Drake, Jermaine Dupri, Magic City, strip club, night life, night club, dancing, dancers

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 12, 2023

Drake And Jermaine Dupri Highlight Atlanta Night Life With ‘Magic City’ Docuseries

Considering Drake’s affinity for exotic dancers and Jermaine Dupri’s love for his hometown Atlanta, it’s no surprise these two hip-hop heavyweights teamed up to make the first official documentary about Atlanta’s famed Magic City strip club.

A crew of producers and production companies, including So So Def founder Jermaine Dupri and Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment, have wrapped production on the forthcoming documentary series Magic City: An American Fantasy, Deadline reported. The three-part series tells the story behind Atlanta’s famed strip club, Magic City, and its strong influence on hip-hop culture.

Viewers will get a better understanding of Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and the lives of the women who helped make the club worthy of its “Black Studio 54” moniker. Launched in 1985, Magic City served as a defining start for countless artists who were able to prove the motto that “If the girls in Magic City dance to it, it’s a hit.”

Along with Dupri and DreamCrew Ent are Scheme Engine, Cole Brown and Jami Gertz as the docuseries producers, Adel “Future” Nur and Peter Nelson are executive producers under Drake’s production company, and music executive Michael Mauldin is also an Executive Producer alongside Dupri.

“Magic City is a second home for me. It’s the one place where celebrities, hustlers, politicians, and Atlanta locals all come together,” Dupri says of the doc.

“I’ve watched it evolve over the years from a local joint to an internationally-recognized spot. It’s about time we tell this story the right way.”

What started as a small strip club with just one dancer in 1985, grew over the decades to become an internationally known place of entertainment where the regular could rub shoulders with the elite. The docuseries will tell of the rise and fall of the nightclub through the lens of employees, dancers, journalists, management, and celebrities who witnessed it all, including 2 Chainz, Nelly, Shaquille O’Neal, Quavo, Killer Mike, Big Boi, and others.

“This is a unique story of Black entrepreneurship and empire-building in a city that is the beating heart of Black culture,” series creator Cole Brown said.

“I’m ecstatic to be working with a team that will give this story the authenticity and platform it deserves.”

Tameka, foster, kile glover, lake Lanier, campaign, drain, tragic, accident

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 12, 2023

Tameka Foster Starts A Petition To Drain Lake Lanier In Remembrance Of Her Son Kile

Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Foster is honoring the memory of her late son by launching a petition to drain the lake that took his life.

Foster took to intagram on Thursday, July 6 to share the petition she launched on the 11-year anniversary of the Lake Lanier accident that led to her son’s death.

“On this significant day, July 6, we remember the tragic accident on Lake Lanier that forever altered my life,” Foster shared in her caption.

“My courageous son, Kile Glover, fought for two weeks with unwavering strength until his passing on July 21.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tameka Foster (@tamekafoster)

It was on July 6, 2012, when Foster’s 11-year-old son Kile Glover was riding an inner tube on the lake when he was hit by a jet ski, Fox 5 Atlanta reports. Glover spent weeks in the hospital fighting for his life before dying from his injuries. A family friend was convicted of his death and spent four years in prison.

More than a decade after the tragic accident, Foster took action against the lake where she lost her son. She also noted the lake’s “haunted” history that dates back to the 1950s when it was created over a former gravesite, as noted by the American Oxford.

“Today, we honor his memory by rallying together for change,” Foster continued. “Let’s ensure a safer future by demanding improved safety measures, better zoning, and the removal of haunted debris from the lake.”

The celebrity fashion stylist closed with a call to action urging her followers to support her Change.org petition and help bring a “fresh start” to a lake with such deadly history.

“Join me in signing the petition and sharing this vital cause. Together, we can create a fresh start and bring about lasting transformation. #JusticeForKile,” she wrote.

Lake Lanier is considered one of America’s most dangerous lakes, with around 700 deaths under its belt due to accidents and drownings, according to A-Z Animals. Foster’s petition calls for Lake Lanier to be drained, cleaned, and restored with safety measures “to ensure the well-being of all individuals engaging in personal watercraft and recreational activities.”

“Draining, cleaning, and restoring Lake Lanier is not only necessary but also an opportunity to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives and prevent further tragedies. We appeal to the relevant authorities, including government officials, environmental agencies, and stakeholders, to prioritize this critical undertaking,” Foster wrote in the petition.

“We urge you to allocate the necessary resources, expertise, and funding to initiate the drainage, cleaning, and restoration process promptly.”

Foster also wants stricter regulations and zoning for water-related activities at the lake, water safety educational programs, and the acknowledgment of “Confederate associations tied to the lake.” The petition has over 1,700 signatures toward its 2,500 goal.

by Iman Milner

July 12, 2023

Morgan Freeman Recovering From Infectious Bug, Cancels UK Press Tour

Oscar-winner and the resident voice of the narration in our heads, Morgan Freeman, is on the mend after contracting an infectious bug that made him cancel his current UK press tour for the Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness.

Freeman stars alongside actors Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman in the newest project from Hollywood hitmaker Taylor Sheridan, but has been notably absent from the promo tour and was a no-show at the screening on July 11. According to the Toronto Sun, the 86-year-old was told by his doctors that he had a “contagious infection” but is “fine now.” Special Ops: Lioness will premiere on Paramount+ on July 23 and will be eight episodes long.

Many noticed that the actor was seen sans his infamous ‘fro at the 95th annual Academy Awards and was rocking a freshly bald head instead. It seems his character in Special Ops, Edwin Mullins, the U.S. Secretary of State, called for the drastic change in appearance. The project centers on Saldaña’s character, Joe, who is trying to balance her personal life with her role as the CIA’s trusted weapon against the war on terror. According to Collider, the project is based on a true story, but there is no word on how involved Freeman’s character, Mullins, will be in the overall storyline.

Freeman most recently starred alongside Florence Pugh in Zac Braff‘s critically acclaimed drama A Good Person, and received rave reviews for his portrayal of a grieving father who befriends the woman who accidentally murdered his daughter.

The news of his good health is welcome, as Freeman survived a near-deadly crash in 2008 and suffered permanent nerve damage. He can sometimes be seen wearing a compression glove to help offset the symptoms of fibromyalgia caused by the car accident.

by Iman Milner

July 12, 2023

Paris Barclay First Black Director Nominated For An Emmy In All Narrative Categories

Veteran director and one of TV’s most prominent directors, Paris Barclay, can now add “history maker” to his extensive résumé.

After being nominated for his work on Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Barclay is now the first Black director to have been nominated in the Drama, Comedy, and Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie categories, according to Deadline. He was previously nominated in 1998 for ABC’s NYPD Blue, in 2002 for NBC’s The West Wing, and in 2010, 2013, and 2014 for Fox’s Glee.

Barclay is also the former president of the Directors Guild of America.

“I’m mostly just incredibly grateful,” he said of his nomination. “Grateful to the terrific writers I’ve been fortunate to work with on Emmy episodes – David Milch, Aaron Sorkin, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, and now I can add David McMillan and Janet Mock to the list.” He continued, “But I’m also grateful I’ve been able to help tell stories that really matter, that really make a difference. This episode of Dahmer literally put the victim first, and when the victim was a gay, deaf, Black man, it’s not an everyday thing. I was proud to help newcomer Rodney Burford give a performance that matched Evan Peters’ intensity, and to portray his world in a way that people could really empathize with. It’s one of the episodes I’m proudest of in my career, and to be recognized is fantastic, but really secondary to getting to say “Tony Hughes mattered.”

Dahmer received criticism from the families of the serial killer’s victims; however, the show received 13 Emmy nominations, including a nod for Niecy Nash, who took on the role of Dahmer’s neighbor, Glenda Cleveland. Barclay’s episode “Silenced” is one of the more pivotal episodes of the series, as Dahmer begins a romantic relationship with a Black-deaf aspiring model named Tony Hughes, portrayed by Burford, who becomes one of his many victims. Hughes’ family relationship is threaded throughout, adding a heartbreaking layer to his subsequent death. The role of Hughes’ mother is played by actress Karen Malina White, best known for her role as Charmaine Brown on The Cosby Show.

irving, Jackson, Mississippi, Kyrie Irving, sports

by Stacy Jackson

July 12, 2023

Kyrie Irving Steps Back Into The Sneaker Game And Critics Are Bashing His New Deal With Sportswear Brand ‘ANTA’

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has stepped back into the sneaker game.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the point guard recently signed a five-year deal with Chinese sportswear brand ANTA. Along with the endorsement, Irving will serve as chief creative officer at the company, an agreement negotiated by the athlete’s management company, A11Even.

Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving has signed a five-year endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear brand ANTA, plus the unique position of Chief Creative Officer at the company, industry sources told @TheAthletic @Stadium. Irving’s management company, A11Even, negotiated the deal. pic.twitter.com/HpJej7HU5X

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 12, 2023

“I’m incredibly excited about this collaboration,” Irving said, according to Boardroom. “The first step in becoming partners is to share the same dreams, goals, and missions. ANTA’s rapid development over the years, openness to creativity, willingness to embrace family and teamwork, and expertise in areas like product innovation and manufacturing processes have left a remarkable impression on not just me but also my A11Even team, who will work side by side with me in creating something truly generationally special.”

The partnership will consist of signature product releases and ANTA x KYRIE Youth Basketball Camps around the world that will kick off in China and the U.S. Reportedly, Irving will flaunt the Shock Wave 5 sneaker at the top of the upcoming NBA season and release his first signature collection in 2024.

“In addition to an array of signature collections designed to enhance performance and inspire athletes of all levels, our groundbreaking and revolutionizing partnership will also encompass a range of collaborative initiatives to support everyone devoted to the game of basketball and promote an inclusive basketball culture,” ANTA said in a statement.

NBA players Klay Thompson and Gordon Hayward are other endorsers of ANTA Sports.

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that Irving parted ways as a Nike athlete last year after the company suspended its relationship following Irving’s Tweet of a link to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America!. He became a sneaker-free agent after Nike terminated his contract.

According to Fan Nation, the endorsement deal follows Irving’s new, three-year $126 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

by Stacy Jackson

July 12, 2023

Wise Beyond Her Years: 13-Year-Old Advocates For Black Haircare In Foster Care

Lena Ford is not your typical 13-year-old.

Ford is making her way to the top as an entrepreneur. She strives to connect Black haircare and Black children in the foster care system. Ford is introducing the “Embrace Their Roots Campaign” as her most recent work to focus on addressing these needs in the haircare industry and foster care.

Ford founded the Kinship Family Initiative with Tressie Bloodworth-Ford as the co-founder and executive director. The plan provides kinship families with a support system and adheres to the motto “the power of giving back to your community.”

Ford’s work is providing access and raising awareness for Black haircare needs. According to Face2FaceAfrica, the campaign seeks to provide products and additional resources from hair companies to homeless and foster families. This allows haircare companies to work with families in foster care and homeless shelters.

Ford’s campaign emphasizes an area she holds dear to her. In addition to providing haircare resources for families in the homeless or foster care system, educating these families on Black haircare is an important objective Ford addresses. As there is generally a need for more knowledge and experience held by foster care families when it comes to the particular haircare needs for African American children, this is often overlooked. Special attention and unique products are necessary when treating or styling hair for African Americans.

To address the distinct haircare requirements for African Americans, the “Embrace Their Roots Campaign” highlights four strategies:

Using social media to increase awareness.
Educating families through workshops.
Establishing relationships with companies to provide discounts and donations for families.
Creating a group on Facebook to serve as a platform for people to connect.

Ford is definitely an example of Black girl magic in creating this platform to advocate for others in need.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 12, 2023

Former Northwestern University Student-Athletes Call Out The Racist And Hazing Practices Of The School’s Athletic Program

The scandal involving the alleged hazing among football players at Northwestern University that recently got the football head coach Pat Fitzgerald terminated has revealed other accusations from former student-athletes at the school.

According to The Daily Northwestern, three former university athletes stated there was a “culture of enabling racism” while participating on the school’s team. The racism was received from other football players and the staff at Northwestern University. Allegedly, Fitzgerald was well aware of the antics, although he has publicly denied knowing.

The three former players spoke to the media outlet about their troubling experience at the school.

One of them, Ramon Diaz Jr., who played the offensive lineman position for the school from 2005 to 2008, said the team was hostile to anyone who wasn’t white. “I didn’t feel like I could be anything other than white,” Diaz told The Daily Northwestern.

“We never felt like we could be ourselves. We had to fit in by being white or acting white or laughing at our own people.”

The purported racism was embedded in the football team’s culture, according to another player whose identity was not revealed. This player, who is Black, stated that he was on the team through the 2009 season. The participants did not hide their racist ways around him. He claims that Fitzgerald would ask the Black players and the coaches on the team to cut off longer hairstyles to fit in with what Fitzgerald stated was the “Wildcat Way.”

“Those are two phrases you would hear a lot around the program that referred to the sentiment of ‘fall in line,'” the player revealed. “If you were not in line with the “Wildcat Way,” Coach Fitz or any one of the coaches will be quick to say like, ‘yeah, check your scholarship.”

An additional Black former player who was also an offensive lineman said that he recalls the head coach Fitzgerald asking a coaching staff member to cut off his dreadlocks.

“There was a certain culture of enabling racism and other microaggressions that I had to experience and that other offensive linemen that were people of color had to experience,” the second player stated.

University spokesperson Jon Yates told The Daily that the allegations were unknown to the school before this latest scandal.

“The alleged ‘racist commentary and behavior toward non-white players’ by Coach Fitzgerald and members of his staff would be entirely unacceptable and inconsistent with our culture and values, if true,” Yates wrote in an email to the publication. “As we do with any allegation, we will immediately address the accusations, and any findings will be considered.”

The school has been caught up in a scandal that accuses the staff and teammates of hazing players, sexual assault, and other infractions supported by evidence after an internal investigation. Initially, the school suspended the head coach but recently terminated his job after discovering testimonies like those revealed by the players mentioned above.

by Stacy Jackson

July 12, 2023

Don’t Call It A Comeback: Black Unemployment Hits An All-Time Low Despite Uptick Early This Year

The unemployment rate for Black workers is slowly increasing in a post-pandemic world.

The cut-and-dry truth is that unemployment rates for Blacks in the United States rose for the second month in a row. In an interview, Kate Bahn from the Urban Institute told NPR that the current unemployment rate for Blacks is 6%.

Blacks did not bounce back from the pandemic as successfully as other groups. Bahn said the pandemic hit Black workers the hardest. “In the pandemic, Black workers were hit much worse. They had much worse unemployment outcomes,” NPR reported.

Blacks have always faced systemic barriers in the workforce. BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that for every dollar a white man makes, Black men earn 77 cents, and their Black female counterparts earn 68 cents. Bahn noted change must happen at the institutional level for Black workers to be on an even playing field with white workers. Bahn told NPR, “But we also need institutional change to ensure that workers who have been historically excluded, like Black workers, can share in the gains of the economy.” “What we really need is policy change to ensure that Black workers are on the same footing as white workers,” Bahn added.

There is hope. The Black employment rate is closer than ever to that of whites. Bahn told NPR there is only a half percentage point difference between Black and white employment rates. Blacks are also showing up in the labor force. According to Bahn, “labor force participation for Black workers is higher than that of white workers,” according to NPR.

Bahn said the solution combines market forces or positive employment outcomes and institutional changes that might improve statistics for Black workers. “We have those market forces right now, but we don’t have those institutional changes yet.”

Bahn also noted a two-month increase in unemployment for Blacks is not strong enough to label it a trend.

by Jeffrey McKinney

July 12, 2023

National Minority Supplier Development Council Program Lands $480K New Funding To Harvest Growth In Black Agriculture

Hoping to help put more goods from Black farmers on store shelves, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has gained an extra $480,000 to help propel the effort for Black farmers everywhere.

New funding of $400,000 from agricultural giant Cargill and $80,000 from grocery wholesaler United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) will be used to expand the large business advocacy group’s Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture program. Formerly called the Black Farmer Equity Initiative, the program trains and certifies Black farmers and ranchers as diverse suppliers.

The goal: help boost incomes as producers access new markets like grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail outlets. All told, NMSDC reports founding partners Cargill and UNFI have contributed over $500,000. The aim is to triple the number of trained ranchers and farmers to build greater equity in the U.S. food system.

The NMSDC’s next cohort of Black farmers will include 30 individuals. That would be much higher than the first cohort class of 11 farmers. An opening date for the next cohort has not been established, but it could likely start by early 2024. Interested applicants will be notified and can fill out a form here.

“We are incredibly excited for the continued interest in NMSDC Acres. Cargill and UNFI’s leadership in supporting this effort to create greater equity for the Black community will help us to grow the program and make meaningful progress towards a more inclusive agricultural system,” stated Lisa Morris. NMSDC vice president of Strategic Alliances, Programs, and Events.

The program is needed as data from McKinsey & Company showed only 1.4% of farmers identify as Black or mixed race compared with about 14% a century ago. They represent under 0.5% of total U.S. farm sales. Black agricultural practitioners operate at 70% of U.S. peer-level farm revenue.

Cargill and NMSDC designed the recently renamed ‘Acres’ program to address this issue and advance agricultural supply chain access for Black individuals. Benefits for participants include strategic business support and skills development, including NMSDC-certification aid and access to funding opportunities.

“UNFI is proud to support NMSDC Acres as a founding circle member in the effort to create a more inclusive agricultural system in the United States,” stated Guillaume Bagal, VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Wellbeing at UNFI.

Cargill’s Supplier Diversity Lead Natalie McGrady stated, “We are working with farmers, customers, and organizations like NMSDC to close equity gaps that have existed for too long in the fabric of our food system. “Our partnership with NMSDC is one example of our commitment to working with diverse suppliers. We launched the Black Farmer Equity Initiative to help increase participation, productivity, and profitability by putting farmers, ranchers, and growers at the center of the solution.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 12, 2023

Larsa Pippen Left ‘Traumatized’ By Michael Jordan’s Comments On Relationship With His Son

Larsa Pippen just can’t catch a break.

The ex-wife of NBA great Scottie Pippen says she is “traumatized” and “embarrassed” by Michael Jordan’s comments on her romance with his son, Marcus Jordan, 32, E! News reports. On a recent episode of the couple’s podcast, Separation Anxiety with Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan, the Real Housewives of Miami star, 48, revealed how she felt when his comments were released. “You thought it was funny; I didn’t think it was funny. There is nothing funny about it,” Pippen said. “I kinda felt like it went everywhere, and I was kind of embarrassed.”

Marcus said that past comments were cleared up with the couple before they were revealed. “We knew ahead of time because he called me and texted me and wanted to make sure that I didn’t take anything the wrong way,” Jordan said. “But then when the article came out, he texted me again, and he never said ‘hell no,’ and that’s not what the implications were.”

Behind all the drama, Pippen has said her beau’s family is supportive of their relationship but understands the controversy behind it, given how her ex-husband and Marcus’ dad are no longer cool. “I do understand that it’s not awkward for us to be together because it’s us, but it probably is awkward for my ex and your dad because they have their own relationship or whatever it was,” the mom of four shared. “I wasn’t a part of that; you weren’t a part of that….I can’t be mad. I understand.”

According to People, there was a rumor that Jordan was dating Larsa to “get back at Scottie.

The reality star married the former Chicago Bulls player in 1997 and divorced in 2021. She confirmed her relationship with Jordan on Instagram in January 2023 with a picture of them in front of a floral installation of his dad’s famous #23 Chicago Bulls jersey.