These South African Athletes Get More Money After Stand-Off Over Gender Issues Pay Inequality
The South African Women’s World Cup team scores a deal after taking a stance against pay disparities between men’s and women’s soccer.
The team received $320,000 from the Motsepe Foundation after refusing to play in a game on July 2, 2023, the Associated Press reported. Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe, a billionaire mining businessman, heads the donating foundation.
A series of unfair happenings led the team to stick it to the South African Soccer Association. In addition to lower pay, contract issues, and the location of their send-off game drove the 23-player team to sit out during its most recent game. The Association’s President Danny Jordaan, said, “Clearly, the issue of contract negotiations started too late.” According to the Associated Press, the South African team had yet to receive any contractual agreement about the amount of money they would receive for representing their country in the World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand. The outlet reported the stadium for the team’s send-off was too small. South Africa’s men’s World Cup team would never be asked to play at the lesser-known venue, according to the women’s team.
The World Cup begins July 20, 2023.
Pay disparities no longer exist between men’s and women’s soccer in the U.S. CBS reported that the U.S. Soccer Federation announced in 2022 that men and women would receive the same pay. The outlet said payment would be the same for the two genders across “public appearance fees, game bonuses, prize money, and federation revenue sharing.”
While this was a win for U.S. soccer, women in other sports still do not get equal pay. Black Enterprise previously reported tennis star Venus Williams revealed about her 2000 Wimbledon win, “The men’s singles champion received £477,500 while the women’s singles champion earned £430,000.”
NPR reported in 2022, NBA players made a base salary of around $5.4 million. WNBA players only received about $120,600.
Slim Thug Gives The Gift Of Affordable Housing Through His Boss Life Construction Company
If you’re wondering why Houston rapper Slim Thug hasn’t released any new music in a while, he’s been busy taking care of his community.
The rapper-turned-entrepreneur started a construction company, Boss Life Construction, and has provided affordable housing since 2015, AfroTech reports. Alongside co-founders Cory Crawford and Troy Green, Boss Life is the go-to company that “cultivates a true sense of community for both families and single, young professionals alike.”
The company’s Instagram page is full of projects it worked on or will be working on in the future, including duplexes and townhomes. Its website also gives insight into homes that Houston natives can take advantage of. The Houston Chroniclehighlighted Boss Life Construction as a nonprofit spin-off of his parent company, BossLife Inc. During an interview on “Sway’s Universe” in 2017, Thug, whose real name is Stayve Jerome Thomas, told Sway he’s excited to “put on” for H-Town. “We wanted to build a little small community and acres that was nice so people don’t have to leave,” Thomas said. “We went to the city, and they gave me my own day, so I was like, ‘What’s something different we can do in Houston to give back?’ So when they gave me my one day, they told us about Lara Lots, where if you build affordable housing, you get the land for like $1.”
The “Sunshine” rapper isn’t the only one giving back to the community that raised him. Since graduating from Texas Southern University, Megan Thee Stallion founded the Pete & Thomas Foundation in 2022, which provides resources for positive change for women, children, and senior citizens in underserved Houston communities. Trae Tha Truth hosts the annual Trae Day community weekend, providing community service projects in a safe environment. He also opened an ice cream shop in 2021 called Handy Homemade Ice Cream which gives employment opportunities to people with special needs, like his son.
Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Wills Has Her Sons Battling In Court Over Her Estate 5 Years After Her Death
When the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died on Aug. 16, 2018, she did so with no formal will. Franklin penned two handwritten wills at different times, and now, her sons are going to court to determine which one will be used to direct how her estate will be handled.
According to The Associated Press, the four sons of Franklin will gather to find out which handwritten document will be used as a guide to the fortune and possessions of the legendary soul singer.
Based on Michigan law, a formal formatted will is unnecessary as other documents that the person may create can be used as legal paperwork. Two documents discovered by the family were written in 2010 and again in 2014 by Franklin. One son is going up against the remaining three in this dispute to find out which document will be the one the family has to abide by.
Ted White II feels that the first will, written in 2010, should be the one the family follows. Brothers Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin believe the family should follow instructions left by their mother in 2014. Both documents were discovered in the soul singer’s Detroit home months after she passed away at 76.
Knowing that their mother had no will written, the brothers knew they would most likely have to split the assets left by their mother. A niece, Sabrina Owens, agreed to be the estate executor. In spring 2019, Owens reported that a handwritten will dated 2010 was discovered in a cabinet. Another handwritten will, dated 2014, was also found inside a notebook under cushions at her home.
There were changes made to the original will.
Both documents stated that the sons would share income from music and copyrights. The one from 2010 listed White and Owens as co-executors and says that Kecalf and Edward Franklin “must take business classes and get a certificate or a degree” to benefit from the estate.
Yet, the 2014 document had White’s name crossed out as executor and replaced him with Kecalf. Kecalf and the grandchildren would get Aretha’s main home in Bloomfield Hills. Those differences are what the dispute is about.
“Two inconsistent wills cannot both be admitted to probate. In such cases, the most recent will revokes the previous will,” Charles McKelvie, Kecalf’s attorney, said in a court filing in favor of the 2014 document.
Yet, White’s attorney, Kurt Olson, stated that the 2010 will was notarized and signed, adding that the one from 2014 “is merely a draft.”
“If this document were intended to be a will, there would have been more care than putting it in a spiral notebook under a couch cushion,” Olson said.
The court date is scheduled for July 10, 2023, and will decide the fate of the opposing documents that Franklin wrote for the benefit of handling her assets in death.
‘From the Windows to the Walls’ Lawsuit Claims Kanye West Didn’t Want Glass Windows At Donda Academy
Another day, another lawsuit for Ye.
A former teacher at Kanye West’s Donda Academy filed a lawsuit on July 6, claiming staff and students were subject to dangerous conditions, KTLA reports. In the suit, Isaiah Meadows said the school had sketchy electrical wiring, no glass in the windows, and engaged in illegal retaliatory practices against employees who reported safety and health violations.
Meadows is added to the list of faculty accusing the rapper of firing him as retaliation after reporting such issues—one is how faulty electrical wiring in the school once started a fire near where students ate. He also claimed a skylight was intentionally left without glass, allowing rain to fall directly inside because West expressed that he did not like glass.
Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Meadows listed Yeezy Christian Academy, Donda Academy, West, and school directors Brianne Cambell, Allison Tidwell, and Chris Julian as defendants. The plaintiff’s attorney, Ron Zambrano, said the conditions of the school are shocking. “It is just absolutely egregious what is going on at this school,” Zambrano said. According to Page Six, the suit states Donda Academy didn’t even have “working hot water to effectively wash hands or other items, which then created serious sanitation issues” during the COVID-19 pandemic. To make things worse, an awful smell would linger daily due to a septic tank that would overflow every other day.
The new lawsuit is added to a pile of suits regarding the uncredited school against the father of four. In June, Ye fought back against claims from former teachers Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers. Both educators allege they were also fired due to retaliation after parents complained there were no books in the classrooms. Hailey and Byers also complained the school didn’t have a proper disciplinary system in place and lacked basic supplies and resources like trash cans, a school nurse, or janitorial staff.
Simone Biles Is Ready To Reclaim Her Title As She Gears Up For Her Epic Return At The 2024 Olympics
Simone Biles, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, says she is ready to return after taking a hiatus to focus on her mental and physical health.
Biles took to Twitter to address her decision to compete in the 2023 U.S. Classic. “Sorry I’ve been a little MIA since the announcement,” she wrote and expressed how overwhelmed she was to receive so much support and love from her fans. She added that she is “excited to get back out on the competition floor! XOXO.”
She received a lot of support from her followers, who were awaiting her return to the sport.
Biles, 26, has 32 medals from the Olympics and World Championship. According to an announcement by USA Gymnastics, she will compete alongside gold medalists Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey.
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which were delayed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Biles entered the competition as the Olympic all-around champion and frontrunner for the gold medal in the vault, team, and all-around event, according to People.
In 2021, the Olympics announced Biles did not compete in the individual or team all-around competition as she withdrew from the competition because of a mental health issue, according to the outlet.
The upcoming U.S. Classic is Aug. 4–5, 2023, at NOW Arena in Chicago.
“It is exciting to think about the level of talent and historical legacy of the field that may compete at U.S. Classic,” said USA Gymnastics Chief Programs Officer Stefanie Korepin. “Every athlete is at a different place in their season and career, and we will support each of them, wherever they are in their journey.” In 2022, during an interview on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Biles expressed her uncertainty about attempting to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris as she was still mentally and physically recovering.
Black-Owned Vegan Company ‘Everything Legendary’ Expands Into 850 Stores Across The U.S.
Get ready to fire up the grill for vegan burgers and other plant-based options that will satisfy your taste buds.
As announced in an Instagram post from Everything Legendary, the Black-owned plant-based company will stock its products in several stores across the States.
Everything Legendary is focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle for families. The company, founded in 2019 by Duane “Myko” Cheers, Danita Jones, and chef Jumoke Jackson, is extending its reach to 850 Publix stores in seven states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the company sold $250,000 worth of burgers online within the first 24 hours of its appearance on SharkTank, which landed them a deal with Mark Cuban.
“Our goal is to educate the community on the benefits of a healthy vegan lifestyle,” Myko said, according to AfroTech. “With Everything Legendary, we hope to break the generational curses of unhealthy eating. As everyone knows, Black people have higher rates of blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. Everything Legendary strives to provide healthy and delicious plant-based meat products that everyone will enjoy.”
Myko recalled his mother’s experience living with lupus for over 35 years, which consisted of maintaining a strict vegan diet, according to the outlet. The nutritional adjustments she made to her diet encouraged Myko to engineer “a flavorful alternative to meat products.” Not only was Myko able to contribute to promoting healthy eating in the Black community, he also created foods his mother could enjoy.
As Everything Legendary expands, more people can indulge in the delicious, flavor-packed vegan options the company offers. From vegan burgers to “Dragon Wyngz,” you’ll find delicious and healthy plant-based alternatives to meat.
Raise A Glass To The Owners Of H-Town’s First Black-Owned Urban Tasting Room, Pur Noire Urban Wineries
It’s nothing but good food, good vibes, and good wine as Pur Noire Urban Wineries owners Carissa and Kenneth Stephens pack up their Houston, Texas, blends and head out to the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa, California.
The wine enthusiasts sat down with BLACK ENTERPRISE before the big weekend to discuss their connection to the festival and contribution to the celebration of Black culture.
As the masterminds behind Pur Noire, the first Black-owned urban tasting room in Houston, the Stephenses are invested in their contribution to the evolution of the Black community in spaces like the wine industry, and the entrepreneurs are preparing to toast to another memorable experience as they show up for the Napa Valley festival.
Blue Note Jazz Festival
In celebration of the biggest names in music and culture, the entrepreneurs will pour up some of their award-winning signature blends for festival attendees to raise glasses and sip away in the Wine Garden as they enjoy musical vibes from headlining artists Mary J. Blige, Nas, and Chance the Rapper.
Kenneth, who was named a BLACK ENTERPRISE Modern Man in 2019, said he understands the origins of the Blue Note Jazz Festival. “As far as the familial and exclusivity of it, it’s very similar to our tasting room and our environment.”
“We’re excited to bring our wines,” Carissa said. The certified sommelier added: “We actually source our grapes from California, so Napa for us is like a second home.” The Stephenses will be sharing three of their signature blends at this year’s festival:
Pur Noire’s 2013 Reserve Merlot, sourced from Napa
Their signature Rosé, Pur Euphoria
The spicy “OG” blend, Pur Epiphany
Carissa shared that being a part of the festival reminds them of their initial passion to create memorable experiences on a grand scale while maintaining intimate moments. “We really love the connectivity [and] we really love the community that the festival is creating.”
The Stephenses are proud to be leaders in an industry that historically has not seen much representation. “I’m really proud of what we’re doing, and I’m also proud of the other Black-owned businesses that are being pulled into the festival. I think together as a community, the change is happening, as I like to say, ‘one customer at a time, one glass of wine at a time,'” Carissa continued.
As the Stephenses pour it up for festival attendees, they will also share their story and teach wine fundamentals.
Ticket information is available online for those who want to grab a glass and catch the vibes from Friday, July 28, to Sunday, July 30. Keep the party going every night with after-parties hosted by Big Freedia, DJ Trauma, and DJ Pee Wee (Anderson .Paak).
Image Credit: @foundryhousemedia
Pur Noire Urban Wineries
Carissa and Kenneth give the Black community a clear model of entrepreneurial success in the wine industry. After tying the knot in 2014, the couple’s love led them to explore Italy. A taste of the Italian culture gave them an epiphany that the wine business was calling their names.
“We really fortified our passion for wine, understanding that it’s so much more than just a drink in a glass, but it’s art, history, and culture,” Carissa told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It’s also a universal language.”
When asked about establishing Pur Noire in her Houston hometown, Carissa said, “There’s no place like home.” Upon arriving back in the States, curiosities led the couple to find a way to change the statistic that less than 1% of global producers are African American.
The Stephenses introduced their immersive, high-quality product to the Houston community.
“We started making wine back in 2018, but especially with red wines, you have to age them, and so we decided on the red blend that we were making called Pur Epiphany, which is the first wine that we made,” Kenneth shared.
Unaware they would launch when the world shut down due to the pandemic, Pur Noire sales spiked following their decision to host pop-up brunches. The entrepreneurs opened their Houston tasting room as the pandemic eased up.
Pur Noire presently produces nine different wines.
“The wines range from sparkling wine. We have a beautiful Rosé. We have a Pinto Gris,” Carissa listed. She also described Pur Noire’s “beautiful, bold, full-bodied reds, ” including their Gold Medal 93 point Napa Valley Merlot.
Image Credit: @foundryhousemedia
Experience The Pure Noire Tasting Room
Guests are greeted upon their first steps into the Pur Noire tasting room. “First of all, the ambiance is incredible in the tasting room,” Kenneth credited the beautiful design and decor to his wife’s creativity.
Tasting room guests decide what wine flight they want to experience from various options.
One by one, guests are presented with the premium wines poured for them. “You are certainly taken on a journey. It’s like a little wine adventure,” Carissa said. Kenneth shared that the Pur Noire experience is molded by interaction and education. Guests are led along a guided, interactive wine-tasting experience by a well-trained Pur Noire associate. “The same way that we tell the story of the brand…and go deep and tell you about the grapes and the wine and how it’s made, the expectation is that the wine associates are able to convey that same message,” Kenneth explained.
Some Pur Noire experiences are accompanied by live music, something the couple said the tasting room integrates as a backdrop to the wine-tasting experience. Pur Noire hosts several other events, such as group tastings and food and wine pairings.
Pur Noire Wine Club members experience exclusive events, discounted products, and other major perks.
Walk-ins are welcome. However, the Stephenses said they rely heavily on their reservation system.
Find Pur Noireonline and available in all Houston airport restaurants, including its official availability in the Houston Hobby Airport. Pur Noire provides free nationwide shipping to 42 states.
Consider These Time-Sensitive Options For Student Loan Relief To Erase Debt
The Supreme Court’s blockage of President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan will create more wealth-building obstacles for Black Americans, a finance expert says.
Black student loan strategist Dr. Tisa Silver Canady says the ruling means broad relief of up to $20,000 per eligible borrower will not happen as previously announced. She contends it means that about 20 million borrowers will be forced into repayment in October 2023 instead of being student loan debt free.
The nation’s most powerful court voted against Biden’s push to forgive a reported $430 billion in student loan debt for over 40 million borrowers. The rejection is a big deal as some 7.5 million Blacks have student debt, according to a TIME report.
“This relief plan would have provided an immediate boost in net worth for Black Americans and would have decreased debt-to-income ratios that lenders use to evaluate creditworthiness for home and auto loans,” Canady says. “Most borrowers in the payment pause would have been able to enjoy more disposable income as a result of it. The relief would’ve made this freedom permanent for millions.”
An author as well as a collegiate financial wellness expert and advocate specializing in student debt, Canady knows the business well. Her bio declares she has advised students and families on the repayment of more than $100 million in student loans. And she has helped borrowers delete over $8 million in debt since 2022.
Canady will be featured in a new book to be released on July 11, 2023, by Deborah Owens,
author of Wealth Secrets. Canady shares in the book how she helped a Black woman student loan borrower wipe out $92,000 of debt last year.
Canady connected with BLACK ENTERPRISE to discuss the court’s ruling.
How does this decision make building wealth for Black Americans harder now than before?
Although white borrowers outnumber their Black counterparts, Black borrowers typically borrow more often and in larger amounts, and experience greater difficulty in repayment. Black borrowers typically take longer to repay the debt, and the accrual of interest during the extra time makes the debt much more expensive for them.
Several factors contribute to these disparities, including a persistent wage gap that affects Black women the most. Black women also tend to pursue advanced degrees more often leading to elevated levels of debt. With lower income prospects–even with an advanced degree–the financial hole becomes even deeper.
What are some tipsto help Black students repay outstanding loans or make them more affordable?
After a three-year pause, payments will resume in October. Be ready by going to studentaid.gov and taking inventory of your loans. Take note of your servicers and make certain they have up-to-date contact information for you. Look at the repayment plan you are enrolled in and determine if it’s affordable. If it’s not affordable, contact your servicer to discuss your options including income- driven repayment plans and use the studentaid.gov Loan Simulator to review your options.
For long- time borrowers who have non-Direct Loans, consider consolidating them through studentaid.gov by 12/31/23 to get the greatest benefit toward cancelation through Income-Driven Repayment (IDR). Borrowers with loans from the late 90s and early 2000s could already have the number of years in repayment needed to get their debt canceled.
What actions should borrowers in defaultconsider?
Look into the Fresh Start Initiative at studentaid.gov. It provides an easier-than-usual path toward good standing and away from collections activity. Borrowers who work for the government and some nonprofits can have their remaining balance canceled after 120 months of employment and repayment through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Borrowers who pay using IDR plans can have their debts canceled after 20 or 25 years of repayment. Both PSLF and IDR have temporarily relaxed rules that can still help borrowers get closer to eradicating their federal student loan debt.
We hear Biden presented some new alternatives after the Supreme Court’s decision that could help Black American students. What is your take on that?
As far as broad cancelation benefits, there is not enough information to tell. The White House says the process is set to begin with a public hearing in mid-July. Issues to be addressed will be determined after the hearing and then rulemaking sessions will happen this fall.
However, the new repayment plan, “SAVE,” offers a more affordable payment plan. This plan is new so borrowers should visit studentaid.gov for more details.
The Bob Marley Biopic Trailer Is Here, Singer’s Family Credited As Producers
Bob Marley is one of the artists whose death led to a cult-like following of fans who refuse to see his musical contributions and legacy disappear. After years of unofficial biographies, loosely-based narratives, and award-winning documentaries, Marley’s family has produced a biopic on the late singer, and the trailer has finally hit the internet.
Bob Marley: One Love, which stars Kinglsey Ben-Adir, who also took on the role of Malcolm X in Regina King’s directorial debut, One Night In Miami, stars as the legendary cultural icon alongside The Woman King’sLashana Lynch, who will play Marley’s beloved wife, Rita. Working alongside Paramount Pictures, Rita, as well as their son Ziggy and a host of other loved ones, helped bring Marley’s story to life for the first time on the big screen. Filmed in England and Jamaica, the film is one of the first of this magnitude to include mostly Jamaican actors and crew members. The decision was made to make the telling of the country’s hero as authentic as possible.
Director Reinaldo Marcus Green told Shadow and Act that his approach to taking on such a precious life story was that of a skilled competitor. “But I grew up an athlete, so I was always, the I want to take the shot. I was always that guy that wanted the ball at the last second, at the buzzer. I wanted to at least be able to take the shot,” he said. “And from the very first meeting that Ziggy was on as a producer, and to get that blessing from the family was huge. It was a huge weight off the shoulders to say, ‘Well, that they’re going to entrust me with the ability to kind of lead the ship.’ And that was a huge, huge weight off of me.”
For Ziggy, it was important that no part of his father’s story was off limits. “No. We wanted to be real with it. We didn’t sugarcoat anything. So you’re going to see some stuff in there that I didn’t know about, and others didn’t know either. We’re not just putting in the good, not just putting in the bad – it was everything,” he said. “We want to bring it to the people real and raw. We want them to say, ‘I didn’t know that about Bob.’ For so long, this has been our bubble. You’re going to be surprised by what you see.”
The Canada Pharmacy Partners to Offer Discounted Prescriptions in 2023
The Canada Pharmacy, a top licensed Canadian online pharmacy, recently announced a partnership to provide discounted brand name prescriptions to U.S. customers in 2023.
The collaboration allows members of major health insurer Anom to access prescription savings when using The Canada Pharmacy through a co-branded prescription discount card called RxSavings One. The discounted costs will still count toward Anom insurance deductibles and maximums.
“This gives customers the flexibility to choose the lowest cost pharmacy option without impacting their coverage,” said Dr. Olivia Irving, Chief Pharmacy Executive at The Canada Pharmacy, in a statement announcing the 2023 partnership.
While most discount cards only work at certain U.S. pharmacies, the RxSavings One card can be used specifically at The Canada Pharmacy to access brand name drugs at lower Canadian prices.
The Canada Pharmacy, founded in 2003, leverages direct licensing agreements and high purchase volumes to source brand name medications from Canadian manufacturers at substantially reduced pricing compared to U.S. costs. Their team of licensed Canadian pharmacists safely dispenses medications to Americans seeking significant prescription savings.
The partnership comes as U.S. prescription drug prices are projected to rise over 6% in 2023 according to data firm SSR Health. Major drug makers Pfizer, AbbVie, and Amgen have all announced price hikes on popular medications this year.
By teaming up, The Canada Pharmacy and Anom provide a way for members to mitigate rising costs in 2023 and reduce the burden of expensive brand name prescription drugs.
