Afrobeats is so on top of what’s hot at the moment that even billionaire business magnate Bill Gates had to give the genre a shoutout.

The Microsoft co-founder was in Nigeria on Wednesday, June 21, speaking with students and young leaders at the “Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation” summit where he took time to praise the country’s dominance in today’s popular music.

“Of course, being here in Nigeria, I can’t help but mention the amazing creativity that goes on here,” Gates sad. “Afrobeats from Nigeria are popular everywhere.”

With Gates having a 20-year-old daughter named Pheobe, Gates was well aware of the chart-topping Afrobeats stars like Davido and Wizkid, as well as Burna Boy and Rema, whom his daughter was “jealous” he would get to meet.

“When my daughter Phoebe heard I was coming to Nigeria, she said, ‘You’re lucky to go see Burna Boy and Rema.’ So, I had to look them up… because I’m so ‘hip,'” he said jokingly.

“But I also remember, the last time I was here, I did get to see Davido and Wizkid perform and I was quite impressed with that. So, my kids think I’ve come to a very hip place.”

Afro beats in Nigeria are popular everywhere ;BILL GATES.

MY DAUGHTER said you are lucky, you can see the likes of burna boy, rema etc.. pic.twitter.com/rFqgjyT4GR

— Portharcourt_daily (@Portharcourtda1) June 21, 2023

Elsewhere during his speech, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair encouraged Nigerian students to pursue careers in health, education, and finance after sharing his experience with technology and explaining how knowledge of the sciences can greatly aid communities locally and worldwide.

“You have the incredible potential to drive this country forward,” Gates told the students.

The event Gates was speaking at was co-hosted by the Co-Creation Hub Nigeria and Lagos Business School and held at Lagos State, Channels TV reports. Its purpose was to gather scholars and industry leaders to share insights on how science and innovation can bring more positive change and contribute to a brighter future for Africa.

RELATED CONTENT: Bill Gates Daughter Calls Out Internet Trolls Shaming Her For Being in an Interracial Relationship

• Legal

by Derek Major

June 23, 2023

Attorneys and Law Firm Fined $5K After Using Fake Citations Provided By ChatGPT

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A judge has fined two lawyers and the law firm they work for $5,000 after submitting fake case citations generated by the AI platform ChatGPT.

The Guardian reports New York Attorney Steven Schwartz, his associate Peter LoDuca, and the law firm Levidow, Levidow, and Oberman were fined by Judge P. Kevin Castel. The fine came after Schwartz admitted he used the platform, which invented six cases he later referred to in a legal brief in a lawsuit against Colombian-based airline Avianca.

In a written opinion, Castel said it wasn’t wrong for the attorneys to use ChatGPT for assisting in legal work. However, the attorneys should have made sure the filings were accurate.

“Technological advances are commonplace and there is nothing inherently improper about using a reliable artificial intelligence tool for assistance,” Castel wrote according to The Guardian. “But existing rules impose a gatekeeping role on attorneys to ensure the accuracy of their filings.”

In the case, a man sued Avianca, alleging he was injured during a flight to New York City. Levidow, Levidow & Oberman said that its lawyers “respectfully disagreed” with the judge’s determination that the attorneys acted in bad faith.

Although artificial intelligence seems to be the next technological wave, chatbots like ChatGPT, which was developed by OpenAI, are prone to inaccuracies, and this isn’t the first example. In April, ChatGPT falsely accused George Washington University Professor Jonathan Turley of sexually harassing a student.

“It invented an allegation where I was on the faculty at a school where I have never taught, went on a trip that I never took, and reported an allegation that was never made,” Turley told The New York Post. “It is highly ironic because I have been writing about the dangers of AI to free speech.”

Turley became aware of the situation when UCLA Professor Eugene Volokh asked the platform to cite “five examples of sexual harassment at American law schools, along with quotes from relevant newspaper articles.

One of the examples cited was an alleged 2018 incident where “Georgetown University Law Center” professor Turley was accused of sexual harassment by a former female student. ChatGPT quoted a fake Washington Post article: “The complaint alleges that Turley made ‘sexually suggestive comments’ and ‘attempted to touch her sexually’ during a law school-sponsored trip to Alaska.”

Morehouse College has appointed Dr. Derrick Brooms as the new executive director of its Black Men’s Research Institute (BMRI) beginning August , 2023. An award-winning scholar, activist, educator, speaker, and writer, Brooms brings over two decades of higher education experience, where his education research primarily centers on Black men and boys’ pathways to and through college, their engagement on campus and identity development, as well as their lived experiences and representations in the media.

Brooms joins Morehouse from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he is a professor of Africana studies and sociology and the associate department head of Africana studies. Through research, teaching, service, and community/collaborative work, Brooms is committed to educational equity, inclusion, and racial justice.

“As the only higher education institution with a mission to prepare Black men for careers of leadership and service, Morehouse College is uniquely positioned to generate new scholarship centered on Black men and their communities through the BMRI, as well as to contribute to conversations and inform policy related to social justice,” said Brooms. “It is with great honor that I accept this role as we endeavor to explore and explain the multifaceted dimensions of Black male identity, challenges, and triumphs.

Dr. Kendrick Brown, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Morehouse College said, “Dr. Brooms’ unwavering commitment to the advancement of Black men aligns perfectly with Morehouse’s mission. His leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to address the unique challenges faced by Black men and cultivate a more inclusive and equitable society.”

Funded through a four-year grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the BMRI is a crucial, pioneering initiative designed for the research, education, and engagement of Black men and their allies on the economic, social, cultural, and personal outcomes of issues affecting Black men in the U.S. and internationally, while equipping these communities with the knowledge and tools to navigate and challenge a society constructed in ways that may marginalize Black men’s contributions and humanity.

This news first appeared on blackprwire.com.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

June 23, 2023

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Partners With Boys & Girls Clubs Of America To Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

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The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to combat the youth mental health crisis in the United States through trauma-informed approaches to behavioral health care. By investing more than $10 million over four years, this partnership will help Boys & Girls Clubs of America implement trauma-informed practices in its more than 5,000 Clubs by 2026 to train over 48,000 staff to better support the emotional and mental well-being of over 3.6 million children.

“The United States has been grappling with a growing and alarming youth mental health crisis that demands a multi-faceted approach to provide kids with the tools they need to confront the challenges they face in school, at home and in their everyday lives,” said Kim Keck, BCBSA president and CEO. “Between 5,000 Clubs across the country and the Blues’ deep roots in every Zip code, together we are uniquely positioned to intervene early, get kids the help they need, and set them on the path for the future they deserve.”

With BCBSA’s support, Boys & Girls Clubs of America will be able to incorporate trauma-informed practices in Clubs across the country by:

• Creating and implementing resources to integrate trauma-informed strategies throughout Clubs.
• Increasing staff awareness and skills through trauma-informed professional development and expanding regional trauma-informed training centers to reach staff across the country.
• Providing programming and resources that build young people’s social-emotional development skills and equip them to navigate challenging experiences.
• Increasing access to mental health services by piloting virtual therapy sessions for youth and staff.
• Evaluating Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s trauma-informed strategy to inform learnings and drive quality improvement.

“Providing physical and emotional safety for our young people is fundamental to everything we do in Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Jim Clark, Boys & Girls Clubs of America president and CEO. “We know every child and teen is better equipped to succeed when we meet them where they are to address their needs, and that includes providing access to reliable mental health resources and support. Through our partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, we’re eager to expand our trauma-informed work in Clubs and deepen their capacity to serve as safe places for youth across the nation.”

Today’s youth are living through a time of increasingly collective trauma with almost half of youth experiencing a mental health disorder. While the pandemic exacerbated the mental health crisis, trauma, isolation and other societal factors are increasingly impacting youth mental health at staggering rates.

New BCBSA research finds that diagnosed rates of anxiety among those 13 to 18 years of age have steadily risen between 2017 and 2021 and rates of ADHD and depression have grown roughly 50% to 60% during the same period. Black and Hispanic youth with a mental health condition are more likely to have negative outcomes compared to their white counterparts. And all youth of color, as well as youth in rural areas are less likely to be diagnosed with mental health conditions.

This national partnership builds off the more than 250 mental health programs that Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies offer to meet the unique needs of their local communities. A localized approach to care fosters trust, accessibility and engagement, making it easier for young people to access the mental health resources and support they need to thrive.

“When we come together, I believe we can meaningfully improve children’s lives and turn the tide on today’s youth mental health crisis,” Keck said.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

Nicki Minaj’s neighbors aren’t in support of her convicted felon husband and want him out of their upscale community.

Just months after Nicki purchased her home in the ritzy Hidden Hills area of Los Angeles, the “Anaconda” rapper is facing opposition from her new neighbors over her husband’s past. A Hidden Hills resident by the name of Beverly Bardan launched a petition taking aim at Nicki’s husband Kenneth Petty being a registered sex offender, TMZ reports.

Petty was convicted of attempted rape in New York back in 1995 and spent over four years in prison for the crime. He returned to prison a few years after his release after he pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge in March 2006 and served seven years in prison instead of the 10 he was initially sentenced to, as noted by People.

Since Petty’s attempted rape conviction, he was had to register as a sex offender wherever he lives. Now with him living in the Hidden Hills of LA after Nicki purchased the home in December 2022 for $19.5 million, Petty recently filed new legal docs to change his address on the Megan’s Law website.

This caught the attention of Nicki’s neighbors and Beverly Barden who launched the petition shortly after the couple moved in. Petty has been ordered to home confinement after failing to register as a sex offender in the state of California.

But Barden is concerned that Nicki and Petty’s presence will impact the value of homes and create safety concerns in the area. In her petition, Barden is asking neighbors to support the petition to get Petty out of their community.

“The Petty couple moving in would lead to the appraisal value of our homes to go DOWN due to safety concerns,” Barden wrote. “It would lead to children and women being a target.”

“We, the residents of Hidden Hills, must put our resident’s safety first. Don’t wait to receive a letter from the government saying a predator has moved in near you,” Barden continued. “DO NOT allow this dangerous sex offender to live near you, SHOW that you are against sex offenders in our Hidden Hills neighborhood!

So far, the petition has reached 971 signatures of its 1,000-signature goal. It looks like more Hidden Hills taxpayers want Kenneth Petty gone.

RELATED CONTENT: Nicki Minaj Stands by Husband Kenneth Petty Who Was Denied Request to Get Off Sex Offender List

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson will join NAACP leaders this weekend to celebrate June Jubilee, a celebration marking the 60th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s March for Jobs, Justice, and Freedom in Detroit.

Johnson and other national NAACP leaders including Chairman Leon W. Russell and Vice Chair Karen Boykin Towns will collaborate with its Detroit branch, prominent local and national politicians, activists, and civil rights advocates.

June Jubilee commemorates June 23, 1963, when Dr. King marched in Detroit and delivered his historic “I Have A Dream” speech. June Jubilee will include a special unveiling of a life-like statue of Dr. King in Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit on Friday.

On Saturday, activists and advocates will participate in a march down Woodward Ave, retracing the footsteps of Dr. King, culminating with a rally at Hart Plaza featuring food trucks and an opportunity to join the NAACP. Those interested in the march can register here.

The weekend will conclude Sunday with the Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner at Huntington Place. The Freedom Fund dinner was started in 1956, during a time of renewed hope and determination for Black Americans, despite facing ongoing racial violence and tragedy.

All events during June Jubilee, except the Freedom Fund dinner, are free and open to the public.

June Jubilee is one of the largest gatherings of people committed to the end of racism, discrimination, police brutality, unfair labor practices, over-incarceration, separate and unequal education, and an unjust justice system.

June Jubilee comes one week after Black Americans across America celebrated Juneteenth at food festivals, parties, and other events. With June Jubilee ending the month, June has become a month to celebrate for Black men and women.

The NAACP advocates and litigates for the civil rights of Black Americans. Founded in 1909, the organization’s legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists.

As Rihanna gears up to welcome baby number two, the billionaire beauty mogul has decided to step down as CEO of her Savage X Fenty empire.

According to Vogue, Rihanna has appointed Hillary Super as the new CEO with the goal of taking the lingerie company’s e-commerce business to the next level. The move comes as Rihanna and A$AP Rocky prepare to welcome their second child together over one year after welcoming their son Rza.

“It’s been beautiful to see our vision for Savage X Fenty impact the industry at such an incredible magnitude over the last five years,” Rihanna says of the new venture.

“This is just the beginning for us, and we’re going to continue to expand in ways that always connect with the consumer.”

The “Diamonds” singer also sang Super’s praises while welcoming onboard the executive position.

“I’m so grateful and excited to welcome Hillary Super as our new CEO – she is a strong leader and is focused on taking the business to an even higher level,” she said.

The new CEO also shared a statement expressing her excitement to take the lead on the lingerie company Rihanna has been spearheading in recent years.

“I’m thrilled to join the Savage X Fenty family. The brand is a major powerhouse in the lingerie and apparel industry, and its unwavering commitment to celebrating inclusivity and fearlessness is inspiring,” Super said.

Super also took to Instagram to share the official announcement about her new role that kicks off on Monday, June 26.

“Really pleased to finally be able to share that I am joining SavageXFenty as CEO and board member,” she wrote in her caption. “New chapter starts Monday!”

Rihanna will likely maintain her role as her company’s lead ambassador, even while pregnant. The brand recently shared a short video of an office-inspired campaign Rihanna posed for while showing off her growing baby bump.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SAVAGE X FENTY BY RIHANNA (@savagexfenty)

The singer is currently enjoying Paris Fashion Week with A$AP Rocky and showing off her standout maternity fashion.

https://twitter.com/gabgonebad/status/1672022933831557121?s=20

RELATED CONTENT: Rihanna And Her Baby Bump Star In Pharrell’s First Louis Vuitton Campaign

• Politics

by Stacy Jackson

June 23, 2023

Barack Obama And Tim Scott Go Toe-To-Toe In Heated Debate About Race In America

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Former President of the United States Barack Obama had something to say to Black Republicans who accused him of failing minority communities.

Obama refuted Republican Sen. Tim Scott’s claims that America has made much progress with racism on his former Senior Advisor, David Axelrod, on The Axe Files With David Axelrod podcast, that aired on June 15, 2023.

The former president is one to call a spade a spade. Obama said Black Republicans had validated America. He told Axelrod that there are “African American or other minority candidates within the Republican Party who will validate America and say, ‘Everything’s great, and we can make it,'” Fox News Sunday reported. The former president, the first Black person to hold the office, justified Americans who side-eye claims from Black conservatives that everything is great regarding race in America. According to the New York Post, he said plainly, “If somebody is not proposing, both acknowledging and proposing elements that say, ‘No, we can’t just ignore all that and pretend as if everything’s equal and fair. We actually have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.'” He added, “If they’re not doing that, then I think people are rightly skeptical.”

Differences of opinion became evident when the Republican senator for South Carolina responded to the former president. Scott said on Fox News Sunday, three days after the podcast aired, “The truth of my life disproves the lies of the radical left.” He went on, “The radical left and President Obama, they have failed, they have failed, and they have failed,” Blavity reported. Scott claimed that Obama’s vision for U.S. education failed. The Republican touted his efforts at securing funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in comparison.

During the podcast, Obama emphasized that he was not singling out Scott. Instead, he mentioned former South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Hailey and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Clarence Thomas.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 23, 2023

Walmart’s Offensive ‘Jail’ Fundraiser Draws Criticism From Customers and BLM Activists

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A fundraiser at a Walmart in Providence, Rhode Island has customers and Black Lives Matter activists in an uproar.

The fundraiser featured a Black employee in a cage asking for “bail” money to contribute to the Hasbro Children’s Miracle Network, the Providence Journal reports. After a picture circulated on social media, critics–including the Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee—demanded the retail store take accountability for the “demeaning” display.

This “fundraising” campaign was shared with me this evening. I’m perplexed. This is WILD. pic.twitter.com/xpDfCxIkco

— Angela B. Ankoma (@ankoma_b) June 22, 2023

The image was initially captured by Walmart customer Angela Boateng, who said she was taken aback when she saw the display.

“I just did not understand what was happening, but I was mortified,” Boateng told The Providence Journal. “And as I went closer to read what was on the cage, I don’t know really what came over me. I was just deeply offended.”

Angela Ankoma, leader of the Rhode Island Foundation Equity Leadership Initiative, posted the picture on Twitter, calling it “wild.”

Walmart said locations participating in the fundraiser encouraged store employees to come up with a creative way to engage with customers to raise money. Walmart spokesman Joe Pennington said this was not the way to do it.

“The ‘jail’ fundraiser goes against company policy and should never be used,” Pennington told The Providence Journal, according to NewsOne. “We are reinforcing this with our stores in the area, and this display has been removed from our Providence location.”

The Providence branch of the NAACP is also upset.

“Images of Black people in cages represent a long, dark history in this country,” Gerald Catala, president of the branch, said. “Walmart should apologize and recognize that this is insulting and hurtful to Blacks, which is a large sector of their customer base at that particular Walmart.”

Hasbro Children’s Miracle Network said it was unaware of the fundraiser and has said it will work with the local store to identify other fundraising alternatives in the future.

Beyoncé was almost one nip slip away from potentially flashing concertgoers had it not been for one of her Les Twins dancers.

The decorated Grammy-winning singer was performing at the Hamburg stop of the “Renaissance” Tour on Wednesday, June 21 when fans captured what appeared to be a potential wardrobe malfunction. Beyoncé donned a hot pink Ivy Park ensemble while performing Renaissance‘s first single, “Break My Soul,” when Queen Bey appeared to be struggling with her dress.

That’s when one of the Les Twins dancers jumped in to save the day. In a smooth dancer-esque way of maneuvering through a situation, the dancer rushed over to Beyoncé to cover her while she readjusted herself into her dress.

Everything happened in a matter of seconds with fans barely noticing the slight hiccup.

better view of one of the les twins intercepting a wardrobe malfunction, nip slip, during ‘break my soul.’ https://t.co/e8sdYeYEJq pic.twitter.com/H14OdB8qc3

— smiles (@SmileyNthahood) June 22, 2023

Bey Hive members praised the Les Twins dancer for thinking quickly on his feet and coming to Beyoncé’s aid.

“the way he smoothly saved her from a potential nip slip was professionalism on level 1000 woah,” one fan tweeted.

Larry and Laurent Bourgeois—better known as Les Twins—have been dancing and touring with Beyoncé since 2011, as noted by Us Weekly. The French twin brothers have become staples of Beyonce’s live shows and were already building a fanbase prior to joining the superstar performer.

Dancing since they were babies, Les Twins have credited their unique skill of performative art to just something they were born to do.

“It’s totally emotional,” Laurent shared. “It’s like babies [when] they don’t know how to speak.”

“Their body is speaking, when they’re mad, when they’re happy, when they’re super happy, when they’re hungry…their bodies are speaking and dancing 24/7.”

While touring the world with Beyoncé, Les Twins partnered up with Kids Write Network, a youth program that helps children and young adults build self-confidence and improve their mental health using art, music, and dance. The brothers are set to give back even more by leading workshops at schools across Canada as part of their RISE for Mental Health Tour, starting this October at the Pace Academy in Atlanta.

RELATED CONTENT: Beyoncé Wore Only Black Designers For Renaissance Tour Juneteenth Performance