travel, Jeff Jenkins, vlogger, chubby black guy, chubby diaries, experiences, adventure

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 16, 2023

Jeff Jenkins Brings Body Positivity To Adventure Travel In Nat Geo’s ‘Never Say Never’

Jeff Jenkins is all about defying the odds as a travel journalist and vlogger. Now he’s bringing his global adventures to his new National Geographic show, Never Say Never.

After building a strong following by sharing his travel experiences on his “Chubby Diaries” platform, the self-described “chubby Black guy” caught the attention of Nat Geo and secured his own travel series that premiered on Sunday, July 9, 2023.

Never Say Never follows Jenkins as he travels the world testing the limits of his physical abilities and inspiring others to do the same.

From attempting to climb a 70-foot mountain to rafting in class 5 rapids, viewers get an inside look at Jenkins facing his fears while breaking stigmas around travel for the plus-size community. BLACK ENTERPRISE had the pleasure of sitting down with Jenkins for an intimate breakfast during Essence Festival of Culture where he dished on what viewers can expect from his new show.

For Jenkins, who didn’t ride on an airplane until the age of 20, he now lives by the mantra he created—”Life begins where your comfort zone ends”—and aims to inspire the next generation of doers and dreamers.

“The show is all about stepping outside of your comfort zone,” Jenkins tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“So it’s following my adventures around the world, doing things that are living off of my motto.”

Through his years of global travel, Jenkins realized how left out the plus-size community is in the industry. He remains committed to reimagining travel for people who look like him.

“I made it my mission to redefine what travel looks like,” Jenkins said.

“I started doing things that were stuff I never saw: going scuba diving and getting certified as a scuba diver, hiking, climbing.”

With his new show, viewers will get to see him embark on a global odyssey while making deep connections with locals and learning not just about the world, but also about himself. Episode one saw Jenkins immerse himself in Maori culture in New Zealand, which included a thrilling canoe race, plunging into a deep, dark cave, shaving a sheep, and learning the Maori chant before getting roughed up in a game of rugby.

It’s part of the stigmas Jenkins aims to combat in his show, along with showing excursion companies that the plus-size community can enjoy.

“It’s the small things and the small modifications that people just haven’t thought about,” he says.

“And so now it should or open up the conversations of like, ‘Oh man, you know what? If he could do it, yeah, we definitely probably could get this going.'”

Episode one is available to watch on Nat Geo and YouTube. Catch new episodes of Jeff Jenkins’ “Never Say Never” Sundays on National Geographic.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 16, 2023

Rick Ross Considers Return To Miami For $37M Star Island Mansion

The “Boss” Rick Ross is looking to return to his hometown, and dominate Miami’s Star Island.

Ross has his eyes on a $37 million six-bedroom, nine-bathroom mansion on Miami Beach’s celebrity-filled Star Island, TMZ.com reports. The hip-hop mogul is expected to close on the 40,000 square feet pad in the coming weeks and join the ranks of A-listers such as Diddy, J.Lo, and Shaquille O’Neal who call the place home.

The luxury estate comes decked out with royal amenities, including a heated pool, a summer kitchen, an entertainment room, and multiple plaza deck terraces. Ross is expecting to shell out more money to renovate the home to his liking.

The “Hustlin” rapper’s recently bought Meek Mill’s Atlanta mansion for $4.2 million. Meek shares a long history with Ross dating back to the Philadelphia native signing to Ross’ MMG record label in 2011.

So, it made sense when Ross answered Meek’s public advertisement about selling the eight-bedroom, nine-and-a-half bathroom after Meek’s realtor failed to do so in two years, according to Architectural Digest.

“MANSION FOR SALE IN ATL. My realtor not getting this off fast enough & I think I can lol,” Meek wrote at the time.

The “Litty” rapper was right as Ross reportedly paid his protege $4.2 million in cash for the house.

Meanwhile, Ross continues to go viral with the fun-filled pool parties he throws at his massive Atlanta estate. Dubbed “The Promise Land,” Ross’s 109-bedroom estate sits on 235 acres of land in Fayetteville, Georgia, and is sized around 45,000 square feet. It’s the biggest home in all of Georgia and one of the largest private homes in the United States, according to Fancy Pants Homes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Biggest Boss Rick Ross (@richforever)

Ross even secured a guest appearance in Eddie Murphy’s Coming 2 America since the movie was filmed at his estate. Ross bought the home from boxing champion Evander Holyfield back in 2014 for $5.8 million and has most definitely tripled the home’s worth in the years since.

Now Rick Ross is bringing his house parties back to the city that made him.

by Mary Spiller

July 16, 2023

Jimmie Allen Files Countersuit Against Two Women Who Accused Him Of Sexual Assault

Black country music singer Jimmie Allen has brought countersuits against two women who have accused him of sexual assault as of Thursday, July 13. According to Billboard, after being dropped by his agency and publicist following the assault claims for which he has denied all involvement, the singer is seeking monetary damages.

The first of two accusations was brought against Allen in May when an anonymous woman accused him of assaulting her several times while working as his manager. Then, the next month, in June, another unnamed woman alleged that the country singer assaulted her while in a hotel room together. She claimed that he recorded their sexual encounter and ejaculated inside of her without her consent.

According to court documents filed in Nashville federal courts, Allen was dropped by his publicist, label, and agency following the accusations. He denied the claims, explaining his “consensual sexual relationship” with the May accuser. Although he admitted to having unprotected sex with the second accuser, he claimed it was consensual and didn’t ejaculate in her. Because he claims false allegations, Allen is suing both accusers for monetary damages. He claimed his former manager made “deliberate, intentional, malicious, and willful” statements to news outlets to defame his career. In addition, he’s suing her for invasion of privacy, interference with business relations, and inflicting emotional distress. As for the second accuser, Allen claimed that she stole his phone after he refused to give her his passcode after their sexual encounter.

Allen explained to Billboard that he filed the countersuit to protect his reputation and finances and refute the false accusations against him. He said, “As the son and brother of rape victims, and the father of daughters, these false claims are extremely hurtful to me and everyone around me. These false allegations have caused me to lose a vast number of business and endorsement opportunities that I worked extremely hard for. These false allegations have also not only harmed me but have caused severe financial damage to my band, my team, and their families.”

However, Elizabeth Fegan, the lead attorney for Allen’s accusers, told Billboard that she believes Allen is trying to countersue the victims to convince them not to speak out. She told the outlet that Allen’s countersuit was expected and that she and her team are “eager to show the court abundant evidence to prove that Jimmie Allen is a serial abuser and should be held accountable for his actions.”

Black Churches With Women Pastors At Risk Of Southern Baptist Convention Expulsion

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 16, 2023

Black Churches With Women Pastors At Risk Of Southern Baptist Convention Expulsion

With a rising number of churches featuring women pastors being expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention, others fear that they are next on the chopping block.

To address the issue, the president of the National African American Fellowship, Pastor Gregory Perkins of The View Church in Southern California, wrote to President Bart Barber of the SBC, asking to meet, as reported by Christianity Today.

In the letter, Perkins informed the denomination that this divide on titling women leaders of the congregation as pastor will “disproportionately impact” their affiliated churches. He also stated that the suggested change to the Constitution, stemming from a difference of opinion, violates the autonomy of local churches, which is a pillar of Baptist values.

The voting members of the SBC, called messengers, affirmed the amendment that would prohibit churches from being a part of the association if they upheld women with the pastoral title.

Perkins disagreed with the vote, and, on behalf of the NAAF, published a letter stating that the ruling alienates thousands of churches and the women who they believe are deserving of these roles.

“This may signal to churches in the SBC that do not believe that women should be the Senior Pastor but allow women the usage of a pastoral title, or appoints a woman to a pastoral role, are no longer welcome in the SBC,” shared the Reverend.

In a gender-discriminatory issue, the religious components only complicate the matter further, but the leaders within the NAAF want more pastors to fervently discuss the reasons why with the SBC.

“You must be an active participant in this conversation and decision-making process as it has long-term implications for your church and other NAAF affiliated congregations.”

How this decision can negatively impact their individual congregations through membership and controversy was emphasized. The NAAF, in an effort to remain respectful of differing perspectives on the matter, ultimately wants to encourage all members to engage thoroughly and know of all potential backlash from the new rule.

However, Perkins is against the expulsion of the churches, claiming it “dishonors the spirit of cooperation” that is ingrained in the Southern Baptist Convention. This internal contention is not a one-off occurrence, as members have voluntarily left the domination over social issues before.

While the leaders of the SBC, including Pastor Barber, have received the letter, no further response has been issued by their executive committee.

Content Moderators in Kenya Sue Facebook, Claim They Are Subjected To Torturous Work

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 16, 2023

Content Moderators in Kenya Sue Facebook, Claim They Are Subjected To Torturous Work

Content moderators in Kenya are suing Facebook for what the say is the “torture” they’ve endured at work—being forced to sift through hours of horrifying videos and pictures to keep off the social media platform.

Nathan Nkunzimana spoke to the Associated Press in Nairobi about the lawsuit against the company and contractor Sama for these traumatizing work conditions.

The father of three was among nearly 200 contracted workers that were outsourced in the Kenyan capital to manage Facebook users’ content input from Africa, verifying and removing any insensitive, harmful, or illegal imagery or clips from appearing on its vast network.

The former employee referred to himself and fellow staff as “soldiers” taking bullets on behalf of the online community. The cohort is following the path of their U.S. counterparts, who Facebook settled with in 2020 on similar grounds.

The moderators are seeking $1.6 billion in compensation for the lack of proper working conditions, including mental health support for the disturbing content consumed and general low wages for the work performed. According to the filing, a court order that their contracts must be extended, and therefore must be paid out, until the case is completed is being ignored, leaving the employees without pay.

While Facebook and Nama remain adamant that they had work standards above local norms, the mental health services were not adequate to handle the level of trauma endured, the moderators say. This transition from minimal care to nonexistent support has left Nkunzimana and other employees at a loss.

The expanded international employment practice is exploitative in nature, as companies outsourcing jobs to countries like Kenya expose workers to roles that are harmful, yet they continue workers stay because of the needed financial aspects.

However, change is possibly on the horizon for such an arrangement, as the Kenya-based moderators are empowered and garnering worldwide attention for their lawsuit. Their hearing in Kenya is set for July 10, 2023.

President, Uganda, Slave trade, Slave, trade, apology

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 16, 2023

President Of Uganda Officially Apologizes For Role In Slave Trade

The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, officially apologized to the descendants of enslaved Africans for Uganda’s role in the Transatlantic slave trade.

In a news clip shared by the African Diaspora New Channel, the nation’s leader expressed his regret and condolences for the country’s actions during the time of enslavement. Uganda participated in the selling of its people within the trade, a historical fact that is not often shared, but occurred nonetheless.

President Museveni was remorseful for his country’s actions, but also hoped to create solutions to rectify its systemic impact.

“We come in humility and brokenness to repent for the sins of leaders in Africa,” Museveni said. “And in particular, the sin of selling our own brothers and sisters into slavery. This grave sin brought untold pain and misery towards millions of people of African descent, and judgement to the African people who remain on the continent. ”

He continued, “If it not were not for the part that our African kings and chiefs played in the slave trade, this evil trade could not have survived. Therefore, on behalf of all the African leaders, past and present, all of them, I acknowledge that part we played in this tragedy. And today, we ask for forgiveness.”

The video, released on the news channel’s YouTube, has amassed over 40,000 views since its posting on July 9.

The African slave trade lasted for centuries, starting in the 16th century before the inhumane practice slowed down in, approximately, the late 1860s. However, the impact of slavery has remained present and harmful to the descendants of those whose ancestors were forced into bondage.

This official recognition from Uganda of its direct involvement in the slave trade, in addition to other nations who have done so already, may prompt other African nations with a similar history to formally apologize as well, with the acknowledgment being a step in the right direction to further relief for the Black diaspora.

Rev. Jesse Jackson To Retire from Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Name Successor

by Daniel Johnson

July 15, 2023

Rev. Jesse Jackson To Retire from Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Name Successor

After a lifetime spent in service to others, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr will be retiring from his position as the head of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Jackson, 81, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2017 and has since suffered a fall as well as hospitalization due to COVID-19.

The Rainbow PUSH Coaliton exists today, according to its website, as a merger of People United to Save Humanity, an organization dedicated to advancing the rights of Black people in America, and the National Rainbow Coalition, a group Jackson formed largely in response to “Reaganomics” aimed at making the country more inclusive.

The groups merged in 1996 with the mission of protecting, defending, and gaining civil rights by leveling educational and economic playing fields and promoting peace and justice around the world. A protege of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Jackson made two runs at the White House. Until Barack Obama’s win in 2008, Jakson had the most successful run at the presidential office by a Black person in American history.

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition provided a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times regarding Jackson’s future, and it appears the 81-year-old will not be letting Parkinson’s Disease slow him down:

“His commitment is unwavering, and he will elevate his life’s work by teaching ministers how to fight for social justice and continue the freedom movement,” Rainbow PUSH Coalition said in a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times. “Rev. Jackson’s global impact and civil rights career will be celebrated this weekend at the 57th annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition convention, where his successor will be introduced.”

Vice President Kamala Harris will be the keynote speaker at the convention.

Jackson has had a long history as an activist from the 1965 Selma, Alabama, march known as “Bloody Sunday” up until the George Floyd protests of 2020. Jackson has been a moral force for the nation and one of the last living links to Martin Luther King Jr.

Rev. Al Sharpton released a statement on Twitter declaring his appreciation for Jackson’s service and reflecting on what he meant to Sharpton personally

“We hope to continue in a way that makes him proud, as he pivots into teaching and mentoring. When I spoke with him this morning, I told him that we will continue to glean from him and learn from him and duplicate him in whatever our organizations and media platforms are,” said Rev. Al Sharpton through a statement on Twitter

Sharpton also called Jackson an anchor for him, undoubtedly a theme that will be repeated in the days and weeks to come.

13 Attorneys General Draw Party Lines Around DEI Initiatives in Letter

by Daniel Johnson

July 15, 2023

13 Attorneys General Draw Party Lines Around DEI Initiatives in Letter

The Republican Party continues to focus on anything related to affirmative action following the Supreme Court’s ruling to strike down the consideration of race in admissions policy.

Attorneys general in 13 states have formed a coalition, led by Tennessee’s Jonathan Skrmetti and Kansas’ Kris Koback. The group sent a letter to the CEOs of Fortune 100 companies in a likely attempt to get ahead of legal challenges to any diversity and inclusion practices.

The letter reads in part: “We, the undersigned Attorneys General of 13 States, write to remind you of your obligations as an employer under federal and state law to refrain from discriminating on the basis of race, whether under the label of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ or otherwise.”

Following the court’s decision, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Charlotte A. Burrows reiterated the right of businesses to implement DEI initiatives in their employment practices. While diversity may be taken into consideration during the hiring process, there may be dissenting groups that challenge such policies.

Conservative organizations, such as the National Center for Public Policy Research, have demanded that companies like Novartis, American Airlines, and McDonald’s revise their hiring and promotion policies, which they deem unlawful. NCPPR has even gone as far as to file a lawsuit against Starbucks for its alleged discriminatory DEI implementation and practices.

This continues a perceived backlash to diversity, equity, and inclusion positions following several leaders of DEI initiatives in Hollywood either leaving voluntarily or being forced to resign from their posts. Many of those executives were Black women, which does not portend good things for the field as a whole.

Pew Research conducted surveys on DEI and how it is perceived in the workplace, but they found two somewhat contradictory attitudes among American workers. While 56% of the American workers surveyed believe DEI to be a good thing in theory, only about 30% of them put any importance on its practice in the workplace. According to the survey, more Black workers place a more positive emphasis on DEI initiatives than their white counterparts.

Moreover, political affiliation plays a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward DEI initiatives. Republicans tend to dissent from such efforts, which is reflected in the stance taken by the 13 Republican attorneys general.

Deaf Actor Keivonn Montreal Woodard Youngest Emmy Nominee Ever In Category

by Mary Spiller

July 15, 2023

Deaf Actor Keivonn Montreal Woodard Youngest Emmy Nominee Ever In Category

Black child actor Keivonn Montreal Woodard will go down in Emmy history.

The Last of Us star has been nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Woodard’s emotional performance has gained another wave of praise after his nomination.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Last of Us (@thelastofus)

At just 10 years old, Woodard played the clever, lovable, and deaf apocalypse survivor Sam in the popular HBO series. The deaf actor quickly became a fan favorite of watchers in episode 5, titled “Endure and Survive.”

According to Entertainment Weekly, Woodard’s nomination makes him the youngest nominee in the Outstanding Guest Actor category and the second youngest Emmy nominee ever. Keshia Knight Pulliam of The Cosby Show earned her nomination at just 6 years old.

The accolade is more impressive since The Last of Us is Woodard’s first acting role.

In a prior interview with EW, Woodard admitted to being “a little overwhelmed” but also expressed excitement to see the culmination of his work on the screen.

“I feel excited because I’ve been watching the episodes, and I really want to see the one that I acted in and see the finished product. I’m not afraid to be on camera and meet people for the first time,” Woodard said through an interpreter.

During the interview, he revealed that the process was made easier by his fellow co-star Lamar Johnson, who plays Sam’s dedicated and protective older brother. He identified one of the most action-packed scenes of the show as his favorite one to act in.

“When we ran, and the truck was chasing us, the running scene was really fun ’cause I was running as fast as I could,” Woodard said. “I hide underneath one of the cars, and all of the trucks are pushing the cars out of the way and the Clickers are all running and I had to weave through the cars and run as fast as I could. We get close to the house by the end of the scene, and that was the most fun part.”

Woodard is joined by Johnson in the list of Emmy nominees in his category and fellow Black actress Storm Reid from the show. The Last of Us received a stunning 24 Emmy nominations in all, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor and Best Actress for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, respectively.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Last of Us (@thelastofus)

The Emmys will air September 18, 2023, on Fox.

Alabama Woman Reportedly Missing After Good Samaritan Act

by Daniel Johnson

July 15, 2023

Alabama Woman Reportedly Missing After Good Samaritan Act

An Alabama woman has been reported missing after she stopped on the side of the road Thursday to help a toddler she saw walking alone along Interstate 459.

CNN reports that the woman, Carlethia “Carlee” Russell, was talking to a family member shortly after she called 911 when they lost contact even though the call never dropped.

The Hoover Police Department called for information on Facebook stating that they are “…currently investigating this incident and are requesting public assistance to help locate the missing person.” Included in its post is a description of Russell, what she was wearing on the day of her disappearance and a contact number for the department.

Update on Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell#hooverpd pic.twitter.com/nnjTOq7ri8

— Hoover Police Dept (@HooverPD) July 14, 2023

So far rewards totaling $25,000 have been offered for any information regarding Russell.

When officers reached the scene following her 911 call, they did not find any evidence of a toddler. They did, however, find Russell’s car, still running, and some of her personal effects which had been abandoned.

On July 14, Lt. Daniel Lowe spoke at a press conference. “We have a myriad of resources,’’ Lowe said. “Everything we have at the Hoover Police Department, in addition to our partners, is involved in this investigation right now.” The department is also remaining in close contact with Russell’s family, who has been leading the search efforts in the area where Russell was last seen.

According to a tip received from a trucker, Russell was possibly abducted by a tall, brown-skinned man wearing cargo shorts. Hoover police also found some tire tracks in the grass which supports the theory that Russell was abducted.

Russell’s disappearance fits into a much larger trend nationwide as research from the Black and Missing Foundation suggests. Their data are focused on Black girls under 18 and around 40% of all missing girls are Black, yet many of those missing persons cases go underreported.

According to data from the National Crime Information Center, there were 97,127 people missing at the end of 2022, and of that number, 14,627 were Black women. These figures, roughly translate to Black women comprising 15% of all open missing persons cases at the close of 2022.

This means that Black women make up more than their population share should of missing cases.

Frequently, it is up to the families of the missing to advocate for their loved ones, and what this too often means is a lack of media attention and traction for their stories. In this regard, Russell’s case is an exception, not the rule.