Three Black Employees Sue Nashville Electric Service Over Racist Work Culture
A Nashville power company is facing allegations of racism.
Three employees who work for Nashville Electric Service (NES) are accusing the company of engaging in racist culture, The Tennesseanreports, and are speaking out about it.
Tim Jones, Walter Clark, and Jimmie Hunt, who have worked for NES for an approximate combination of 35 years, say working for the company has provided them with a comfortable lifestyle but there are hidden tactics that can make the work environment unbearable.
Hunt, a supervisor, said he was called racial slurs numerous times by his white coworkers and even remembered a noose being left in a smoking area. Hunt said that he, along with other minority coworkers, were passed over for several promotions. After trying to hold it together for years, Hunt is now approaching retirement and feels it’s time for a major culture change so Black people can feel safe.
“Do you really want them to come here and have to deal with that?” Hunt said. “It was disturbing in a lot of ways.”
Hunt, Jones, and Clark are suing NES claiming their promotion process is discriminatory, subjected to a hostile work environment and NES has done nothing about it. Their attorney and vice president of the National Bar Association, Ashley Upkins, says the lawsuit isn’t about money – it’s about making it right.
“Despite having dedicated workers that have worked there for very long periods of time, NES leaders refuse to address the issue,” Upkins said. “And so now, this is what they find to be their only recourse after being abused for so long.”
This isn’t the first time lawsuits regarding discrimination in the promotion process–dubbed the “NES Way”-have been brought to the service’s attention.
Over the years, several lawsuits concerning work culture and other practices have been filed.
One class action suit was filed by a group of Black employees in 2009 and settled in 2011. NES’ president and CEO, Teresa Broyles-Aplin, says she’s aware of the lawsuits and claims
“NES does not condone or tolerate discrimination of any type,” Broyles-Aplin said in a statement. “”NES embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our goal is to foster a work environment in which all of our employees feel welcome, safe, and appreciated.
On top of racial discrimination lawsuits, NES settled a $2.5 million lawsuit in June from more than 100 employees over lost overtime wages going back three years.
Attorney Ben Crump Launches Investigation Into Chicago Principal Firings
Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump has launched an investigation into the treatment of Chicago Public School’s Black principals, several of whom have been forcefully removed from their positions in recent months, according to ABC7 Chicago News. Crump accuses the CPS of discrimination and corruption following the expulsion of six Black principals in the past year. His investigation is assisted by activist Father Michael Pfleger and Troy LaRaviere, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association.
According to Block Club Chicago, in late March, Abdul Muhammad was released from his role as the interim principal at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy following an investigation by the CPS. Though the CPS sent a letter to families informing them of Muhammad’s immediate dismissal and the investigation, the reason for his termination was noticeably absent. The letter read, “Please know that we are taking this situation extremely seriously, and we remain committed to providing Lindblom students with a positive learning environment where they can reach their full potential. While the Network 16 team is unable to discuss details regarding the case, we are available to discuss the steps CPS takes to support students and matters related to your child.”
The CPS responded similarly in April when Antonio Ross of Hyde Park Academy was terminated. According to the Hyde Park Herald, it refused to provide additional information despite “substantiated findings” against the former principal. At the time of Muhammad’s firing, the CPS assured that the decision was not due to reports that Lindblom teachers were transporting students to vote at a nearby polling location. Still, students and parents alike have been left in the dark following these oustings, prompting protests in the district.
Muhammad became principal of the Englewood High School at the beginning of the 2022–2023 school year, replacing Wayne Bevis, who had previously filled the role from 2015 to 2021. Upon his arrival, Muhammad fired assistant principal Karen Fitzpatrick Carpenter, who students affectionately called “Mama Eagle.” Fitzpatrick Carpenter had been the assistant principal for 24 years, and her sudden dismissal resulted in a student-led walkout on the first day of classes. According to Block Club Chicago, though a CPS spokesperson revealed that they had no issue with Muhammad’s faculty change, after the protests, the Chicago Board postponed its decision to extend a four-year contract with Muhammad and, in December, it was ultimately decided that he would be interim principal for the remainder of the school year.
According to the Chicago Crusader, Father Pfleger recently spoke at a town hall meeting and shared that despite Muhammad’s initial reception, he was loved by the students but was fired because he brought order to the school. Pfleger also revealed that the student population is 75% African American, while 90% of teachers are white.
LaRaviere spoke up about the increased firings at the meeting.
“Most of them don’t know why they were removed. That’s the strange thing about CPS,” he said.
“They use the excuse that there is an ongoing investigation. That way, they don’t have to tell you what these charges are. We used our lawyers to force them to give the charges.”
Following this request, LaRaviere uncovered 82 charges filed against Muhammad, which he labeled “petty” and “trifling.” Some of the charges LaRaviere mentioned were as minuscule as people not being invited to meetings.
“The CPS Law Department did very little to check the validity of the accusations that were given to them, the seven white teachers and the one Black clerk,” he said.
LaRaviere also claims that, before Muhammad’s arrival, the faculty at the school emailed members of the Local Advisory Committee’s Principal Selection Committee, asking them not to hire him. Crump is also requesting that CPS CEO Pedro Martínez step down or be removed from his position, claiming that Martinez helped coordinate the targeted abuse of Black principals. These findings have initiated an investigation to unveil racial bias.
Chicago Public Schools released a statement to the Chicago Crusader. Below is an abbreviated excerpt.
“Chicago Public Schools (CPS) strives to make sure all our schools have strong leaders dedicated to the success of their staff, students, and communities. The District has procedures in place to investigate allegations of staff misconduct, give proper due process to its employees, and make fair employment decisions. We are confident in the decisions made by the leaders of our District.
“As always, every allegation made about a staff member is referred to the appropriate investigative body for review, including the Office of Inspector General, the District’s Law Department, the Equal Opportunity Compliance Office, or the Office of Student Protections. CPS, just like other employers, does not share the details of personnel matters or ongoing investigations, as we are committed to protecting the privacy and rights of our employees and allowing an investigation to proceed without disruption. Such investigations take time and preclude us from providing ongoing and detailed updates.”
Outspoken Retired Detective Who Condemned Memphis Police Department Found Dead in Driveway
A retired Memphis homicide detective Mark LeSure was found dead in his driveway and the conspiracy theories have begun.
LeSure was very outspoken about the murder of Tyre Nichols, and activist Amber Sherman pointed out that aspect regarding LeSure’s death. “Retired Memphis police officer Mark LeSure, who was outspoken against MPD after the murder of Tyre Nichols in national media outlets, was allegedly found murdered in his front yard this morning,” Sherman tweeted.
Retired Memphis Police Officer Mark Lesure, who was outspoken against MPD after the murder of Tyre Nichols in national media outlets, was allegedly found murdered in his front yard this morning. 2 days after the City of Memphis filed a motion to dismiss the Tyre Nichols lawsuit.
According to Rolling Out, LeSure retired in 2021 and decided to go back to school to work on his master’s degree. He also pledged to become a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and mentored youth in his community.
When Nichols’ murder at the hands of five Black Memphis police officers made national headlines, LeSure spoke out about shady practices within the department. In an interview with NBC News, LeSure talked about the lack of training provided to new officers which was concerning to him.
“Rookies were getting put on specialized units where they had no business being,” LeSure said.
He also mentioned the Scorpion unit—which all five officers worked on. Established after he retired, the community leader claimed he was told the unit had a “zero tolerance” policy on crime,meaning the officers could “do what they can to arrest people.”
Sherman mentioned that LeSure’s killing comes days after the City of Memphis filed a motion to dismiss a $550 million civil lawsuit in Nichols’ death.
LeSure’s fraternity brothers remember him as a man of perseverance. “He will be missed, a lot of brothers loved him as soon as he walked in,” fraternity brother Antonio Avant Sr. said to Action News 5.
Avant said he was welcomed with open arms into the brotherhood in 2022 as he was already a huge presence in the community. “We lost a great brother, even though he wasn’t with the fraternity that long, he actually as soon as he came in, started working, and doing what he was supposed to do,” Avant said.
LeSure’s cause of death has not yet been determined.
Ohio Woman Leaves Wig Sticking Out Of Her Car’s Trunk, Concerned Neighbor Thinks It’s A Body
According to WOIO/Cleveland 19 News, an Ohio woman had a hilarious interaction with the police in her neighborhood.
On June 22, 2023, Toria Townsend, of Massillon prompted a 911 call to her property after she left her wig suspiciously hanging out of her trunk and neighbors were concerned.
Townsend told the outlet she was late to her hair appointment that day, so she rushed to take off her wig. She put the hairpiece in the trunk of her car and, unbeknownst to her, left some bundles of hair hanging out after she closed the trunk.
After leaving her hair appointment, the wig was still half hanging out of her trunk as she returned home, giving the appearance of hair sticking out of her vehicle. After arriving at her residence, Ohio police officers responded to a 911 call from a concerned citizen.
The interaction, caught on Townsend’s doorbell camera, showed the officers explaining that someone had filed a report of a person being potentially locked in the trunk of her car. They also asked her if she was a hairdresser. Finally, Townsend realized what the 911 caller had seen.
“Oh my Jesus,” she exclaimed. “That’s my wig.”
As the officer questioning Townsend bursts out laughing, Townsend rushed inside to get her keys and retrieve the wig hanging out of her trunk.
“I was in such a rush that day I forgot about my wig and didn’t pay attention to where it landed,” Townsend said.
Townsend praised the responding officers for how they handled the situation appropriately. “Usually, you see a not-good outcome when it comes to a person of color and an officer. When you finally see something good (starting from this situation), it’s funny,” she said.
The clip of the interaction between police and the Ohio woman has since gone viral on social media, and online users are giving their take on the funny camera footage.
One user wrote, “Him knowing what to ask in terms of cultural questions made my heart happy.” Another added, “An example of when the officers are familiar and appreciate the neighborhood they work in. They see the community as PEOPLE.”
“I’m loving the Energy of the Officer and the Homeowner!!!! Not to mention the concerned caller!! Everybody did the right thing here!!
How The Bahamas Is Celebrating 50 Years Of Independence With Calendar Of Events & Direct Flights
On Monday, July 10th, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas will celebrate its 50th year of independence and they put together quite the itinerary in their honor.
Back in April, the Bahamas unveiled its year-long plan of events in honor of the 50th anniversary of independence. Events have been taking place since January that serves to celebrate the milestone and showcase the country’s culture and heritage while promoting tourism.
Gearing up for their July 10th independence day, the Bahamas has been hosting a “50th on the Bay” night market and concert series in Nassau from July 3 to July 6 that showcases local talent and entertainment. On July 4, the Bahamas held their “50 for 50 Day” where they celebrated the contributions the country has made to the region.
There is also a day of wellness planned on July 5 where the country is encouraged to get up and exercise to promote health and wellness. July 7 consists of a National Bahamian Pride Day and the Prime Minster’s Legacy Ball celebrating the founding fathers of the Bahamas.
A “Golden Oldies” soiree will celebrate the year 1973 when the Bahamas was granted independence after 300 years of being a colony. All of the events are in an effort to highlight the significant contributions from the Bahamas as well as encourage tourism to the tropical Commonwealth.
“The expectation is to make sure that the visitors have an enriched, rewarding experience and they continue to return to the Bahamas,” Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism, Investments and Aviation said.
As for the Bahamas’ independence day on July 10, the country will hold Jubilee celebrations where church bells will ring at noon, cowbells and goat-skinned drums will also ring out across the Bahamas for their Rush event, and a Family Fun Day, and state reception will close out the day.
Just last month on Tuesday, June 13, the Bahamas Tourism Board along with the country’s Deputy Prime Minster Chester Cooper traveled out to Los Angeles, California to celebrate the launch of the first-ever non-stop flights from LA to Nassau.
“We want the Bahamas to be the initial stamp in first-time traveler’s passports,” DPM Cooper said. “
But we also look forward to welcoming back our repeat visitors who continue to choose us for their Caribbean vacation.”
There are plenty of reasons to visit the Bahamas. But now with more direct flights from major cities to the Bahamas, the country will be closer to meeting its total visitor arrivals goal of 20 percent more than the 2019 banner year of 7.25 million, as noted by ABC 27.
Amid rising concerns about racist practices and harmful legislation regarding sexual orientation, gender, and guns, the group’s leaders no longer feel the state of Florida is an appropriate backdrop for attendees, according to Inside Higher Ed. “When we’re looking at all that’s going on down in Florida right now, we’re thinking about, ‘Is that the backdrop we want for this celebration?’” said Avery Layne, the group’s national chairperson. “We have members that go all the way from professionals in industry to collegiate students down to pre-college students down to the third-grade level.” Janeen Uzzell, the group’s chief executive officer, said a move of this magnitude would cost upwards of $1.2 million; however, they all feel it’s worth it.
The National Society of Black Engineers is one of the largest student-governed organizations in the country, according to the group’s website. Founded in 1975, the group’s mission is to “increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.” The more than 600 chapters and 24,000 members support and promote the aspirations of collegiate and pre-collegiate students and technical professionals in engineering and technology. This year’s convention took place in Kansas City, Missouri, and was sponsored by American Express, Bridgestone Tires, and Dell Technologies.
NSBE’s leaders have already begun making the necessary changes to relocate next year’s convention in light of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement that the state’s DEI efforts would end on July 1. “We are going to treat people as individuals; we’re not going to treat people as members of groups,” DeSantis said in a press conference about his decision. Florida has been at the center of rolling back critical race theory in schools and taking gross measures to reverse the work done by civil rights leaders and activists.
‘Color of Change’ Under Fire After Staff Layoffs And Accusations Of Excessive Spending
Color of Change laid off 49 staff members to cut back on spending after Business Insider reported the organization is under by about $4 million.
According to anonymous staffers who spoke to Business Insider, the latest cuts are the third round since the spring. Board chair of the Color of Change Education Fund, Andre Banks, admitted in an interview, “What I will say is that in our last fiscal-year budget, we did set a budget that was too ambitious.”
What caused the financial struggles in the first place? Salaah Muhammad, a former regional manager, said about the organization’s presence at Martha’s Vineyard, “For an organization that says they’re doing all of these things to make the world a more humane, a less hostile place for Black people, it seems as though they’re more aligned with wanting to throw an elaborate party.”
Documents obtained by Business Insider revealed leaders spent excessively after receiving donations totaling over $30 million in the first half of 2020. The increase came about after social justice came into focus following George Floyd’s murder. The outlet reported that millions were spent on “executive salaries, high-profile events, consultants” and other projects. Reportedly, from 2017 to 2019, the outlet noted that the organization spent around $47 million. Revenue was $52 million. Business Insider also reported the social justice organization owes around $9.7 million for consultant fees, office rent, and furniture.
In response to Business Insider’s report, Color of Changeboard members said on Medium the organization “instituted new systems to proactively address emerging financial challenges.”
A statement on Color of Change’s website revealed some staffers unionized. “We are proud that this period of challenge and evolution has also coincided with support for the Color Of Change staff who expressed interest in joining a union.” The statement continued, “In line with our organizational values, Color Of Change quickly and voluntarily recognized their union and has done everything in our power to expedite the bargaining process.” Staffing cuts have rubbed some the wrong way. A staffer identified as R. Nicole on Twitter said the organization was engaging in “Color Of Capitalism” after laying off nearly 50 people.
Can You Believe That Environmental Racism Impacts Aging In Black Folks?
Highly-melanated skin has long been known to age well. However, a new study shows that individuals with low socioeconomic status, neighborhood deprivation, and air pollution exposures are significant environmental contributors to the increasing biological aging of Black people.
In other words, environmental racism kills. Exactly how remains a mystery. A research article published in PLOS ONE emphasizes the phenomenon of “weathering,” which is described as premature biological aging due to being repeatedly exposed to social adversity and marginalization. It’s been linked to various poor health issues ranging from heart disease and mental illness to higher infant and maternal mortality. However, there is a lack of naming racism in environmental epidemiology and a limited understanding of biological mechanisms by which they affect health outcomes.
Emerging research and evidence show that DNA methylation (DNAm) is a “mediating link between social and structural determinants of health and both age-related health outcomes and health disparities,” per the study. “Markers of biological aging using DNAm have emerged as robust measures of weathering.” And ZIP codes reveal their own story.
Neighborhood deprivation
Researchers analyzed DNAm data, surveys, and neighborhoods of 2,960 Americans age 50 or older based on participants’ ZIP codes. Black older adults are more likely to live in an area with higher deprivation, with access to “fewer socioeconomic resources and higher exposure to unfavorable and unhealthy conditions in their neighborhood environment.” One of these resources includes disparities in healthcare.
BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that Atlanta residents of predominantly white, high-income neighborhoods have an average life expectancy of 84. In contrast, those who reside in mostly Black, low-income areas have an average life expectancy of 71. Though people generally age at different rates, Black individuals are more exposed.
“Social determinants of health play a major, major factor. If you’re not accessing healthcare, if you don’t have access to healthcare, if you don’t have education and education systems you’re matriculating to,” coupled with “the politics, stigma, and racism [Black Americans] are often the victims of, plays a fundamental difference in our health outcomes,” Rashad Burgess, vice president of Advancing Health and Black Equity at Gilead Sciences, previously told BE.
Structural racism in environmental epidemiology
With an ability to focus on “place” and surroundings, investigating the structural racist forces that drive health disparities is an important opportunity for environmental epidemiologists. Despite that, pervasive structural racism in environmental epidemiology shines a light on an extensive history of a lack of focus on structural racism in environmental health research. With some examples from environmental health and male infertility, the commentary illustrates how failing to address racism ultimately neglects the health of entire populations.
The “disparate exposure to environmental toxins” is one of the underlying issues that are “often discussed without being contextualized with respect to discriminatory origins, such as legally sanctioned segregated housing practices.”
Pollution
Black communities have been reported to bear a disproportionately high air pollution burden and are more likely to experience environmental exposures. Racial disparities in hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, and possible age-related diseases are among many other results induced by air pollution. In fact, Black individuals appear to have a “greater risk from the same amount of PM2.5 pollution than their white counterparts” for “mortality and several age-related diseases.” High levels of fine particulate matter PM2.5 pollution and nitrogen dioxide are a concern for people’s health, especially older adults.
“You would expect that someone who’s lived in a poor area with a lot of exposure to air pollution their entire lives, they’re probably gonna look pretty different from someone who’s moved into the neighborhood recently,” Gloria Huei-Jong Graf, a doctoral candidate in epidemiology at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, told STAT News.
Those with a long history of lung conditions or asthma could have a higher chance of exposure.
The HBCU Founders Initiative Announces Five New Members For Its Pre-Accelerator Program
The HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI) has selected five HBCUs to participate in its Pre-Accelerator Program. Hampton University, Morehouse College, Texas Southern University, Benedict College, and Bethune-Cookman University are the newest members of the HBCUFI cohort. The nonprofit organization is designed to provide support to HBCU students and alumni as they venture into entrepreneurship. Through tech-centered projects, participants are given the opportunity to expand their business acumen as they bring their entrepreneurial endeavors to life.
The inaugural HBCUFI Fall 2022 cohort was composed of seven HBCUs: Bowie State University, Elizabeth City State University, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T University, Oakwood University, Prairie View A&M University, and Spelman College. Now it consists of 12 universities, each committed to assisting students on their paths as entrepreneurs. Each university will host two eight-week Pre-Accelerators with one session in the fall and the second in the following spring. These Pre-Accelerators will support eight startups per cohort, all of which will help participants as they develop their business models past the ideation stage.
Each week, the Pre-Accelerator Program will convene virtually to discuss different topics, including building a prototype, customer discovery, marketing and branding, and other business operations. At the end of the program, participants will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects and possibly receive awards to aid their MVP development.
Before establishing its 2022 cohort, the HBCU Founders Initiative offered entrepreneurial guidance to aspiring business owners through an online program. This virtual program is open to hundreds of HBCUs outside the cohort. Now, through direct partnerships with the universities, the organization is able to expand its outreach and assist hundreds more college students and alumni.
Since its launch in 2020, the HBCU Founders Initiative has impacted over 750 students and alumni across more than 80 historically Black universities and colleges, and participants have raised over $2 million for their startups.
”We are pleased to have five additional HBCUs join us in fulfilling our mission to ensure that innovative ideas don’t die on the vine because there is no one available to cultivate them,” said HBCUFI President Marlon Evans.
“By providing a structured program that connects our participants with executives and entrepreneurs with deep experience building companies, coupled with providing access to pre-seed funding, HBCUFI is helping to build an unprecedented innovation ecosystem on HBCU campuses.”
Applications for the Fall 2023 Pre-Accelerator Program will be accepted between July 1 and August 6.
Ubiquitous Canadian rap megastar Drake was caught in 4K sporting pink nails, as reported by BET, after being playfully ribbed by Lil Yachty on Instagram, he told the Chicago rapper: “GET OUT MY COMMENTS YOU TOLD ME TO PAINT MY NAILS SO I STOP BITING THEM AND NOW THE WORLD IS BEING HOMOPHOBIC FOR THE 1st TIME SINCE ‘RICH FLEX.” There has been a trend of men wearing colored nails in recent years, including but not limited to Dewayne Wade, Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and Lil Yachty. Historically speaking, the practice of men painting their nails dates back to 3500 BC when ancient Babylonians painted their nails to signify class status and also to intimidate opponents on the battlefield. It is also unclear exactly when nail polish became associated with women and femininity but by the time the 1800s rolled around, Victorian-era women painted their nails to signify purity and cleanliness.
There has been a growing trend of Black men showing themselves being joyful and happy by doing any number of things like wearing flowers in their hair to painting their nails. Black Boy Joy, they call it, a phrase coined by Danielle Young in 2016 in an article originally intended to celebrate Chance the Rapper. Young writes: “Throughout history, our boys have been denied their childhood. When we learn about the stolen youth of Emmett Till, we’re reminded that young black boys are seen as men by society or, worse, as a threat. #BlackBoyJoy presents a teachable moment to social media that allows us to reclaim the innocence of black boyhood.” Here, the concept of the boy is extended to mean carefree as opposed to an actual age range because as Young states Black boys are erased from existence while doing normal childhood activities by a society and state determined to eliminate them. Young also notes the fraught relationship with the term boy in a historical context, but as an in-group reference, it does not carry the same offense as if spoken by a white person.
Theres a reason I deny meeting all the famous people who try to meet me. https://t.co/zMVaGkmchY
Therefore, Drake is correct in calling out homophobia from men like Andrew Tate who attacked the rapper after the post went viral, as many of Drake’s posts often do because of his global reach. Nail polish, like many aspects of our society, is genderless. We have needlessly ascribed gender to colors, activities, and even the positioning of our wrists or certain phrases. As a result, a harmless activity like Drake wearing colored nails becomes a societal battleground of sorts where men question the masculinity of other men. Masculinity too, is yet another social construct that we have decided only looks one way when there are many ways to be a man. Essentially from birth, we are told that men should never cry, never show softness and never ask for help, that those are signs of weakness from men. The reality is that those things do not make us weak or failures as men, those things make us human. This is the background that Drake is working against when he wears nail polish in public or posts it on his Instagram account. Anything that can be perceived as feminine is read as softness and the way our societal values are set up, the worst thing a “real man” can be is soft.
