Stevie J, Faith Evans, Divorce, Spousal Support, Alimony,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 8, 2023

Faith Evans Gets Out Marriage To Stevie J But Not Without Paying Spousal Support

Faith Evans has finally settled her messy divorce from Stevie J and the soul singer has agreed to pay her ex-husband spousal support.

In court documents obtained on Monday, July 3, Evans is said to have informed the court that she has “entered into a written agreement regarding their property and their marriage or domestic support partnership rights, including support,” Radar Online reports.

The “Love Like This” singer is asking for the court to approve the agreement she and Stevie J reached which includes spousal support and covering his attorney fees. While Stevie has made public pleas to win Evans back, she wanted the latest filing to confirm the “irreconcilable differences” that led to their dissolved marriage.

“There are irreconcilable differences that have led to the irremediable breakdown of the marriage or domestic partnership,” the filing states.

“And there is no possibility of saving the marriage or domestic partnership through counseling or other means.”

Stevie was the one to file for divorce in November 2021 at Los Angeles Superior Court after three years of marriage, People reports. The pair shared a long history dating back to Evans’ time on Bad Boy Records where Stevie worked as a producer.

They both have children from previous relationships but did not have any together. Stevie was previously linked to ex-girlfriend Joseline Hernandez, with whom he shares a daughter and Evans was previously married to the late Notorious B.I.G. and her second husband Todd Russaw.

Fans weren’t expecting the divorce filing considering the sweet birthday message Evans sent Stevie on Instagram one week before the petition. In May 2022, Stevie shared a since-deleted Instagram post begging for Evans to take him back, as captured by Hip Hop DX.

“Faith Rene Jordan I’ve hurt you, disrespected you and humiliated you in front of the world,” Stevie’s message read in part.

“From this day forward I promise to listen to your feelings and be more delicate with your heart.”

However, no reconciliation was made and in April 2023, Stevie was ordered to return Evans stolen Mercedes Benz. Now the divorce has been finalized and an agreement has been reached, putting the final nail in the coffin of their marriage.

by Lauren Nutall

July 8, 2023

Artist Brian Lanker’s Portrait Series Makes Its Way To The Smithsonian

A series of portraits by the late photographer Brian Lanker is now on display at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, according to The Washington Informer. The exhibit, titled “I Dream a World: Selections From Brian Lanker’s Portraits of Remarkable Black Women,” includes photographs depicting iconic African American women and their lifestyles. Lanker manages to portray some of the world’s most iconic Black women in all their vulnerability.

Lanker’s collection is an intimate portrayal of the timeless Black women we have come to adore. It includes the glamorous Lena Horne, who enraptured audiences from the 1930s through the 1980s. Lanker’s portrait of Horne has her seated and wearing a simple black ensemble. A 1988 portrait of beloved actress Cicely Tyson is also included, with the star adorned in a floral crown and looking wistfully into the distance. Other subjects include tennis player Althea Gibson, singer Odetta, and talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Lanker, who passed in March 2011, first unveiled these photographs in his book I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America. The Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer published the volume more than three decades ago, capturing Black women in their authenticity and illuminating their timelessness. His work depicted them without fear or inhibitions. In the book, Lanker wrote, “I felt the need to prevent these historical lives from being forgotten. Many of the women opened ‘the doors,’ and many advanced America through the modern civil rights and women’s movement.”

The book consists of 75 portraits, a selection of which is on view at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery through Aug. 27, 2023. The black-and-white images are displayed on the second level of the Smithsonian. Additional photographs can be found near the “One Life: Frederick Douglass” exhibition, which highlights the abundant lives of Black individuals.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 8, 2023

Romeo Miller Partners With Tesla Engineer To Start Electric Car/Tech Venture

Romeo Miller is making his name in the entrepreneurial space with his new tech venture. Partnering with Richard Patterson, a former Tesla engineer who helped create its famed Model S sedan, Miller will lend his business expertise and resources to the new business, Trion and Shango.

Described by Afrotech as a “automotive and tech powerhouse that is committed to a green future,” Trion and Shango extends beyond the car industry. Its focus on environmental sustainability and advancement through technology will extend to electric homes, so that every facet of life is greener while simultaneously being more efficient.

Miller sung Patterson’s praises as an groundbreaking automotive engineer in an Instagram post, adding that “(he) is Black history.”

“I always envisioned a future with 100% green energy and Richard has the inventions and I have the connections to make that possible,” detailed the father of two. “Let’s get to work and glad to be apart of the TRION and SHANGO Tech team. It’s official! Yall gone have to call me Tech Bae now lol.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Romeo Miller (@romeomiller)

Trion and Shango’s quest for a greener world and future has enticed investors. The business has secured $10 billion in funding for its research and operations. While Miller is a pioneering executive of the company, evolving from a rapper and entertainer to a tech entrepreneur, Patterson is the first Black owner of an exotic car manufacturing company in the U.S.

In statements released by the Black tech-focused platform, Miller and Patterson expressed their excitement at joining forces for a business whose mission is to better society.

“Together, we will leverage our collective knowledge and resources to drive the advancement of sustainable technology,” shared the former rapper. “Our aim is to create a world where cutting-edge innovations harmonize with environmental consciousness, making a positive impact on our planet for generations to come.”

Patterson also elaborated on the important role his new partner plays in the development and success of Trion and Shango,

“The inclusion of Romeo Miller in this venture underscores our shared values and determination to effect real change in the tech and automotive landscape,” he said. “With our combined efforts, we are confident in our ability to push boundaries, shape the future, and lead the way toward a greener and more sustainable world.”

Through a multitude of sustainable initiatives, Trion and Shango is a Black-owned venture in the tech space that is dedicated to building an equitable, greener world.

Texas, water, Break, legislation, ban, greg, abbot

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 8, 2023

Texas Bans Water Breaks Amid Heat That Killed Postal And Utility Worker

Amid scorching triple-digit heat, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott decided to pass new legislation that eliminates mandated water breaks for certain service workers.

House Bill 2127, also known as the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act or as its critics refer to it the “Death Star Bill,” allows the state government to overrule local government, Fox 26 Houston reports. The new bill prevents local municipalities from going against Texas state codes and applies to eight key areas of local government, including agriculture, business & commerce, finance, insurance, labor, natural resources, occupations, and property.

As part of the new bill, mandated water breaks for certain laborers, including construction workers have been eliminated, as noted by The Hill.

Since Gov. Abbott signed the bill into law on June 6, at least four service workers died after collapsing while laboring in triple-digit heat, according to the Texas Observer. Among those include a post office worker in Dallas, a utility lineman in East Texas, and construction workers in Houston. Many are crediting an ongoing heatwave for the deaths of at least 13 people, AP News reports.

The bill that goes into effect on September 1 is facing backlash from critics who say it will invalidate local ordinances, including the city of Houston which sued the state over the new legislation, the Texas Standard reports.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference on Monday, July 3 claiming HB 2127 would overturn ordinances regulating tow truck companies, outdoor music festivals, noise control, and boarding homes. Turner notes the uncertainty around what local laws would become illegal under the new state law.

News Briefing on HB 2127 Lawsuit https://t.co/MmMr38bkY3

— City of Houston (@HoustonTX) July 3, 2023

“What this means is that cities like the city of Houston cannot pass ordinances in these areas unless the state of Texas explicitly gives us permission to do so,” Turner said.

“That is a total reversal from the way things have been in this state for more than a century.”

Armed Man’s Robbery Attempt Is Foiled By Unfazed Customers

by Mary Spiller

July 8, 2023

Armed Man’s Robbery Attempt Is Foiled By Unfazed Customers

An unidentified man attempted to rob an Atlanta nail salon, threatening patrons with a weapon and was met with absolutely unbothered energy. In the face of the attempted robbery, every patron in the salon seemed to ignore him.

The incident, caught on surveillance video, occurred on July 3 on Piedmont Road in Atlanta. The cameras showed a man bursting into the salon with his hand inside a bag as if he had a weapon. He screamed at the women inside to hand over all of their valuables. He yelled, “Everybody get down! Give me your money! Give me your money!”

Only one person responded to his demands, although she didn’t seem intimidated. A woman stood up and put her hands up; the unidentified man took her phone from her, and she turned away and walked out of the front door. After obtaining the cell phone, the man threatened the nail salon patrons, demanding cash.

He even approached a male employee and demanded something from him directly. He just answered the phone ringing behind the counter and walked away.

Atlanta police are searching for a man who attempted to rob a nail salon. Video shows multiple people in the salon not complying with the robbery suspect’s demands. Police say the suspect fled the scene in a silver sedan. https://t.co/nYsE4HFVzg pic.twitter.com/BAVmm8UlSa

— CNN (@CNN) July 7, 2023

With no one paying attention to him, the man quickly gave up on his attempted robbery and left. According to Fox 5 Atlanta, authorities said the robbery suspect fled the scene in a silver sedan. There’s currently up to a $2,000 reward for any tips that lead to the arrest and indictment of the man in the video from Crime Stoppers. The man was shown wearing a blue hat, sunglasses, and blue pants when he walked into the nail salon.

Following the viral CCTV footage, Atlanta police advised against behaving as the people in the salon did. Although staying calm is recommended, the Atlanta police suggest complying with the demands of someone trying to rob you. Giving away your valuables is the best way to handle a potentially dangerous robbery.

Isaac Bryan Appointed To The Assembly Democratic Leadership Team

by Mary Spiller

July 8, 2023

Isaac Bryan Appointed To The Assembly Democratic Leadership Team

Robert Rivas, the California Assembly Speaker, has appointed Assembly Member Isaac Bryan as a member of the Assembly Democratic Leadership team. Announced on Monday, July 3, Bryan will be a member for the remainder of this legislative session term, serving as majority leader, L.A. Sentinel reported

Rivas explained, “The historic diversity of our Caucus speaks to the remarkable lived experiences across our great state. Our leadership team also reflects this diversity so that we can uplift all residents.”

He continued to proudly assure that the Assembly Democratic Leadership team would focus on uplifting marginalized communities “who have been routinely and systematically underrepresented and underserved for far too long.”

Speaker Rivas also thanked the other Assembly members for their service and expressed excitement to continue to work with them in addition to Bryan as an addition.

  “I am especially thankful to Assemblymembers Eloise Gómez Reyes and Chris Ward. Their service to the Assembly and leadership elevated the functionality and effectiveness of our work. I look forward to ongoing collaboration with them.”

Bryan, of the 55th Assembly District, took his oath during the July 3 announcement session. He said during his speech,  “I am honored and humbled to be able to serve the people of California as our next Majority Leader of the Assembly under the leadership of Speaker Robert Rivas.”

“Speaker Rivas and I share a deep, personal understanding of the struggles so many Californians face, and equally share a daily commitment to improving the conditions of life for all. I’m grateful to the Speaker for his trust in me.”

The recipient of his oath, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, closed the session by expressing her gratitude to the new member and Rivas for appointing him.

  “I am extraordinarily grateful to Speaker Rivas for his faith and confidence in me,” Aguiar-Curry said. “I am excited to work hand in hand with Majority Leader Bryan and the rest of our leadership team to serve The Speaker, the Assembly Democratic Caucus, our Legislative institutions and the working people of this state.”

Russell westbrook, clippers, Russell Westbrook

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 7, 2023

From $47M To $4M: Russell Westbrook Resigns After One Of The Largest Salary Cuts In NBA History

Former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook made history when he signed his latest contract.

According to SB Nation, Westbrook re-upped with the Los Angeles Clippers for a reported two-year, $7.9 million deal. With the recent signing, he has taken the largest pay cut in NBA history. In 2022, the point guard took home $47 million in salary. The difference of $43 million is the steepest pay cut since Blake Griffin took a $30 million pay cut for the 202–22 season.

FYI

Russell Westbrook will go from a salary of $47 million last season to roughly $4 million this year.

That’s easily the biggest paycut in NBA history, beating the previous record by Blake Griffin.

Not that Russ is hurting for money, though. (Career earnings: $339 million).

— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) July 2, 2023

Westbrook originally signed a five-year, $205 million deal while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers after separate stints with the Houston Rockets and the Washington Wizards. The Lakers traded him to the Utah Jazz before he was waived and picked up by the Clippers.

ESPN reported that after his less-than-stellar time with LeBron James and the Lakers, Westbrook averaged 15.8 points, 7.6 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in 21 games with his new team. He also had career highs of 48.9% from the field and 35.6% from three-point range during his time with the Clippers.

After joining the Clippers, Westbrook was happy again. Although the Phoenix Suns eliminated them, he gave the team a positive seal of approval. “One thing I do tell you is that I love it here. I love the people, just the fans overall, embracing not just me but my family and close friends. I know, end of the year, a lot of things have happened, but I’m grateful. I definitely love being here.”

With a return to playing how he is used to, Westbrook can play the game that the basketball world has come to expect from him, just at less pay.

Ph.D. Grad Celebrated In A Way That Proves Gift Registry Isn’t Just For ‘Marriage And Babies’

by Stacy Jackson

July 7, 2023

Ph.D. Grad Celebrated In A Way That Proves Gift Registry Isn’t Just For ‘Marriage And Babies’

Danielle Greene recently graduated with her Ph.D. in education, and her college roommate had her covered with the celebration.

Upon graduating from her Stanford Ph.D. program, where she centered her studies around race and inequality in education, Greene’s best friend, Liz Powell, surprised her with a gift registry she had set up in her name.

“My freshman roommate and bestie made a gift registry to congratulate me for graduating with my Ph.D. because ‘we shouldn’t only reward women for marriage and babies’ and distributed it to everyone who RSVPd to my defense. Y’all… I…,” Greene tweeted. “The way the people in my life love and show up for me. It’s truly unmatched.”

https://twitter.com/blackhomeva/status/1664660853034213376

According to People, Greene was not into Powell’s suggestion when she initially texted her about a registry in December 2022. She had only associated gestures like a gift registry with celebrations of marriage or pregnancy. “We had a really good, genuine conversion about how there are other significant thing[s] that happen in your life that you need support for from your community. It’s about transitions in your life, moving forward to the next stage,” she said. “A doctorate is one of those things.”

Greene’s studies on majority-Black schools and their closing rates spanned over five years.

“I had put everything on hold. [Powell] wanted to support me. She said, ‘You worked really hard for this, what better way [to celebrate you] than to give you exactly what you want or need?'” Green shared. The recent grad said Powell teamed up with another friend and her fiancé to form the registry.

After she tweeted about it, social media blew it up with positive responses. Even though some didn’t understand the intent, Greene believes launching registries can be a great way to celebrate any life achievement.

Greene discussed with Good Morning America how the registry had sparked conversations about how women should be able to celebrate other milestones beyond marriage and babies. “I want to be clear that when we were talking about it…we were in conversation about how often women are thought about in relationship to other people, whether it’s as a caretaker, as a mother, or as a wife. It’s not necessarily a reward or anything like that, but it is an acknowledgment that your life is changing and you[r] people want to be a part of that community and support you.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 7, 2023

Angelina Jolie Addresses Racial Medical Bias Her Daughter Zahara Has Experienced

Actress and philanthropist Angelina Jolie discusses racial bias in healthcare, particularly toward Black children.

The mother of six, three of which are adopted children of color, says her kids were prone to dangerous tactics of misdiagnosis because of their race. In an op-ed for the American Journal of Nursing entitled, “Addressing Health Inequities in Survivors of Domestic Violence,” Jolie described how medical professionals often missed the mark on certain things given race and ethnicity and noticed how training centers focused more on white skin. “As the mother of children of multiple races, I have seen my children of color be misdiagnosed, at times in ways that endangered their health,” Jolie wrote.

She hit a soft spot while writing about her daughter, Zahara Jolie-Pitts, who was adopted from the African country of Ethiopia. Jolie touched on the lack of proper tools that may miss bruises on darker skin, something she’s experienced with her daughter, now 18. “Without use of the best available technology to detect bruising, abuse survivors of color are at a significant disadvantage in having their injuries properly identified and documented, are at greater risk for further abuse,” the Academy Award-winning actress said.

She reminisced on a time when Zahara was hospitalized for a medical procedure, and a nurse told her to notify her “if she turns pink near her incisions.” Jolie said at that moment, she realized the conversation she needed to have with her daughter about what makes her different. “When she left the room, I had a talk with my daughter, both of us knowing that we would have to look for signs of infection based on our own knowledge, not what the nurse had said,” Jolie wrote.

Jolie has always advocated for proper healthcare for all and taught her children to adopt the same ideologies. NBC News reports in an essay for Time magazine in 2020, she revealed Zahara went in and out of surgeries for undisclosed reasons. “I have watched my daughters care for one another,” she wrote. “My youngest daughter studied the nurses with her sister and then assisted the next time.”

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 7, 2023

Public Welfare Foundation Launches Summer Public Service Announcement Campaign “See You, See Youth”

Public Welfare Foundation (PWF), the country’s only endowment fund dedicated exclusively to investing in new transformative approaches to youth and adult criminal justice announced the launch of its summer public service announcement campaign “See You, See Youth.”

PWF has traveled the country asking young people what they want to see – for their community and themselves – in the future. This narrative campaign is designed to help leaders shaping policies and public opinion see beyond headlines written to drive clicks and increase advertising revenue and rather focus on the voices of youth who represent some of this country’s most valuable resources.

Summer is too often a time when violent crime can increase in communities where resource droughts are a common occurrence. Young people in those communities – predominantly Black and Latinx – often become scapegoats for the failures of the collective society. When youth make poor decisions that place them at ends with the law, society is conditioned to fear them, rather than question the lack of thriving schools, pro-social activities, and professional training opportunities available to those youth and their communities. Our nation must grapple with the long-term impacts of that choice for the youth themselves and for the rest of society.

Public Welfare Foundation created this campaign to highlight the voices of youth and organizations on the frontlines providing solutions that are transforming communities. The challenges are complicated, but our nation’s young people deserve our best efforts and ideas.

“Instead of fearing young people that our country has both overlooked and hyper-criminalized, we need to fear for them, for their feelings, futures, families, and formation. We need to put the YOU back in youth. If we could see ourselves in these youth, we would collectively demand better outcomes for their future,” said Public Welfare Foundation President and CEO Candice C. Jones.

Public Welfare Foundation’s ”See You, See Youth” campaign was developed based on information highlighting that i ncarcerating youth doesn’t make us safer. Here are some of the facts:

Harm prevention and reduction efforts cost less than incarceration and boast better outcomes.
Tough on crime tactics like isolation and solitary confinement further traumatize young people and hurt outcomes, doing more harm than good.
Fewer than a third of youth incarcerated in juvenile facilities were accused of or adjudicated for a serious violent offense (murder, sexual assault, armed robbery, or aggravated assault).
Teenage impulsivity is a natural part of brain development. Kids’ brains are developing until the mid-20s. Once their brains are fully developed, the impulsive activities largely end.
Black youth are 5 times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth, Native American youth are 3.2 times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth, and Latino youth are 2 times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth, according to the Haywood Burns Institute.

Please follow Public Welfare Foundation on social and visit seeyouth.us to learn more and hear directly from young people fighting for a more just nation.

Since its founding, the Foundation has made over 5,700 grants totaling more than $700 million. With more than $620 million in current assets, Public Welfare Foundation looks for strategic points where its funds can make a significant difference. The Foundation focuses its grant-making in some difficult and often overlooked social justice areas where it believes it can serve as a catalyst for reform in adult and youth justice.