• News

by Daniel Johnson

July 1, 2023

NFL Suspends Players For Betting On Games

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Four members of the Detroit Lions have been suspended, two of them, Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended for 6 games. Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore were suspended the entire season as was Shaka Toney who plays for the Washington Commanders. In addition to these players, two members of the Indianapolis Colts, Isiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry were suspended indefinitely along with free agent Demetrious Taylor. Nicolas Petit-Frere of the Tennesee Titans was also suspended like Williams and Berryhill for 6 games, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The NFL is getting into sports betting in a move that has come with its fair share of criticism. For decades, the NFL was against sports betting, but following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that opened up the practice nationwide, it has become so prevalent that it is included in many of their live broadcasts. Now the NFL is looking to cash in on it, but that has left the players in a strange position. They have come to view themselves as both commodity and consumption, a viewpoint that Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones seems to have, sharing a tweet that reads

“I understand that rules are rules, But I can risk my life so that my team wins but I can’t risk 1K on my team winning.”

https://twitter.com/justjjones/status/1674534062348705794

The NFL has instituted what amounts to six clear rules around player betting:

1. Don’t bet on the NFL
2. Don’t gamble at your team facility, while traveling for a road game or while staying at a team hotel
3. Don’t have someone bet for you
4. Don’t share team “inside information”
5. Don’t enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season
6. Don’t play daily fantasy football

The first modern casualty of the NFL’s prohibition of gambling by its players was Calvin Ridley, during the 2022 season Ridley bet on the Atlanta Falcons to win games. Ridley estimates that he spent around $1500 in bets that season and as a result of violating the NFL’s gambling policy, Ridley was suspended for an entire season. Ridley forfeited the 11 million dollar salary he would have otherwise earned that year as well. The NFL does not have a track record of handing out consistent penalties for player misconduct be it domestic violence or their level of involvement in cheating scandals. However, on the issue of player gambling, the suspensions so far have been fairly uniform.

The message from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office seems to be crystal clear, they are willing to suspend players in order to protect their idea of the integrity of the league (and the league’s money) on the issue of players placing bets. Of course, all of the players suspended are Black players because the NFL is largely a league filled with Black players. Black people in general are not big sports bettors comprising anywhere from 15-29 percent of sports betting across the various sites used for sports betting. In general, this is probably because the average Black person does not have disposable income or see the benefit to them of betting on sports. In any case, if there are any more gambling infractions, the NFL will not hesitate to swing the hammer down hard in order to get its point across regardless of what the individual players might think of it.

Republican Sen. Tim Scott is calling for the end of legacy admissions.

The Hill reported Scott told Fox News that education should be the goal of the entire community. He said, “I think the question is how do you continue to create a culture where education is the goal for every single part of our community?” He proposed that ending legacy admissions is the solution to achieving this goal. “One of the things that Harvard could do to make that even better is to eliminate any legacy programs where they have preferential treatment for legacy kids, not allow for the professors — their kids to come to Harvard as well.”

Scott’s remarks followed the Supreme Court’s decision to rule out affirmative action on June 29, 2023. NBC News reported the Court’s majority opinion on Harvard and the University of North Carolina programs. The Court said the programs “lack sufficiently focused and measurable objectives warranting the use of race, unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful end points, those admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said legacy admissions are the equivalent of “affirmative action for the privileged” on Twitter.

Black Enterprise reported Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent in the decision. “If the colleges of this country are required to ignore a thing that matters, it will not just go away. It will take longer for racism to leave us,” she said. The Hill reported Vice President Kamala Harris agreed with Jackson and said on Twitter, “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a denial of opportunity. It’s not about being colorblind. It’s about being blind to history, blind to empirical evidence about disparities, and blind to the strength that diversity brings to classrooms.” CNN reported former President Barack Obama said affirmative action helped him and his wife Michelle Obama. He said affirmative action “allowed generations of students like Michelle [Obama] and me to prove we belonged.”

Scott’s call to end legacy admissions also comes on the heels of a public disagreement between himself and Obama. Black Enterprise reported the two had a difference in opinion about race in America.

• News

by Iman Milner

June 30, 2023

Supreme Court Rejects President Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan, Pledges To ‘Keep Fighting’

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The Supreme Court has struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan in a 6-3 decision.

Biden’s plan to clear up to $20,000 in loan debt for over 25 million borrowers was highly criticized across political lines; however, the President assured Americans “this fight is not over” on Friday afternoon. In a statement, The White House said the leader of the free world has plans to announce “new actions to protect student loan borrowers” and that the administration expected this outcome considering the amount of opposing viewpoints shared since the plan’s announcement in August 2022.

“I believe that the court’s decision to strike down our student debt relief plan is wrong,” President Biden said. “But I will stop at nothing to find other ways to deliver relief to hard-working middle-class families. My administration will continue to work to bring the promise of higher education to every American.” The disappointing outcome follows the court’s controversial decision on Thursday, June 29, to strike down affirmative action at Harvard University and The University of North Carolina, reversing decades of work to diversify higher education institutions.

With diversity efforts being affected on several campuses, financial needs can be yet another reason why minority students are unable to pursue post-secondary education. According to USA Today, supporters of the forgiveness plan believe Biden must act to get the bill pushed through Congress. “The Biden administration must use all other legal tools at their disposal to deliver student debt relief and fulfill his campaign promise,” said Braxton Brewington, spokesperson for the Debt Collective, a coalition of loan borrowers. “It won’t be acceptable for Biden to point to the Supreme Court as the reason he can’t deliver on relief − he’ll need to fight every step of the way.”

Loan payments for many have been on hold since the pandemic’s start but are expected to resume this summer at the latest.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 30, 2023

Taxpayers Opposed To New Government Funding For Incarcerated People To Receive A Free College Degree

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A government program that typically helps people who need financial assistance to attend college now assists prisoners in obtaining their college degrees while incarcerated.

According to The Associated Press, thousands of imprisoned people have gotten their degrees while behind bars due to the federal government’s Pell Grant program. The Pell Grant program is not a loan and does not have to be paid back by the people who enroll and are provided funds based on their inability to pay for college tuition.

Future recipients will be able to benefit from the government program after a 1994 ban on Pell Grants for prisoners was lifted, allowing incarcerated individuals to obtain a college degree on the government’s dime. 

Now, the program is expected to help out many more prisoners. The Pell Grant program will expand in August 2023, giving approximately 30,000 more prisoners roughly $130 million in financial aid annually.

Of course, granting prisoners the chance to gain a college degree comes with controversy. Many people want to avoid seeing taxpayer money given to incarcerated individuals. Republicans opposed the program being used by prisoners when the Obama administration, through executive action, offered a limited number of Pell Grants to prisoners. Republicans believed the funds could be used to improve federal job training and re-entry programs instead.

After Congress voted to lift the ban in 2020, about 200 Pell-eligible college programs in 48 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico have taken advantage of it. With the recent expansion slated to take place, any college that wants to take advantage of the Pell Grant funding will be able to allow prisoners to apply.

The ones who want full rehabilitation while serving time can now come out with a better chance of avoiding recidivism through the Pell Grant program.

RELATED CONTENT: Johnson C. Smith University Alum Named HBCU’s Next President

• Business

by Stacy Jackson

June 30, 2023

Maryland Snags The No. 2 Spot For Minority Entrepreneurs To Succeed

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A study by lendio ranked Maryland as the second-best state for minority entrepreneurs to succeed, The Baltimore Banner reported.

Barriers to capital disproportionately hold back Black business owners and entrepreneurs, but Maryland helps minorities secure funding through the Community Reinvestment Act, lendio reported. The Banner reported that the east coast state supplies underserved business owners and entrepreneurs with more business loans than the national average through the federal program.

To be exact, Maryland provides $389 per capita versus the national average of $351 per capita, lendio shared. According to lendio, Community Advantage loan approvals in Maryland increased by 10.3% from 2021 to 2022. The program by the Small Business Administration (SBA) provides access to capital for small business owners and entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

Maryland also ranked as the second best place for Black business owners in a 2022 study by Merchant Maverick, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. According to the study, Maryland “ranks first in percent of the workforce employed by Black-owned businesses (3.49%).” Black businesses in Maryland also averaged an annual payroll of $465,000. According to the study, the amount was the fourth-highest in the U.S.

On top of federal assistance, Black business owners and entrepreneurs told The Banner that education and community involvement contribute to Maryland’s high rank in the lendio study.

Linda Loubert believes education and exposure to entrepreneurship are among the factors responsible for Maryland’s high ranking. The associate professor of economics at Morgan State University specifically noted the strong presence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the state. She told The Banner, “Having business schools and a lot of push to understand finances helps.”

Reciprocal relationships between communities and businesses can also help or hinder success. Jasmine Simms knows a thing or two about rallying behind her community to create successful businesses. The Banner reported the co-founder of the National Association of Mom Entrepreneurs has helped start more than 400 businesses in Maryland.

Black people in America have had to overcome a lot. One business owner believes Maryland’s success is partly owed to Black people’s inborn work ethic. Jasmine Norton, the owner of The Urban Oyster restaurant, said, “But it’s also our ability to survive. That is instilled in us before we go to school. We have always been equipped with those skills.”

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that Black-owned businesses nationwide are estimated to receive $1 billion this year. The projection comes from an analysis by Creative Investment Research.

• News

by Iman Milner

June 30, 2023

Mercaris, The Leader In Sustainable Agriculture Pricing, Acquired By Argus

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After a decade of leading the way in sustainable agriculture prices and analytics in the United States, Founder and CEO Kellee James‘ company Mercaris has been acquired by Argus.

James’ company – which provides price assessments, analytics, and forecasts for organic and non-GMO agriculture – boasts customers like Perdue Chicken, Cargill, and Rabobank and worked as a conduit for a $100 million USDA fund for organic dairy farmers in need of financial support from the industry, according to AfroTech.

“We are excited to become part of Argus which presents a great opportunity to leverage their trusted brand, global reach and scale with our best-in-class sustainable agriculture offering,” James said in a statement. “Together, we will be able to broaden Argus agriculture insights both within the U.S. and internationally and enhance our existing product portfolio, better serve our customers, and accelerate product development into related markets.”

In addition to price assessments, Mercaris provides acreage estimates, supply/demand analysis, and facilities density mapping to customers across the agriculture supply chain in the U.S. – key factors in helping Argus to expand its reach and impact.

“We are pleased to further expand Argus agriculture capabilities in the Americas,” said Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks. “The development of sustainable agriculture is critical as the world embraces the transition to net zero. The integration of Mercaris into Argus will allow us to scale our offering and provide valuable new market transparency.” 

Expansion is also top of mind for James, who sees the partnership as an inevitable part of the desire to see Mercaris grow. “As a founder, I’m always looking for ways to scale our impact, and this acquisition is a strategic means to accelerate the work that both companies do in the vital sectors of agriculture, energy, and other critical markets,” she said. “Startups are tough to build and grow, and taking Mercaris from idea to exit is something that I, and the Mercaris team, are proud of.”

• News

by Iman Milner

June 30, 2023

Kool & The Gang’s George Brown Strikes Publishing Deal Worth Millions

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Legendary songwriter and founding member of the Grammy-winning group Kool & The Gang, George Brown, has inked a lucrative partnership with Primary Wave Music, which is said to be multi-year and worth millions.

According to a statement released by the publishing company, the deal will include some of Kool & The Gang’s biggest hits, including “Hollywood Swinging,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Cherish,” and “Ladies Night,” along with other songs penned by Brown.

“I am very pleased to call Primary Wave my music partner and to join with dozens of other iconic artists and creatives in an incredible business family,” said Brown. “I look forward to collaborating with Larry Mestel and the entire Primary Wave team to further enhance my catalog and the Kool & The Gang brand.”

Brown is the latest in a slew of artists who are cashing in on their hits at a time when income has substantially slowed due to streaming services. Artists like Future, Justin Bieber, and John Legend have brought in millions from major deals for their catalogs in recent years. It’s become a popular way to ensure their music brings in money for years to come.

“As counsel to George Brown and Astana Music, it was my pleasure to initiate, negotiate and close this deal with Primary Wave,” Kendall A. Minter, a legal rep for Brown, said. “The alignment of a globally iconic artist and creative talent with an iconic, global independent music publisher and brand enhancer is a win-win for the entire music community and fans.”

Kool & The Gang are the most sampled band of all time, according to AfroTech, and their influence on music is firmly cemented. “Kool and the Gang’s influence on generations of musicians and fans around the globe cannot be denied,” said Samantha Rhulen, SVP, Business and Legal Affairs at Primary Wave Music. “A few of us from Primary Wave were excited to have been in the audience when they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, and we are so thrilled to now be partnering with George Brown in 2023.”

• News

by Iman Milner

June 30, 2023

Jan 6. Rioter Arrested For Targeting The Obamas’ DC Residence

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A man identified as part of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol was arrested on Thursday in former President Barack Obama’s DC neighborhood; he was armed with various weapons and explosive materials.

Taylor Taranto, who had an open warrant for his involvement in the Capitol riots, was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement, according to CNN. He faces a fugitive to justice charge. “Arresting officers requested MPD’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team to perform a vehicle sweep of the individual’s van near the location of the arrest,” the police department said. “There is no active threat to the community and this incident remains under investigation.”

Taranto’s car was searched on the scene, and arresting officers found firearms and materials to make Molotov cocktails; however, no direct threat to the Obamas was confirmed by officials.

The United States Capitol Police also joined in on efforts to arrest Taranto. According to CNN, Acting Assistant Chief for Protective and Intelligence Operations Jason Bell reported that Capitol officers “assisted in the investigation due to a concern for public safety and the potential for violence against Members of Congress.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces plan to continue a more thorough investigation into Taranto’s actions. The 37-year-old has been posting veiled threats to the right-wing social media site Truth Social referencing the location of the Obama’s DC residence. “Got them surrounded!”

Currently, Taranto is a defendant in a civil suit filed by the widow of former MPD officer Jeffrey Smith, who died by suicide in the days following the Jan. 6 attack. The lawsuit alleges that Taranto and David Walls-Kaufman were involved in a brutal attack against Smith on the day of the riots. Both men have denied involvement; however, they both admit to being in attendance.

• Entrepreneurship

by Jeffrey McKinney

June 30, 2023

This Black Business Accelerator Program Continues to Grow Despite Adversity

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Black entrepreneurs are among those who can gain useful, practical assistance to enlarge their businesses.

The help will come from the Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). The company is accepting applications through Aug. 31, 2023, for Black and Latino founders to be in the 2024 cohort of the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN).  

The free, year-long national business accelerator equips entrepreneurs with a business curriculum, growth resources, and capital connections.

Though resilient minority entrepreneurs have reportedly generated some $700 billion in revenue, they still face barriers like operating in today’s often difficult and highly competitive economic climate. They deal with challenges like securing financing, scaling up, and other obstacles limiting their growth.

EY expects to have 30 entrepreneurs participating in the 2024 cohort class. The firm reports on average that 80% of EAN participants are Black, and 20% are Latino.

EAN’s 12-month program includes offering direct involvement and coaching from EY executives. It has a curriculum focused on key business topics like marketing, mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity, and connections to potential investors, alliances, vendors, and customers. The platform includes assessments, access to online tools, networking events, and promotional exposure.

Each participant is linked to an EY executive who is their relationship ambassador. Further, cohort members have access to the EY entrepreneurial ecosystem, including over 11,000 leaders. Business owners can tap the EY Entrepreneurs Resource Library. They can gain membership into a growing community of over 300 EAN Black and Latino leaders, creating jobs and impacting their communities.

Further, it was reported EAN affiliated entrepreneurs had raised $25.7 million in funding since 2020. 

EY EAN Program Director Nit Reeder stated, “We must continue to help companies and allies realize that working with emerging Black and Hispanic/Latino businesses is good strategic business versus charity.”

Past EY Entrepreneurs Access Network participant Nancey Harris, co-founder and COO of Vontélle Eyewear, reflected on the program’s benefits.  

Nancey Harris, co-founder & CEO of Vontélle Eyewear

 “In building Vontélle Eyewear, my business partner and I were hyper-focused on the ‘why’ and realized there was something missing in the market. Our purpose was personal, and we needed a network that understood our mission,” As a Black- and women-owned business, the EAN program provided the coaching and connections needed to help recognize our value and capitalize on it.”

To qualify, applicants must meet be Black or Latino business owners who are founding CEOs and majority owners of any privately held, for-profit U.S.-based company. The firm must be over two years old. Applicants will be informed of their acceptance starting in December, and they can apply here. 

Anthony Mackie is speaking up to defend fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe star Jonathan Majors amid the abuse allegations being thrown at the actor.

Mackie is promoting his new Peacock original “Twisted Metal” and teasing his starring role in “Captain America 4.” While speaking with Inverse, Mackie became one of the first Marvel actors to speak out in defense of Majors who joined the MCU earlier this year when he made his debut as Kang the Conquerer in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”

“We’re a country that was built on ‘everyone is innocent until proven guilty,’” Mackie said. “That’s one of the staples of this country.”

“Nothing has been proven about this dude. Nothing. So everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he added. “That’s all I can say. It’s crazy where we are as a society. But as a country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”

With Majors’s role of Kang being the new Thanos-like villain within the MCU, his character could potentially have a run-in with Mackie’s Captain America in a future Marvel film, as noted by Variety. Majors has seen a fall from grace after being arrested on March 25 in New York City following a domestic violence incident with a spouse.

The “Creed III” star was later charged with several counts of assault and aggravated harassment and was on the receiving end of a protective order from the 30-year-old-woman accusing Majors of the “minor injuries to her head and neck” she received treatment at a hospital for following the alleged assault.

Majors made his first in-person court appearance on June 20 where his attorney Priya Chaudhry claimed the legal team delivered evidence to the District Attorney proving it was the alleged assault victim who actually assaulted Majors, “and not the other way around.”

“The Harder They Fall” star has since started dating actress Meagan Good who accompanied him to his June court appearance. Most recently, Majors filed a counterclaim against his ex Grace Jabbari claiming he was the one assaulted during their March incident.

RELATED CONTENT: The Saga Continues: Jonathan Majors Alleges He Was Assaulted, Not The Other Way Around