Promoters Collective, the group responsible for Maxwell’s 2022 “The Night Tour” featuring Joe and Anthony Hamilton, is partnering with Bow Wow for a return of the “Scream Tour.”

Bow Wow, along with B2K, Marques Houston, and Pretty Ricky, were the faces of the original Scream Tour, which ran in the summers of 2001-2012. Bow Wow is set to have an ownership stake in the reincarnation, formally known as “Scream Tour ‘23,” according to a report from Yahoo Finance.

“We are excited to partner with Bow Wow on the Scream Tour as he is the original face of the brand, and we have had the pleasure of working with him for many years on other tours we have produced,” Gary Guidry, CEO of The Black Promoters Collective, said in a press release. “By introducing the “Scream Tour ’23” and featuring an incredible lineup of rising stars, we aim to create a one-of-a-kind experience for fans, allowing them to relive their teenage years while introducing the next generation to the magic of live music.”

The Black Promoters Collective was largely formed as a part of the moment after the George Floyd protests when the nation seemed like it was ready for a real reckoning of its history with race. Composed of several of the top Black independent promoters and Black veterans of the live entertainment industry including Guidry, the group’s mission was focused on doing things with Black people at the forefront.

In 2021 Guidry told Afrotech about the group’s motivations:

”When the pandemic hit, we were able to slow down and we started to just talk and say, ‘This is our time to take a stand, come together, and discuss our culture,” Guidry told Afrotech in 2021. “Through that discussion, we started to just really see a bigger picture that it was bigger than us and bigger than just doing concerts. This was about culture. This was about our culture being marketed by people who have no connection.”

BREAKING NEWS: BOW WOW, THE ORIGINAL FACE OF THE SCREAM TOUR, ACQUIRES OWNERSHIP STAKE IN SCREAM TOUR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK PROMOTERS COLLECTIVE https://t.co/vAuP7ey4NX

— Bow Wow (@smoss) July 14, 2023

Bow Wow will also serve as a host, along with Kayla Nicole and in keeping with the original spirit of the Scream Tour, it features rising stars from Nickelodeon, That Girl Lay Lay, and Young Dylan.

The tour will also include DJs Amira & Kayla and Sophia Rocks and will have special performances from King Harris, the son of T.I. Tickets are currently on sale for 23 cities.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 21, 2023

Steph Curry’s ‘UNDERRATED’ Takes ‘Authentic’ Look At His Rise In The NBA

Steph Curry is releasing his first documentary film, which follows his journey from an undersized basketball player to the four-time NBA champion we all know today.

The coming-of-age story Steph Curry: Underrated introduces us to Steph (real name Stephen Curry) like never before. Through a blend of cinéma vérité, archival footage, and on-camera interviews, the Apple original film documents Curry’s rise from an undersized college player at a small Division I college to a decorated NBA champion who led the Golden State Warriors in championship wins in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022.

Peter Nicks directed and produced the film, along with Ryan Coogler and Erick Peyton, who serve as producers. Peyton is the Chief Creative Officer of Unanimous Media, a company he co-founded with Curry, that develops and produces television, film, and digital content.

Speaking with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Peyton shared the inspiration behind the new film and how it ties to Unanimous Media’s emphasis on projects with family, faith, and sports themes.

“Stephen’s story is really how we want to inspire and create a massive wave of impact and inspiration,” Peyton told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“I think that’s why we wanted to tell this story now. It’s been over 10 years since he made this run. And I think a lot of people forgot who he was and how he looked.

The film takes us back to Curry’s start in basketball as the son of a former NBA player, Dell Curry. Having grown up around the league, it was a given that Steph and his brother Seth Curry would follow in their dad’s footsteps.

But the odds were against Curry due to his petite frame. Old footage shows a young Curry working hard to remain a top contender on teams he played for in high school and college.

It also follows Curry’s return to the same college he dropped out of in his senior year to pursue an NBA career. After a 10-year hiatus, Curry returns to Davidson College to complete his bachelor’s degree program, all while being an in-demand NBA star, husband, and father of three.

“It’s a story that’s still authentic to Steph and his journey,” Peyton said. “We felt like it was time to tell it.”

Launched in April 2018, Unanimous was created in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment and strives to encourage, empower, and uplift audiences through a variety of diverse narratives. Peyton credits the “silos” of family, faith, and sports to Curry, who came up with the concept.

The company’s name also represents the “unanimous” success Curry has achieved in professional sports. Peyton is a veteran in the industry who has produced projects for an array of clients.

He hasn’t put down a camera since the age of 11 and encourages aspiring producers to do the same.

“There are no steps to get to the place that I’m in today. It’s really all about setting a plan in place. Being okay with setbacks, but still following your dreams,” he said.

Steph Curry’s “UNDERRATED” premieres on Apple TV on Friday, July 21.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 21, 2023

Dallas Couple Who Called 911 To Report Kidnapping Suspect Denied Crime Stoppers Reward

A Dallas couple who called 911 to report a kidnapping suspect is questioning why they weren’t eligible to receive the Crime Stoppers reward that was offered.

Briana and Kenyatta Jordan were returning home from lunch on July 7 when they recognized the face of Leonard Neal, 41, a wanted man accused of abducting a 9-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, Fox 4 News reports. With six children of their own, the Jordans moved into action to aid in Neal’s arrest.

While Neal returned the 9-year-old boy, he kept the 7-year-old girl for another 12 hours, with authorities saying she was sexually assaulted.

“That could have been our oldest two kids,” Briana said.

The couple saw Neal get on a bus and decided to follow it while on the phone with the police. Neal was taken into custody after cutting his throat.

Happy they were able to help in the most wanted fugitive being taken down, the Jordans inquired about the Crime Stoppers reward that was offered. However, they were told they were not eligible since they called 911 and not the Crime Stoppers tip line.

“It feels like we were misled,” the couple said.

On the Dallas Police Department website, they urged anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers or 911. However, a Crime Stoppers board member says the rewards are only paid to people who call the tip line, based on Texas law.

“While DPD does not have input on the criteria that must be met for a Crime Stoppers reward when a unique set of circumstances arises, we certainly can open conversations that will help improve services, prevent crime or help to solve investigations in our city,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said.

The Jordans are hoping the DPD can help them obtain the reward. They believe if they called the tip line instead of 911, the kidnapper would still be on the loose.

“They should be held to their word,” they said.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 21, 2023

Jeezy Says His High-End Atlanta Restaurant Went Downhill After He Announced He Owned It

Rapper Jeezy says the luxury restaurant he once owned went downhill after he announced he owned it during a radio interview.

Jeezy, promoting his new book, Adversity For Sale: Ya Gotta Believe, appeared on The Daily Cannon Morning Show, where he recalled the Atlanta high-end steakhouse he owned called American Cut.

“Probably one of the nicest steakhouses there,” Jeezy told Nick Cannon. “It had three stories, beautiful. It was like my best-kept secret.”

“I remember when Nas was on tour and he stopped by and he was like ‘Yo, you own this? This is crazy,’” he continued.

The “Thug Motivation” rapper initially kept his ownership of American Cut private. But he let the cat out of the bag when he appeared on a local radio station.

That’s when things went left, according to Jeezy, and the community turned his luxury eatery into a local hangout spot.

“I went back there you would have thought it was Freaknik,” he said.

“It started going down. You go over there to eat and you start seeing cats you used to hustle with. And I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ You go up the stairs and they’re trying to smoke weed and I’m like, ‘Man, what we doing?’”

Rapper Young Jeezy said his high end luxury restaurant in the wealthy part of Atlanta went downhill once he went on the radio and let people know he owned it. “It turned into freaknik, people I use to hustle with back in the day came in trying to smoke” pic.twitter.com/CkJ0MB10Uc

— Black Millionaires ® (@Blackmillions_) July 21, 2023

Those who watched the clip expressed their disappointment in Jeezy’s peers ruining a lucrative business venture that would’ve helped strengthen Atlanta’s local economy and add Black ownership to the luxury restaurant market.

“Sometimes you gotta keep certain things a secret,” one person wrote in response.

“They bogus for ruining that man restaurant. Who tf would go into any restaurant, and flame up a blunt?”

“Hard pill to swallow but not everyone deserves to be in your life,” added someone else.

“None of these ppl had his best interest at heart. Living off “you used to be this way” nah get outta here with that.”

houston, food insecurity, Goodr grocery store Atlanta

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 21, 2023

Black Farmers Open ‘Fresh Houwse Grocery’ In The Middle Of A Houston Food Desert

In November 2022, two Black farmers in Houston opened a grocery store to provide much-needed food, produce, and other staples essential to living a regular life in an area with food insecurity.

According to Houston Public Media, Ivy Walls and Jeremy Peaches opened The Fresh Houwse Grocery Store, which is located at 5039 Reed Road in Sunnyside. The Houston neighborhood has limited access to fresh food, and the owners opened the grocery store to give residents some healthy food options.

The low-income neighborhood has been named a food desert by the United States Department of Agriculture.

“Food in low-income neighborhoods like ours, Sunnyside, and South Park had higher levels of gastrointestinal bugs found in the salad mix, versus those in higher income neighborhoods and more fluent neighborhoods, salad mixes found there,” Walls told the media outlet.

Many Sunnyside residents do not have access to a vehicle, and a grocery store is more than a mile away. Without transportation, people in the community are forced to settle for unhealthy food options.

Walls and Peaches grew up in Sunnyside and attended Prairie A&M University. Both own other businesses, Walls owns the Ivy Leaf Farms; Peaches owns Fresh Life Organics. To get the funds to open the store, a fundraiser brought in $27,000 in seven days. Then, they received a business grant from a philanthropist in the state that was used to renovate the space.

“We really saw the need for our community to have access to fresh produce,” Walls said. “And not only fresh produce but to have the education of farmers and to know your farmer and really push for a sustainable food system.”

Walls said folks in the community have embraced the store since it opened in November. In time, she hopes the concept can be incorporated into other areas in the city that are food deserts, and that building a food system that’s community-dependent is in the works.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 21, 2023

100 Black Men Of Metro Baton Rouge Donate $150K To School System Battling Illiteracy

The illiteracy rate in the Louisiana school system is so high that the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge has donated $150,000 to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System to combat the issue.

With 41% of the students across Louisiana reading below grade level, the organization wants to improve that number drastically. “It’s going to be life-changing for the kids of this district,” said Michael Adams, past president of the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, told WAFB.

The funds donated to the district will help approximately 500 children between 8th and 10th grade at seven schools learn how to read. The money is from an initiative that the group has called the “My Brother Can Read” tutoring program.

“It shows that we not only have an immediate need, but we always have some deficiencies and needs to get in front of,” said School Board President Dadrius Lanus.

The tutoring program is slated to take place during the school day. Part of the donation will also help pay the teachers who will be giving their time and dedication to participate in the program. The funds will also be added on top of the raise in teachers’ salaries that was recently approved by state lawmakers.

“The idea is that if we do this good this first year, we can come back and we can invest and do this again next year,” Lanus said.

“We are actually moving kids to a whole different level,” said Andre Harmon, president of the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. “We often hear in Louisiana that we’re at the bottom of almost every list. How about bringing someone to the top of the list and helping them do well in life?”

This isn’t the first time that the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge have done its due diligence to help the students. In 2022, it donated 500 iPads to schoolchildren to try to improve the state’s literacy rate.

Former NFL, Robert Quinn, Arrested, Hit And Run

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 21, 2023

Young Black Inmates Allegedly Suffering Inhumane Conditions, Scorching Heat At Louisiana Prison

According to a federal court filing, young inmates in a Louisiana prison are not only suffering through treacherous summer heat but reside in psychologically scarring isolation and have a lack of basic services such as clean water and schooling.

Advocates are requesting that the youth be moved to a facility in better condition and away from the prison the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, a former death row prison, the Associated Press reports.

The paperwork, filed in Baton Rouge, claims officials had not kept promises to place inmates in a constitutionally acceptable facility, which was supposed to happen in spring 2023. Now, advocates for the juveniles are requesting that an order to end the housing of juveniles at the Angola facility be placed and the young inmates moved.

“Defendants promised safe and sanitary conditions. Defendants broke that promise, locking children in barred cells with only a metal bed and metal toilet/sink, unclean faucets, and no drinkable water source, and allowing excessive heat in the housing areas to go unremediated during this hot summer in Louisiana,” the juvenile advocates stated.

Attorneys working with the American Civil Liberties Union and other inmate advocates supplied affidavits from three youths who are or have been housed at the facility. They spoke of foul water from unsanitary faucets in their jail cells and inedible food. One inmate accused a correctional officer of slamming him against the wall and stated that he was overcome by a chemical irritant that had drifted from another part of the jail when it was used on another prisoner.

The heat was unbearable: temperatures in southeast Louisiana regularly went above 100 degrees and sometimes as high as 130 degrees.

A medical expert said the prolonged solitary confinement of the youths can cause a “significant risk of serious psychological harm.” Another expert said there are physical and psychological dangers of keeping them in un-airconditioned cells with unreliable fans.

“The youth at OJJ Angola Unit are at substantial risk of serious physical and psychological harm due to their extensive and continued exposure to high temperatures and heat index during the summer months in Louisiana,” Dr. Susi Vassallo wrote.

In summer 2022, a lawsuit was filed questioning the ability to protect the juveniles and provide them with needed services at the prison.

“Given the fact that 83% of youth in OJJ’s secure care system are Black, it is statistically likely that Black youth will disproportionately suffer the brunt of the Governor’s transfer plan,” stated the attorneys in the lawsuit.