delaware, grants, mindfulness, personal brand
by Stacy Jackson

July 13, 2023

Delaware Wants To Level The Playing Field For Black Business Owners And Landlords With Grants Up To $25K

Minority small business owners and landlords in low to moderate-income areas can apply for energy grants.

Spark Grants up to $25,000 are made possible thanks to a partnership between Wilmington City Councilwoman Shané Darby and Energize Delaware. Specifically, landlords qualify for up to $20,000, and minority business owners can get up to $25,000 in grants.

Delaware Public Media reported 20 minority business owners will be awarded Spark Grants. Councilwoman Darby said, according to the media outlet, “There are some landlords who cannot get access to capital, right, and when you have that issue where there’s lack of access to capital, there’s even some landlords who are not able to fix up their property [sic].”

Minority business owner grant recipients will also become members of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, according to the media outlet. The membership will last for one year. According to Delaware Public Media, Darby also said, “So I think this balances out the playing field for landlords who are low-income, who don’t have access to capital because of the area that they have their residential unit in.”

The Councilwoman told the outlet the grants will benefit the entire city of Wilmington. “So I think this is a game changer for the city. I hope that landlords in the city apply for it, and that just means better housing stock for renters. So it’s a win-win for everybody in the city, and to also help small minority business owners is a win-win for the city.”

Housing reform is at the top of Councilwoman Darby’s mind. According to Wilmington City Council’s page, she said, “Like most of us today, the need for housing reform, criminal justice reform, and protection for the working class and Wilmington’s poor families are the most pressing concerns on my mind. I realized I needed to take a more direct approach to community activism, transforming my ability as a community organizer into a tangible leadership position within my hometown.”

Grant applications will be open until July 31. Landlords and minority business owners are encouraged to visit energyequityfund.org/grants/ for more information.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 13, 2023

John Singleton’s Daughter And Mom Battle It Out Over $2,700 Monthly Allowance

One of John Singleton’s seven children is locked in a legal battle with his mom over the $2,700 monthly allowance they wish to keep receiving. 

Singleton’s daughter, Cleopatra, filed legal documents requesting to shut down her grandmother, Sheila Ward’s request to stop paying her $2,700, Radar Online reports. Cleopatra has received the monthly allowance since a December 2019 court ruling after Singleton’s death eight months before. 

At the time the court granted the allowance, Cleopatra was a “full-time student who did not have other sources of income.” But, Ward argues that Cleopatra has continued to receive the payments since graduating from Xavier University of Louisiana in May 2021.

Singleton’s mom is asking that Cleopatra’s final payout from the Boyz N Da Hood director’s estate be reduced following her graduation from Xavier University. But Cleopatra argues that she has since enrolled in an online school, and the $2,700 monthly payments should continue.

Cleopatra argues that her grandmother’s most recent accounting report should be further reviewed since it allegedly contained “woefully inaccurate” information that failed to include documentary proof for certain transactions.

Singleton died from a stroke in April 2019, leaving his seven children, Justice, Selenesol, Hadar, Massai, Cleopatra, Isis, and Seven, to share a 1/7 interest in his estate. His mom has been in charge of his estate, which she says is worth $6 million and should be split evenly among his children.

Cleopatra has filed a probate claim demanding $1 million since her late father allegedly failed to maintain a life insurance policy that named her the sole beneficiary. Cleopatra’s mother, Vestria Barlow, has also been after Singleton’s mom for money and filed a $15 million lawsuit claiming to have helped the Baby Boy director on various projects over the years.

Barlow was after royalty payments she believes she was owed for her alleged assistance on Singleton’s films and television shows. Singleton’s mom asked a judge to throw out the lawsuit. 

RELATED CONTENT: Remembering the Legacy of Legendary Director John Singleton and his Classic Film Boyz n the Hood

 

Luther Vandross, Jamie Foxx, Craig seymour
by Iman Milner

July 13, 2023

Jamie Foxx-Produced Luther Vandross Documentary Currently In The Works

Jamie Foxx is back in business and making some legendary moves. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar winner will join forces with fellow Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth to produce a documentary about Luther Vandross, the late, great R&B singer. 

This is the first project of its kind with Vandross as the subject since his 2005 death. 

According to an official description in The Hollywood Reporter, the project “will follow the iconic artist as he charted his own course becoming one of the most decorated and influential pop artists of all time” and “capture the intensely private Grammy-winning artist’s passion for music, global rise, and personal struggles.” The film, which includes “access to his never-before-seen personal archive,” has the support of his closest friends and family.

The documentary’s producers have partnered with Trilogy Films, Vandross’ estate, and the estate’s partner, Primary Wave Music.

“Luther is one of our GOATs,” Foxx said in a statement. “He’s one of the greatest singers in the history of music. It is truly an honor to be a part of the team to help bring this incredible story to the masses.”

Production on the film has already begun and award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter is slated to direct.

“Like so many, I have always loved Luther’s music, but I had no idea of the breadth and scope of his artistry,” she said. “I think people will be surprised at how much he accomplished in his tragically short life. It is a joy to be able to share his true story.” 

Not everyone shared the same excitement about the upcoming documentary. Craig Seymour, who authored the only biography of the late singer, Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross, took to Twitter to air his frustrations about the exclusion of Black creatives like himself from projects about Black icons.

“I’m a Black author, who has written the only biography of Luther Vandross, but I haven’t heard anything about this doc and have not been contacted for archival materials or interviews,” he said in a tweet. “Hopefully, this will change. It’s always disturbing when docs on Black celebs don’t include the Black creatives, who have been keeping the memory of the artists alive before there was Hollywood money.”

As it turns out, Seymour had been offered the opportunity to participate. The veteran music writer and author later shared a humble apology for having jumped the gun.

https://twitter.com/craigspoplife/status/1679177980344500225?s=46&t=EnI8LpkKUkdwbsuH0OtHUQ

Vandross succumbed to the lasting effects of a stroke he suffered at the age of 54; however, many consider him one of the greatest vocalists of all-time. During his illustrious career, Vandross amassed 11 consecutive number-one albums, eight Grammy awards, and sold more than 40 million records worldwide. 

RELATED CONTENT: The Luther Vandross Foundation Continues The Educational Philanthropy of Acclaimed Singer Luther Vandross with Inaugural Luncheon

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 13, 2023

Wendy Williams’ Ex-Husband Kevin Hunter Selling $1.2 Million Home After Failed Bid For Alimony

Wendy Williams’ ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, is selling his $1.2 million Florida home months after a judge denied his request for continued alimony from his famous ex-wife.

Newly revealed real estate records show that Hunter has a pending sale on his 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom, 3,425 sq. ft. pad located in Parkland, FL, according to Radar Online. Hunter has allegedly been sharing the home with Sharina Hudson, the woman he impregnated while married to Williams. 

He purchased the home for $795k in 2020 after relocating to Florida with Hudson once his divorce from Williams was finalized in January of that year. But Hunter only had the home for three years before putting it on the market for $1.3 million in April.

Hunter’s attempt to sell the home comes after a judge denied his request for alimony payments, claiming the request was “not emergent” and ordered his “application to be dismissed without prejudice,” via The Sun.

There are also reports that Hunter and Hudson called it quits due to his financial woes. Sources tell OK Magazine that “Wendy has been smiling since she heard the news,” of her ex-husband’s split with his former mistress. 

Hunter’s alimony was cut off after Williams was forced into financial guardianship in May 2022, when Wells Fargo claimed the former talk show host was an “incapacitated person” and the “victim of undue influence and financial exploitation,” as noted by the Hollywood Reporter.

Williams’ sealed case is still under litigation in New York amid the rehab treatment she entered last month. Meanwhile, her ex-husband and her son, Kevin Hunter Jr,. are dealing with their own financial woes. 

Along with Hunter having to sell his home, Williams’ son was evicted from his Miami apartment in December 2022 because of $70,000 in unpaid rent, as reported by People. Hunter Jr. has been speaking out in interviews and most recently defended the $100,000 he charged on his mom’s American Express card, claiming he spent the money on treatment for the embattled media personality.

RELATED CONTENT: Kevin Hunter Believes His Ailing Ex Wendy Williams, ‘Still Got it In Her’ Amid Her Rehab Stint 

 

Keke Palmer, Darius Jackson, perfect standard, relationship, usher
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 13, 2023

Darius Jackson Admits Having A ‘Perfect Standard’ Of Keke Palmer Before The Usher Debacle

It looks like Keke Palmer’s boyfriend, Darius Jackson, was holding her to a “perfect standard” ahead of calling out the outfit she wore to Usher’s Las Vegas residency.

The Nope actress has since posted a dance video seemingly confirming her split from Jackson in the wake of him publicly criticizing the sultry number she wore to Usher’s concert. But ahead of the implosion, Jackson was a guest on the Baby, This is Keke Palmer Wondery podcast, along with her mom, where the then-happy couple opened up about going public with their relationship. 

“At first, it definitely was hard because it could all be very overwhelming,” Jackson said. “It was definitely overwhelming and intense at first.”

Palmer agreed that “it was.”

“And it’s like, you almost feel that pressure of needing to be perfect. And so, it really confused me and infiltrated my mind because not only did I have to hold myself to that perfect standard, I was also holding you to a perfect standard as well,” he continued.

 “So, any moment of flaw on my side or on your side it was World War III because it’s like, man, now the world sees us.”

Palmer’s mother, who has been married to Keke’s dad, Larry Palmer, for 35 years, shared some of her own relationship advice that stressed the importance of “respect” in a courtship.

“How you maintain relationships is never lose respect,” Sharon said. “Gotta watch what you say. There’s a line, don’t cross those lines. You have to have respect.”

The conversation seemingly foreshadowed what was to come when Palmer went to Usher’s concert and offended Jackson with the sheer dress she wore. 

“It’s outfit tho….you a mom,” Jackson wrote in response to a now-viral video showing Usher serenading Palmer during his live show. Jackson became public enemy number one and ultimately deleted his Twitter account and every Instagram post that highlighted the Akeelah and the Bee star, ET reported. Fans also noted the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram.

However, at the time the podcast was recorded, Palmer boasted that “life is good” with Jackson. That is, until he called her out on Twitter.

RELATED CONTENT: Steve Harvey’s Dating Advice To Keke Palmer Resurfaces Amid Baby Daddy Backlash

Ice cube, Twitter, RFK, paramount
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 13, 2023

Ice Cube Sets Twitter Ablaze After RFK Jr. Calls Him A ‘Civil Rights Leader’

Ice Cube has the streets talking after meeting with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who deemed him as “one of the most influential and outspoken civil rights leaders” in America.

The hip-hop mogul has been ruffling feathers since calling out the NBA and Hollywood “gatekeepers” he believes are trying to blacklist his BIG3 basketball league from receiving sponsorship. Ice Cube announced a podcast tour where he would speak out against the gatekeepers trying to keep his league down. 

One stop on Ice Cube’s media tour was The Joe Rogan Experience, where he continued his tirade against the NBA. But with it being JRE, Rogan got Cube to share his take on the COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the two openly expressed their skepticism.

Cube and Rogan also extended their support for RFK Jr.’s bid for president and his book that takes aim at Dr. Anthony Fauci and big pharma. This comes after the “It Was A Good Day” rapper revealed the $9 million acting role he missed due to not being vaccinated.

“He seems like a guy who is at least down to deep dive and talk real and dissect what’s really going on instead of just going with the herd,” Cube said of RFK Jr.

Following the interview, RFK Jr. tweeted out a clip of Rogan and Cube’s discussion saying it was “a conversation between @joerogan and @icecube that we should all be having.”

 

RFK Jr. then set Twitter ablaze on Monday, July 10 when he tweeted out a photo with Ice Cube, referring to the Friday creator as a “civil rights leader.”

“@Dennis_Kucinich and I spent a wonderful evening with one of our country’s most influential and outspoken civil rights leaders @icecube!” he wrote. 

 

But considering RFK Jr.’s controversial stance on the vaccine and the fact that Ice Cube has never identified as a civil rights leader, many on Twitter had a lot to say.

“When was Ice Cube ever a civil rights leaders?  Provide dates and quotes.  I’ve never heard it.” one person asked.

“What happened to @icecube?” another user wrote. 

 

Others questioned why Ice Cube was hanging out with the presidential hopeful. Some believe it is to continue “going against the narrative,” which is something Cube has made a part of his brand since his music inception as part of NWA.

Ice Cube caught heat when he sought bipartisan support for his Contract With Black America in 2020. Now as we head into another presidential election, Cube is already in the hot seat for his ties to one Democratic candidate.

 

RELATED CONTENT: Ice Cube Calls Out NBA And Hollywood Gatekeepers Bothered By His Contract With Black America

Patti LaBelle, Kelly Rowland, And Chef Kwame Onwuachi Partner To Leave ‘No Kid Hungry’ This Summer
by Lauren Nutall

July 13, 2023

Patti LaBelle, Kelly Rowland, And Chef Kwame Onwuachi Partner To Leave ‘No Kid Hungry’ This Summer

No Kid Hungry is a charity organization that works to eliminate food insecurity and provide families with meals. This summer, in partnership with some of the nation’s most recognizable public figures, the organization will launch an awareness campaign dedicated to helping children and teenagers access meals as they deal with the heat. With stars including Patti LaBelle, Kelly Rowland, and  Chefs Kwame Onwuachi and Lorena Garcia, No Kid Hungry will help parents and caregivers locate free meals in their area with a few simple clicks.

During the year, families can rely on schools to have reduced or free meals for their children, but come summertime, their options become limited, leaving parents to worry about where their next meal is coming from. No Kid Hungry recently conducted a poll, where they discovered that parents are struggling to afford groceries for their children and, with the cost of living on the rise, some families have found themselves one missed paycheck away from going hungry. 

Free summer meal programs are not new. In fact, they have existed for decades. Similarly, The Black Panther Party started a free breakfast program that ran from 1969-1980, for hungry children in impoverished communities.

However, though they successfully feed many families during the summer months, their scope is often limited. This is about to change, though. After years of lobbying on behalf of non-profits and charities, Congress has now created the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which allows rural areas more ways of offering free meals, including food transportation services and pick-up options. This act also established a nationwide program called Summer EBT, which will help parents purchase food throughout the summer. It is set to launch in 2024.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by No Kid Hungry (@nokidhungry)

No Kid Hungry will assist in the roll-out of these new meal services in rural areas with spokespeople like Rowland, LaBelle, and more promoting this new initiative so that parents are aware of their options. The site is also accessible to multilingual households.

“Our nation’s children deserve a happy, healthy summer and that starts with being fed and nourished, ” said LaBelle. “It’s up to all of us to ensure all kids have the fuel they need to follow their dreams and that parents, grandparents, and caregivers have access to this essential program. One hungry child is one too many.” 

To locate meals near you, visit NoKidHungry.org/Help. If you’d like to help amplify the message, visit Share Summer 2023. To locate meals near you simply text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 or visit NoKidHungry.org/WhatsApp to find sites serving free meals in your neighborhood. 

RELATED CONTENT: In NYC Schools, Free Lunch, if Healthy, Could Mean Better Learning  

Sister to the skies, aviation
by Mary Spiller

July 13, 2023

Sisters Of The Skies Commit To Diversifying Aviators

Houston-based nonprofit Sisters of the Skies is inspiring women to become aviators. According to KHOU 11, the Sisters of the Skies recognize the lack of outreach for young girls in the industry to combat the national pilot shortage.

Statistics report that less than 1% of pilots are women of color; it seeks to solve the shortage problem by diversifying the field. Sisters of the Sky co-founder Nia Gilliam-Wordlaw said: “The industry has another resource they can tap into to have pilots for their flight decks, and that’s what we are here to do.”

Not only is she Sisters of the Skies’ co-founder, but she’s also a veteran United Airlines pilot. “Prior to the pandemic, we were already facing a pilot shortage. The pandemic just exacerbated the situation.”

However, the issue persists past the pandemic, and the Sisters of the Skies have been committed to its goal since its inception in 2017. 

Gilliam-Wordlaw said, “If there’s not enough food to eat, we starve. So, if there are not enough pilots to fly these planes, we don’t get to travel. Sisters of the Skies is here to give that dream some wings and get these young ladies exposed.”

NBC News reported that the Houston nonprofit conducts outreach and mentoring and hosts informative events. Sisters of the Skies is also committed to reserving scholarships to support those who otherwise wouldn’t be financially able to attend flight school.

https://twitter.com/sistersofthesky/status/1568566208953188353?s=46&t=EnI8LpkKUkdwbsuH0OtHUQ

Gilliam-Wordlaw explained, “A lot of these young ladies don’t just have the challenge financially, but they don’t know that this career field exists.”

“You don’t want to put just one group of stocks in investing, one group of people flying a plane, because you’re going to miss out on the big picture. Sisters of the Skies believes they can be a part of the pilot shortage solution in the long run. 

“Being one of the founders, it’s so satisfying to see the young girls say how much they appreciate Sisters of the Skies. How much it’s changed their lives.”

CBS and KHOU showcased several young girls who participated in the Sisters of the Skies program, and they testified to the impactful experience firsthand.

RELATED CONTENT: This LA-Based Private Pilot Shows Her Daughter The World Through Aviation

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 12, 2023

Spike Lee to Share His Inspirations In Brooklyn Museum Exhibit

Spike Lee is set to share a peek inside his brain of creativity through a new art exhibit coming to his hometown at the Brooklyn Museum. 

Over 300 objects that have inspired the Oscar-winning writer-director will be on display within the “Spike Lee: Creative Sources” exhibit opening at the Brooklyn Museum on October 6, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The display will consist of photographs, album covers, movie posters, letters, books, costumes, and film memorabilia that all played a part in Lee’s onscreen creations.

Running from Oct. 6, 2023, to Feb. 4, 2024, the installation takes a deep dive into the people, places, and things that helped shape Lee’s vision for his projects that include cult-classics like Do The Right Thing, Crooklyn, and Malcolm X. 

The exhibit, curated by Kimberli Gant and Indira A. Abiskaroon, will be displayed thematically in seven sections with each featuring a clip from one of Lee’s films. The sections will highlight the influences Lee received from Black history and culture, his hometown of Brooklyn, other cinematic pieces, his family, music, politics, and sports.

“By making Lee’s collection accessible to the public, this showcase celebrates his legacy while honoring his deep connection to Brooklyn, a place that has been an integral part of his storytelling,” Gant said.

Other Black American artists who will be on display within the exhibit include Kehinde Wiley, Deborah Roberts, Elizabeth Catlett, and Michael Ray Charles. Renowned public figures will also be featured in the installation including Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Shirley Chisholm, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Angela Davis, Toni Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, and the painter Jacob Lawrence.

Attendees will get to see how works like Michael Ray Charles’ “Forever Free” inspired Lee’s 2000 film Bamboozled, along with memorabilia from Lee’s Brooklyn-based films like Do the Right Thing and She’s Gotta Have It.

The exhibit is the first major exhibition on Lee within his hometown of Brooklyn. It follows his personal collection that remains on view in the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ exhibition “Director’s Inspiration: Spike Lee (2021–22).”

RELATED CONTENT: Spike Lee Slated to Receive British Film Institute Fellowship

franklin, childhood home, Memphis, Tennessee
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 12, 2023

The Verdict Is In: A Jury Upholds Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Will Found In Her Couch

A jury decided in a dispute that pitted one of Aretha Franklin’s sons against two others regarding two handwritten wills that were found following her death.

According to The Associated Press, a jury found that the last handwritten will penned by the Queen of Soul will be the one that will be upheld. That particular will, written in 2014 and found inside a notebook under cushions at her home, is the document the family will abide by. Another will that was dated 2010 was discovered in a cabinet. That one was notarized and sealed.

“I’m very, very happy. I just wanted my mother’s wishes to be adhered to,” Kecalf Franklin said. “We just want to exhale right now. It’s been a long five years for my family, my children.”

It took the jury less than an hour to come to its decision.

The attorneys for Kecalf and Edward Franklin argued that since Franklin wrote the will in 2014, even though it wasn’t notarized, it was valid as it was the most current one.

“You can take your will and leave it on the kitchen counter. It’s still your will,” attorney Charles McKelvie told the jury.

Franklin’s other son, Ted White II, who would have been the will’s executor, wanted the 2010 will to stand. White’s attorney, Kurt Olson, told the jury that the earlier will had more validity because it was notarized and locked in a cabinet. He also stated that the other will would not have been left in a couch if the other will was that important.

“We were here to see what the jury would rule. We’ll live with it,” Olson said after the verdict.

Franklin had four sons. Clarence Franklin, who was not involved in the dispute, lives under guardianship in an assisted living center.

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