News Anchor Removes Wig, Reveals Locs On Live TV To Celebrate Juneteenth
Akilah Davis, a local TV news anchor at WTVD in Raleigh, North Carolina, made a powerful statement on Juneteenth by embracing her natural hair after appearing without her wig on live television.
Growing up, Davis’ hair texture was often misunderstood, leading her mother to use various hair-straightening techniques to make it more manageable.
“I didn’t think she had bad hair. She just didn’t have the texture I had,” Davis’ mom, Debra, said during an interview with ABC 7. “The only way I could fix it was to either hot comb it or perm it.”
Unfortunately, Davis grew up adopting the belief perpetuated by societal messages, including those from TV and magazines, that straight hair was the only standard of beauty.
“The message really stayed with a generation of Black women in particular who really had to work to overcome the idea that something about their hair was inherently inadequate,” said Dr. Jasmine Cobb, a professor of African American studies at Duke University and the author of the book New Growth:The Art and Texture of Black Hair.
However, amid the global racial reckoning sparked by George Floyd’s murder in 2020, a quiet movement among Black women was gaining momentum. Many women, including Davis, began embracing their natural hair as a symbol of freedom and self-expression.
“One way we’re redefining and reclaiming our identity is through our hair,” said Maya Anderson, a loctician at Locs, Naturals, & More, citing the growing trend of Black women starting locs. “Just get up, shake your hair, move on with the day and not have to worry about rain or humidity.”
In December 2021, Davis had micro locs installed by Anderson that she concealed with a wig for over a year. On Juneteenth, she decided to remove the wig on live TV, sharing her journey to hair freedom. In doing so, she hoped to inspire other women and young girls who struggle to embrace their roots.
“I’m just proud of you doing what you’re doing and being brave by presenting yourself how you want to present yourself,” her mother told her.
After 7 Years of Research, Black Entrepreneur Finally Develops New Hair Growth Oil Formula
Mariah Lovemore, an African American cosmetologist who is also the founder and CEO of Naija by Lovemore beauty products, spent seven years researching and developing a hair growth formula for Black women and men who wear natural hairstyles, and now she has finally broken the code so to speak.
The product is called Naija Growth Elixir, and it helps make natural hair more manageable, softer, and shinier which retains length and stimulates growth in areas treating alopecia, postpartum, and dandruff. Her innovative formula accomplishes all of this without leaving a person’s natural hair and scalp feeling greasy. It has given people of African descent hope and courage to wear their hair with confidence while enjoying its invigorating and pleasant fragrance.
Maria says that she inherited her entrepreneurial spirit such as passion, creativity, confidence, motivation, optimism resilience, and decisiveness. She says that “her motto from the source of healing” goes deeper than the surface. Her sense of community has driven her to address and help those suffering from suicide and depression during the pandemic through song and inspiration by way of Puerto Rico, Mexico, and beyond.
As an experienced cosmetologist, she pays close attention to her client’s needs and specifically targeted the necessary ingredients to resolve and beautify her customers. Naija Growth Elixir, which is her newest breakthrough product, is a high-quality oil blend that is stored in a special ombre glass bottle with essential oils.
She comments, “I researched this project for seven years and was able to give some of my customers prototypes of the formulation. Their positive feedback and reactions inspired and motivated me that I had successfully developed a winning product.” After realizing that she was now ready to go to market, she came up with the company name “Naija By Lovemore” and decided to name her first product “Naija Growth Elixir.”
Johnson C. Smith University Alum Named HBCU’s Next President
Johnson C. Smith will have some new leadership on board thanks to alumna Dr. Valerie Kinloch.
Kinloch was announced as the university’s 15th president, WBTV reported. Kinloch is an alum of the Charlotte, NC-based HBCU and a member of the school’s Board of Trustees, who selected her with a unanimous vote.
Chairman Steven Boyd said the decision was easy. “Valerie’s proven leadership, deep background in academia, and intimate knowledge of Johnson C. Smith University gives her the expertise and credibility to continue our transformation,” Boyd said. “She is a dynamic leader and change agent pure and simple.”
Kinloch will be taking over for Clarence D. Armbrister, who served as the university’s president for five years and announced his retirement earlier this year.
Her resume speaks for itself. Currently, Kinloch holds the title of Dean of the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, where she has recruited top faculty, led transformative academic growth, and exceeded fundraising expectations. She oversaw more than $9 million in capital projects and renovations.
The Golden Bull alum received her bachelor’s degree in English and Literature in 1996 and her master’s and doctorate degree from Wayne State University. This full circle moment brings on a lot of excitement for Kinloch. “It’s a dream come true to be invited to lead one of the finest historically Black colleges and universities in America – and at the same time, come home,” Kinloch said, according to QCity Metro. “We need to make space for innovation and for different types of learning – not just inside classrooms but also through internships, experiential engagements, and job placements with businesses, organizations and community groups with whom we have deep relationships.”
Boyd will serve as the interim president until Kinloch’s start date of Aug. 1.
Ja Rule Dips Into The Wine Industry with Rose Vine Cellars
Ja Rule, the award-winning entertainer, and entrepreneur, has ventured into the wine business with his latest launch of a new premium label, Rose Vine Cellars.
In partnership with winemaker Ross Reedy and Wines that Rock, Rose Vine Cellars by Ja Rule has released two specialty products alongside its announcement: the Red Rose Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wax Dipped ($100), and the Autographed Limited Edition bottle ($150). The two wines are offered as a set, adorned with a gold-trimmed Forever Rose and black wax dip as “a testament to Ja Rule’s dedication to craftsmanship and his discerning taste.”
The Red Rose Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich taste of black currant, cherry, and dark chocolate with a velvety finish. The wines stem from the Alexander Valley region in Sonoma County, with vine origins spanning six decades. Fermented in French oak barrels over two years, the commitment to curating an excellent wine requires this timeframe to age properly. Its berry fruit profile, blended seamlessly with acidic notes, creates a wine that is the “essence of elegance.”
“This collab with wine master Ross Reedy and Wines That Rock is something we’ve spent a lot of time on because we wanted it to be perfect,” Ja Rule said in a press release.
“Our goal was to create something unique, sophisticated, and luxurious, and this collection is exactly that! I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished!”
The 47-year-old continued with a personal touch on why this business opportunity was especially important to him.
“This launch is near and dear to my heart; one of my favorite things to do after a long day is pour myself a nice glass of wine.”
New York City Launches Shop Black NYC, A Black-Owned Business Directory
New York City created a great way to highlight all the Black-owned businesses in the city.
The New York City Department of Small Businesses Services created an online business directory, titled The Shop Black NYC, which lists over 3,000 Black-owned businesses across the city, New York Amsterdam Newsreported. Sponsored by the SBS’s Black Entrepreneurs NYC, the website filters the businesses by borough – Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island. It was created in 2019 and launched strategically on Juneteenth.
Supporters of the website called the Shop Black initiative “positive” for the community, entrepreneurs, and the general economy. Black people make up 22% of the city’s population but only 2% of the city’s small businesses. Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, Kevin D. Kim, says the initiative is encouraging for aspiring Black business owners.
“When we support our Black-owned small businesses, we support the entire city,” Kim said. “The Shop Black NYC directory serves to boost Black entrepreneurship by encouraging New Yorkers and tourists alike to shop Black and shop local, which in turn allows our neighborhoods to grow and prosper as new businesses take root.”
Before Kenneth Ebie, BE NYC’s Executive Director & Chief Development Officer, came on board, there was no central list of Black-owned businesses in NYC. This list will create revenue for these businesses through social media promotions and growing relationships with borough chambers of commerce and community engagement at events and activities around the city.
While Shop Black NYC is the first official state list, it isn’t the first of its kind. A couple from Brooklyn, Anthony and Janique Edwards, created something similar called EatOkra, a mobile directory for Black-owned businesses and restaurants, launched in 2016. Essencereported the app hosts an online community of more than 350,000 users with a 5-star Apple App Store rating.
Such A Vivrant Thing! Q-Tip Gets Help From Black Twitter To Locate His High School Sweetheart
Q-Tip is apparently searching for love and asked social media to help him locate the woman he connected with decades ago while still in high school.
The Grammy-winning rapper took to Twitter on Friday, June 16, to get help from social media in order to find the woman he attended a Prince concert with back in 9th grade.
“There was a girl i went to HS with.. PAMELA SWEAT we went to the PRINCE concert in 9th grade @ MSG,” he wrote.
“Pam if you’re out there id love to know u r well i think of u often 💜”
At the ripe age of 53, it’s likely been about 40 years since the Harlem native crossed paths with his old flame. But it didn’t take Twitter long to come back with an answer.
One of Q-Tip’s followers replied to his initial tweet with an updated photo of Ms. Pamela, to which the “Vivrant Thing” rapper confirmed was the right “PAM.”
While there hasn’t been an update as to whether Q-Tip was able to reconnect with Pam or not, social media has proceeded to bombard a woman by the name of Pamela Sweat on Instagram with comments letting Aunty Pam know that Uncle Tip is looking for her.
“Hey love , did you ever reach out to Q?! He was looking for you 🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️,” one user wrote under her photo.
Keenan Anderson’s Family Files $100M Lawsuit Following Repeated Tasing That Led To His Death
Following an encounter in January 2023 with Los Angeles police officers, Keenan Anderson died hours after being repeatedly tased. Now, his family has announced they intend to file a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles.
According to USA Today, Anderson’s family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, is seeking $100 million for the alleged police killing. An autopsy released in June 2023 revealed the 31-year-old passed away from an enlarged heart and cocaine use. The coroner stated his death was “determined hours after restraint and conducted energy device use.”
If not for the actions of the police officer on the day of Anderson’s death, according to Crump, “Keenan Anderson would be here today.”
Alluding to racism, the lawsuit asserts that because Anderson was a Black man, the police officer used a stun gun when it wasn’t needed.
The paperwork was filed on behalf of Anderson’s 5-year-old son, Syncere Kai Anderson, and his mother, Gabrielle Hansell. The family is suing the city of Los Angeles and dozens of unnamed individuals connected to the case. They allege civil rights violations, assault and battery, false imprisonment, and negligence, according to a copy of the lawsuit.
In January 2023, the Los Angeles Police Department released video footage from several body cameras showing the interaction. After struggling with several police officers, Anderson was tased several times, and as he was lying on the ground, he blurted out, “They’re trying to George Floyd me!”
Emergency personnel eventually arrived on the scene, and Anderson was taken away by ambulance. Several hours later, he suffered cardiac arrest and died at the hospital.
Tasha K Offers Sarcastic Apology To Cardi B Fans After Losing Defamation Case
Tasha K might’ve lost in Cardi B’s defamation case against her, but the YouTuber is laughing all the way to the bankruptcy bank!
Amid Tasha K’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the wake of being ordered to pay Cardi $4 million in defamation damages, the vlogger has reignited her social media war with the Grammy award-winning rapper.
It all started after Tasha added her two cents to Cardi’s criticism of the wealthy stepson who attended a Blink-182 concert amid his stepdad missing on the submersible that was to tour the Titanic wreckage, as noted by the New York Daily News.
According to Cardi, Brian Szasz came off as a little insensitive to the fact that his billionaire stepdad was inside a submersible that lost connection with the outside world en route to viewing the Titanic wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean. Tasha K took that as an opportunity to criticize Cardi’s behavior in the wake of Takeoff’s murder last November.
“Wasn’t she posting guns right after Takeoff died,” Tasha wrote in a comment on The Neighborhood Talk. “And on the internet cutting up not long after his sudden takeoff.”
That’s when Cardi took to Twitter to fire back at Tasha’s “despicable” way of reigniting their long-standing feud that resulted in the vlogger owing the “Up” rapper millions. She explained how she and her husband, Offset, were both still grieving Takeoff’s death.
Cardi also said Tasha’s latest shady jab only motivated her in their ongoing legal battle.
“Since you wanna be funny for comments, imma make sure your kid don’t go to college,” Cardi quipped.
Tasha seemingly dug herself into a deeper hole with a follow-up post on her page that aimed directly at Cardi and all those mourning the loss of the late Migos rapper.
Cardi then took to Twitter Spaces to warn Tasha about the judge’s ruling in their defamation case and told the vlogger she is “going to jail” if she gets caught hiding her money after filing for bankruptcy.
But that didn’t stop Tasha. On June 22, she fired back with an “official apology” to Cardi B’s fans, blaming herself for why the Bardi Gang is still waiting for the “WAP” rapper’s second album.
“She’s been in court with me for 6 years distracted from her purpose,” Tasha wrote in a note posted to her page.
Then, as if she still hadn’t learned her lesson in the multimillion-dollar defamation suit she lost, Tasha shared her take on what’s causing the delay in Cardi releasing another album.
“Atlantic is broke and won’t help pay for a 2nd album, Offset in court fighting to release an album, and my sis-in-law sold her rights to her catalog off too early in her career,” Tasha claimed.
While this gives free promo to Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s new “Barbie World” collab, it most likely puts Tasha K in a deeper financial bind as it relates to her defamation case with Cardi B. Hopefully Minaj can help Tasha foot the $4 million bill.
ATL Nonprofit Goodie Nation Receives Surprise $100K Award From Google For Its Community Leadership
Hard work paid off in the form of a $100,000 check for the founder of a nonprofit for Black entrepreneurs in Atlanta.
Joey Womack, the founder of Goodie Nation, was awarded $100,000 and the first-ever Google for Startups Community Icon Award on June 20. Atlanta’s mayor, Andre Dickens, celebrated Womack along with a crowd of others at Atlanta City Hall, telling Womack, “We’re here to celebrate you,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
The founder and CEO of Goodie Nation was surprised to receive the donation. He said, “Let’s just continue to make the world a better place for all, especially here in Atlanta,” the Journal-Constitution reported.
Imagine a major technology company creating an entire award just for you. That’s what happened here: The Journal-Constitution noted that Womack’s work inspired the creation of the award.
Karen Fiester, director of Americas for Google for Startups, said, “We really couldn’t run our founder’s funds without the support of Joey Womack and Goodie Nation. He works so hard, and we just want to acknowledge that and the difference that he’s made, not only for us at Google but also here in Atlanta and just for the ecosystem at large.”
Others in attendance echoed this sentiment and spoke highly of Womack’s work. Donald Boone, CEO and co-founder of BoxedUp, said that Womack “made five connections that ultimately changed the trajectory of my life.”
BLACK ENTERPRISEreported that Womack’s Goodie Nation helped 50 Black startups receive $100,000 in 2022, and partnered with Google for Startups Black Founders Fund to award $5 million to Black startups. Womack told BLACK ENTERPRISE at the time, “Goodie Nation is continuing our commitment to support diverse founders and specifically Black company founders and leaders, in our efforts to close the relationship gap that often exists for minority and women entrepreneurs, for gaining access to capital, mentorship, sales acceleration, and community.”
The remainder of the 2022 funding came from Womack’s partnership with Lenovo; 30 diverse-owned businesses received $10,000 each.
Kenya Could Follow Uganda as East African Nations Wage War on LGBT Rights
Mohamed Ali doesn’t believe gay Africans exist. He says homosexuality is a Western invention imposed on the continent. Openly gay Africans are liars seeking visas to the West or money from rights groups, he adds. Ali is a member of Kenya‘s parliament. He is desperate to follow neighbor Uganda by unleashing a sweeping legislative crackdown on LGBTQ people. Even if he happened to be sick in intensive care, he would ask to be dragged to parliament to approve it.
“I will ask them to take me to vote for that, to kick them out, kick LGBT people out of Kenya completely,” he said.
Weeks after Uganda enacted one of the most draconian anti-LGBT laws on Earth, Kenya could be poised to follow suit with a similarly formulated bill that punishes gay sex with prison or even death in some cases, according to a draft of the law and two lawmakers backing it in parliament.
Similar moves are also afoot in Tanzania and South Sudan, parliamentarians in those nations told Reuters, revealing for the first time a broad anti-LGBT legislative drive across East Africa. Some regional lawmakers frame the issue as an almost existential battle to save African values and sovereignty, which they say have been battered by Western pressure to capitulate on gay rights.
The draft of Kenya‘s Family Protection Bill, seen by Reuters, mirrors many aspects of the Ugandan law, which was signed by President Yoweri Museveni at the end of May to the dismay of the LGBT community, human rights campaigners and Western capitals.
Gay sex is punishable by at least 10 years in jail under the proposed Kenyan law, while “aggravated homosexuality”, which includes gay sex with a minor or disabled person or when a terminal disease is passed on, brings the death penalty.
“It is a hateful piece of legislation that will truly make the lives of queerKenyans unbearable if passed,” said Annette Atieno of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission campaign group.
Spokespeople for the Kenyan presidency and government didn’t respond to requests for comment about the proposed bill.
In South Sudan, parliamentary spokesperson John Agany told Reuters that an anti-LGBT law with the same content as the Ugandan legislation was being drafted and would be put to a vote “very soon”. He didn’t elaborate on the bill, and the Juba government didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Tanzanian lawmaker Jacqueline Ngonyani said she planned to introduce a private motion in parliament later this year to clamp down on gay activity in an attempt to “control the ongoing moral decay”.
“If these (gay) people increase, this will be the end of generation,” she added. “This is the same as drugs do to our youth.”
Asked whether she had specific punishments in mind, Ngonyani said she would not share anything until she was advised by legal experts.
Tanzania’s minister of constitutional and legal affairs, Damas Ndumbaro, said there was little room to tighten existing colonial-era laws against homosexuality, though.
“Do they want 100 years in prison while we already have a life sentence?” he told Reuters. “Let us review why the problem is persisting,” he said, referring to gay activity. “The government is still collecting opinions on how to solve the problem.”
‘PROMOTING’ HOMOSEXUALITY: 5 YEARS
The Kenyan anti-gay bill is being vetted by a parliamentary committee, which can then refer it to the full chamber for a vote. Officials have given no indication of the possible timeline.
The LGBT community fears the worst, three rights groups told Reuters.
In a debate in parliament initiated by Ali in March about whether to ban speech or publications that promote same-sex relations, more than 20 lawmakers spoke out against LGBT rights and none in support. Several called for legislation to strengthen penalties for same-sex acts, including the deputy majority leader, who said gay sex could be punished by hanging.
President William Ruto, an evangelical Christian, has criticized a February supreme court decision allowing an LGBT rights group to register as a non-governmental organization. “We cannot travel the road of women marrying their fellow women and men marrying their fellow men,” he said at the time.
The proposed Kenyan law reflects a significant degree of agreement and coordination on anti-gay policies between lawmakers across the region, according to the draft of the bill as well as Reuters interviews with the Kenyan MPs and activists.
Several new crimes appear in both Uganda‘s law and the proposed Kenyan one, including the aggravated homosexuality offence, “promoting” homosexuality and allowing gay sex on your property, which affects landlords. The latter two carry prison terms of at least 10 and five years respectively, the draft shows.
The Kenyan bill’s author, lawmaker Peter Kaluma, said the push to pass similar legislation to Uganda‘s was in part motivated by solidarity with its smaller neighbour, which has faced Western criticism over its law and seen the United States impose visa restrictions on some officials.
“Across the continent we want to have these laws,” Kaluma added. “If they were to sanction Uganda, let them sanction the entirety of Africa.”
He said the proposed law was influenced by discussions at a conference organized by Ugandan lawmakers in March in the city of Entebbe where he said parliamentarians from several African nations discussed strengthening anti-LGBT laws.
The conference, about African family values and sovereignty, was attended by around 80 lawmakers from 14 countries, according to a communique issued afterwards. Uganda was best represented, contributing over half of the delegates, followed by South Sudan.
The delegates called for action on issues ranging from the sexual exploitation of children to pornography. They urged nations to ban “transgender medical interventions” and make foreign donors pledge that none of their funding would go to “abortion, comprehensive sexuality education and/or the LGBTQ agenda”.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington opposes any law that curtails a vulnerable group’s human rights and said governments should work to ensure all individuals can enjoy fundamental freedoms.
“The United States advances efforts around the globe to protect LGBTQI+ persons from violence and abuse, criminalization, discrimination, and stigma, and to empower local LGBTQI+ movements and persons,” the spokesperson said in response to questions about this story.
FEAR REIGNS AT NAIROBI PRIDE
The Kenyan bill would toughen up a colonial-era statute under which gay sex was already illegal, though the older, less detailed law was rarely enforced.
The proposed law would signal the death knell for Kenya‘s status as a place of relative refuge for gay people in East Africa as the only country in the region to host refugees fleeing persecution because they are LGBT.
The draft bill stipulates that no one should be granted asylum on grounds of persecution linked to sexual orientation.
Anticipation of the new legislation, and the anti-gay rhetoric in politics and the media from public figures such as Ali and Kaluma that has accompanied it, is already casting a chill over the LGBT community, according to organizers of the Pride event in Nairobi this month.
Stella Kachina, one of the organizers, said that unlike in previous years the location was not disclosed in advance out of fear that anti-gay activists would target the event. Instead, participants were picked up and brought to the venue.
Attendee Marylize Biubwa said the current climate was frightening for gay people. “Kenya as a country doesn’t feel like home anymore,” she said.
Both advocates and opponents of the Family Protection Bill say it has a good chance of becoming law, boosted by the enactment of the Ugandan law and well-organized and financed anti-LGBT political campaigners.
Lorna Dias, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, also cited last year’s election of Ruto.
“The mere fact that we have a religious-leaning president who has openly declared his stand … people have been emboldened by his religious proclamations,” Dias said.
