Strikeout: New Study Shows Black Representation in MLB Continues to Plunge
The number of Black Major League Baseball (MLB) players is at an all-time low, according to a recent study.
Per The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida (TIDES), Black players accounted for 6.2% of the total number of MLB players on rosters for opening day of the 2023 season. TIDES’ racial and gender report card for MLB revealed that representation for Black players in the league dropped from last year’s record low (7.2%) by one percent. The report card gave a C-plus overall, according to the U.S. News & World Report. A B was given for racial hiring, while a grade of C was given for gender hiring.
The MLB is hopeful that Black youth might become more interested in the sport. TIDES director Richard Lapchick said, per the U.S. News & World Report, “I think that if it’s possible that the player number is going to be reversed, then it’s going to happen because of the efforts [MLB is] putting into it.” The league’s efforts to diversify the sport include the MLB Youth Academy, the DREAM Series, and a 10-year pledge of $150 million with the Players Alliance.
Per MLB’s website, 34% of youth participating in its Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program are Black or African American. This number is the highest, with Hispanic or Latino youth coming in second (31%).
Diversity remains a major focus for the league on and off the field, and indeed TIDES gave the league an A for diversity initiatives. Billy Bean, senior vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the MLB,said, “We are encouraged by the progress being made at various levels of the pipeline. Diversity remains a top priority for our entire industry and we are committed to this as a long-term effort.” Per the league’s website, women account for 20% of diversity in MLB’s networks, clubs, central office, and advanced media. Within the MLB central office, 10% are Black or African American.
BLACK ENTERPRISE reported in 2022 that there were no American-born Black players in the MLB World Series for the first time in more than 70 years.
Canva Faces Backlash For Listing Black Hairstyle As An ‘Unsafe’ Search Result
Canva is receiving backlash for racism—especially in regard to Black hairstyles—in its latest technological update that was meant to improve user experience.
In November 2022, the graphic design company announced its Text to Image app, an image-generating feature that utilizes text and artificial intelligence to curate an image exactly to the creator’s liking.
As for the safety precautions installed in its algorithm, Canva described how it “invested heavily” to limit the creation of unsafe content, saying, “For Text to Image this includes automated reviews of input prompts for terms that might generate unsafe imagery, and of output images for a range of categories including adult content, hate, and abuse.”
However, what Canva did not account for is racial biases appearing in its search results.
Adriele Parker, a DEI thought partner, detailed her experience using Canva while trying to find photos of Black women in popular hairstyles. She was caught by surprise by what Canva’s search algorithm listed as “unsafe.”
In a LinkedIn post, Parker shared the screenshot that displayed how an error occurred as she typed in the phrase “Black woman with Bantu knots.”
The digital creative platform also stated that “bantu may result in unsafe or offensive content.”
In her caption, Parker continued on how the likely lack of Black women in Canva’s technology department led to the prejudice.
“Tell me your AI team doesn’t have any Black women without telling me your AI team doesn’t have any Black women,” she vented.
“Canva, if you need a DEI consultant, give me a shout. I’ve been a fan of your platform for some time, but this is not it. Be the change. Please.”
Canva’s team responded as the post gained considerable attention and more users received the same result for similar race-based texts. Canva apologized for the “inconvenience” while emphasizing that its safety features required feedback such as Parker’s to ensure they were reasonable.
The response by the tech company was, in Parker’s opinion, a regurgitated and “canned” apology that did not address the issue at hand.
“And, honestly, doubling down on a message implying that an image of a Black woman with a natural hairstyle, like Bantu knots, is potentially unsafe or inappropriate content for ‘your community,’ is not it,” Parker wrote.
“At the very least, craft a more thoughtful and intentional canned response. Again, please do better. There are plenty of folks out here, like myself, who are ready and willing to support.”
A trust and safety product lead at Canva chimed in on the matter, stating that while that specific search result had since been fixed, those “over-triggers” were crucial toward ensuring offensive content doesn’t “slip through the gaps.”
It’s Over For Antonio Brown’s National Arena League Football Team ‘After Several Failed Payments
Antonio Brown once again has turned up on the wrong side of things as the football team he owns has been kicked out of the league in which they were recent champions.
According to a press release sent out by the National Arena League (NAL), the Albany Empire has been kicked out of the league for not making mandatory payments to satisfy the contractual obligations of all team owners.
A statement issued by the league read: “After exhausting all avenues, the NAL board of owners have decided unanimously to terminate the membership agreement of the Albany Empire. The decision was reached after an emergency conference call of the members in good standing to discuss the Empire’s failure to pay their league-mandated and overdue assessments.”
Breaking News:
The National Arena League has officially terminated the Albany Empire franchise. As of today they will no longer be a Member of the NAL. See full article: https://t.co/SB44bBB3txpic.twitter.com/KGapEanIh6
The league stated that each NAL team is responsible to pay 1/7 of the league’s operating budget on a monthly basis starting April 2023.
Former NFL player Brown made the April payment yet failed to make another payment in the succeeding months. The league stated that before the Empire played a game in Orlando, Florida, they were notified that Brown was challenging the payment made in April.
After the NAL credited the payment back to Brown, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer told the league to speak directly to his accountant, Alex Gunaris. After Brown was also fined $1,000 for conduct detrimental to the league, Gunaris stated that “it didn’t seem like Mr. Brown was going to pay the assessment or fine.”
The league then held an emergency conference call and decided that if a payment wasn’t made by a certain date, the league would not only cancel the upcoming game for the Empire but also terminate the team’s membership in the NAL, effective immediately.
The Albany Empire won the last two championships until Brown purchased the team, in March 2023. According to CBS News, players and staff weren’t receiving paychecks from the team. The head coach left the Empire due to missed payments.
Brown was paid a total of $80.4 million over his 12-year career in the NFL.
Survey Shows What Folks Really Think About Artificial Intelligence In The Hiring Process
Here is a gripping thought: Your next job interview could soon be with a robot if that has not happened already. With ChatGPT, Bard, and more A.I. disrupting the job recruiting space, A.I. interviews are becoming a more significant part of hiring practices since that approach rolled out in recent years.
Some 43% of companies have, or plan to use, A.I. interviews by 2024. Two-thirds of companies are convinced A.I. interviews will boost hiring efficiency. Those were among the findings in a new survey by ResumeBuilder.com. Over 1,000 employees engaged with hiring were quizzed at their workplaces on using A.I. interviews.
It comes as this report showed how large employers are now using artificial intelligence in the job decision-making process.
ResumeBuilder.com asked those in its survey how their companies apply A.I. interviews. Here are a few of the responses:
“We are already using A.I. to train our new employees, so we plan to move in that direction soon.”
“It will sort out the ones who do not qualify and save the company time.”
Yet, responses among the 32% of people reporting their employer do not plan on A.I. interviews included:
“We prefer direct interface with possible applicants.”
“Company has a low turnover, and A.I. interviews are not cost-effective.”
“There are too many unknown outcomes and risks.”
Others in the last group explained that they do not understand how the tools work. ResumeBuilder.com Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller said, “I personally don’t believe that human interaction can ever be replaced, but if companies believe this will help them screen candidates effectively, we will see this practice continue to grow.”
Some 15% of the 43% of respondents reported their firm will apply A.I. interviews in 2024. Some 85% said the software would provide candidate recommendations, but the final decision will come from a human.
However, only some back the A.I. interview approach for current or future job seekers. Critics claim the method is not seen as error-free. They maintain it might help those hiring more efficiently get through many applications. Still, they claim some potential pitfalls must be considered too.
For instance, their concerns include job candidates not being comfortable with the lack of communicating directly with a human. They doubt A.I. alone is potentially able to decide how well a person could fit into a job culture. Another worry is: “How can A.I. determine a person’s decision-making skills in a job role?”
Further questions are being raised, such as how A.I. could be used as a job-hiring function to avoid discrimination or biases in hiring when the technology is carrying out that action. Observers contend that it is vital to carefully examine the ups and downs before adopting A.I. interview technology and ensure it is applied properly and fairly.
Snoop Dogg Says, ‘It Takes A Dogg To Know A Dog’ In Latest Petco Collab
The canine personality of Calvin Broadus, Jr., also known as Snoop Dogg, is being used for the latest campaign for the pet supply company Petco.
Petco recently announced it is collaborating with the Doggystyle rapper in an advertising campaign that touts the benefits of the products the company sells. Snoop’s Doberman persona, which he has displayed over the years in hip-hop videos, was trotted out once again in a recent commercial featuring the entertainer.
“When it comes to shopping for my pets, I choose stuff for them I’d choose for myself. My pets gotta look good, feel good, smell good,” said Snoop Dogg in a written statement. “But it’s hard to know how to keep our pets healthy and happy when they can’t tell us what they need. When I shop at Petco, it’s all there — even my own pet line, Snoop Doggie Doggs. They have great experts and great deals, so I can relax and trust that my pets are always fresh and getting the best at a fair price. Now that’s value.”
A commercial was released that shows Snoop thinking like his Doberman persona before becoming a frisky Doberman himself.
Along with his appearance in the ad, Snoop has also given the company a “Petco Picks” list of several items, including some of his Snoop Doggie Doggs products. They will be available in Petco stores nationwide starting in August. The selection includes:
Ex-Wall Street Executive Raises Over $23M To Help Communities Of Color Build Wealth
Former Wall Street executive Wole Coaxum has raised $23.5 million for Mobility Capital Finance, his company whose efforts include helping people build and sustain wealth.
Known as MoCaFi, the firm provides financial services to government entities to enhance the efficiency of delivering those and other resources to underserved communities nationwide. It also helps those it serves to gain low-cost services, mobile banking, build credit, as well as receive access to capital.
The Black-founded fintech recently gained major support after securing millions in funding during a Series B financing round led by Commerce Ventures. Other funding participants were new strategic investors, including BNY Mellon, Wells Fargo, Truist Ventures, and existing investors.
MoCaFi will use the new financing to help beef up its offerings and unite with more government agencies targeting the similar audience of people the company caters to.
MoCaFi CEO & Founder Coaxum told BLACK ENTERPRISE in an interview the financing will allow his firm to expand its products and services in cities with large Black populations and Black mayors it was not serving before. He says they include New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Houston.
Coaxum added the partnership with BNY Mellon would allow MoCaFi to work with more federal government agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Internal Revenue Service. Coaxum explained that is a big deal because those agencies have billions of dollars that can be allocated to Black Americans but may not reach them now.
Take HUD, which provides funding for first-time homebuyers among its services. Support for Black families and individuals seeking to buy homes is certainly needed. The homeownership rate for Black Americans trails greatly (44%) and has only risen 0.4% in the last decade and is almost 29 percentage points less than white Americans (72.7%) based on this. It is the largest such Black-White gap in 10 years.
Coaxum and his firm hope to help change that. “With MoCaFi’s platform, we can get dollars to individuals who qualify for first-time homebuyer and down payment assistance from HUD more efficiently.”
In a statement, he added, “This Series B round allows MoCaFi to scale quickly and validates our unique business proposition. With this capital and, more importantly, support from these terrific strategic investors, we can continue to innovate and bring our products and services to more municipalities, government entities, and community partners—ultimately helping more people.”
MoCaFi was founded in 2016 by Coaxum, formerly a managing director at JPMorgan Chase in digital sales. He started MoCaFi after being inspired by the 2014 murder of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. MoCaFi disclosed that with over $100 million in financial resources disbursed to underserved communities across 15 cities and counties nationally, it is using its capital to fulfill that vision and scale.
During the summer of 2023, the New York City-based firm plans to launch “On Our Block” in New York City with multiple community groups, including the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. The initiative would bring banking services, financial programming, and resources to building pathways to wealth for communities of color. In June 2023, MoCaFi and BNY Mellon united to extend payment options to unbanked and underbanked communities in the U.S.
Dan Rosen, founding partner and head of Fintech Investments at Commerce Ventures, stated, “MoCaFi’s scalable payments platform enables government agencies (Federal, State, and Local) to disburse benefits directly to vulnerable populations in some of the country’s largest municipalities, including Los Angeles, CA, St. Louis, MO, and Birmingham, AL.”
He added, “We’re excited to see the company deliver similar value to the next dozen municipality clients while also enabling the under-banked to get access to digital banking services and pathways to accessing credit and building wealth.”
Chicago Police Sergeant Fired For Role In Unjust Raid Of Anjanette Young
The sergeant in charge of a botched police raid of Anjanette Young, a Black woman who was handcuffed naked as the officers wrongfully entered her home, was fired from his position in the Chicago Police Department on June 15.
In a 31-page ruling that detailed the “multiple rule violations” and “failure of leadership” during the 2019 raid, the Chicago Police Board decided that Sgt. Alex Wolinski would be discharged from the force in a 5-3 vote, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The ruling indicated Wolinski’s negligence in the respect and fair treatment of individuals.
“Though it was clear that the officers were not at the residence of the intended target, [Wolinski] nonetheless allowed Ms. Young to remain naked and handcuffed for an extended period of time — over 10 minutes,” it read.
Following footage of the egregious incident, calls from city leaders and Black clergymen urged that the sergeant be forced to step down. Young, a social worker who lived on Chicago’s West Side, was forced to remain nude as she was put into handcuffs after police entered her home on a no-knock warrant and searched the wrong address for a man who allegedly had an illegal gun.
A covering placed over Young repeatedly fell off, leaving her surrounded by a squad of police officers while naked and handcuffed until she was allowed to dress herself.
Wolinski, a member of the Chicago police for over 20 years, was cited for breaking eight departmental regulations, including disobedience of an order and disrespect to or maltreatment of any person, the Associate Press reported.
Young eventually sued the city for civil rights violations, receiving a settlement of $2.9 million.
In the fall of 2022, a committee within the Chicago City Council failed to pass as an ordinance named after Young that would have extended precautionary measures surrounding warrants, prioritizing the “least intrusive” methods first.
Young made a statement on the sergeant’s termination, sharing that the decision should have been unanimous given the treatment she endured.
“While my heart goes out to his family because they now suffer the consequences of his abhorrent misconduct, I wish all eight members of the Chicago Police Board would have recognized the need and urgency for Sergeant Wolinski’s removal.”
Black Americans Can Benefit From Walgreens Initiative To Detect Early Cancer
Black Americans of every age reportedly have higher death rates than any other racial or ethnic group for many types of cancer.
But pharmacy giant Walgreens is launching a new effort that could help change that scenario, potentially making the clinical trial experience more friendly, understandable, and accessible.
Walgreens and biotech firm Freenome are partnering in a multiyear relationship to advance clinical studies of Freenome’s blood-based tests for early cancer detection. Walgreens plans to use its national footprint, patient insights, compliant recruitment technology, and local infrastructure to engage diverse patient populations in Freenome’s multi-cancer research program.
Walgreens says clinical trials inclusive of diverse communities are critical to improving health outcomes, especially in cancer research. Cancer claims nearly 2,000 lives daily in the United States, but proactive screening tests can help find cancer at an early stage, even before symptoms appear.
The drug store chain reported the collaboration aligns with the National Cancer Plan’s goals of detecting cancer early and eliminating inequities. Walgreens’ pledge to recruit patients and conduct clinical trials comes after its largest rival, CVS Health, announced plans to exit its clinical trials unit by 2024. The latest move is an expansion for Walgreens, as it entered the clinical trials business a year ago.
Generally, Blacks have been chiefly excluded from clinical research because of past and current systemic medical mistreatment, contributing to distrust of the healthcare system. Another obstacle for many is experiencing or witnessing discrimination in such a setting.
Simultaneously, Black Americans historically have been underrepresented in clinical trials across disease categories. While progress has been made to boost the diversity of participation more recently, more work needs to be done. Walgreens reports Black Americans are more inclined to adhere to prescribed therapy if they know that the medical product includes patients like themselves.
For its part, Walgreens will initially recruit patients for Freenome’s Sanderson Study. It aims to enroll about 8,000 participants to evaluate Freenome’s blood-based screening tests for the early detection of multiple cancers. Once patients are enrolled, Walgreens healthcare providers will perform a single blood draw at one of the company’s clinical trial retail locations and conduct a telehealth patient follow-up one year after participating. Check out more details here.
Walgreens’ Chief Clinical Trials Officer Ramita Tandon stated, “At Walgreens, our aim is to help every community we serve see clinical research as a viable care option. Through our nationwide presence and trusted pharmacists, we can reach and engage previously underserved patient populations for clinical trials.”
She added, “Supporting the identification of cancers when they are most treatable is one more way we are helping to improve health outcomes of our communities and patients while advancing research in oncology.”
Freenome’s Chief Medical Officer Lance Baldo reflected, “Freenome’s goal is to make early cancer screening more convenient for everyone, and our clinical research should reflect that availability and accessibility. With community reach, study conduct capabilities, national presence, and real-world data generation resources, Walgreens is a natural partner to help deliver on that goal.”
With Unemployment Rates Steadily Rising, Black Women Suffer the Most, According To New Data
Recent employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed a 0.9% increase in the unemployment rate among Black women, a troubling and unexpected change given the country’s record low unemployment levels over the past year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for Black women was 4.4% in April 2023. However, by May, this statistic had increased to 5.3%, which has had a substantial toll on the country’s overall unemployment rates.
The sudden shift has Black laborers searching for answers. Nick Bunker, the economic research director at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told NBC News about the rise in Black unemployment “was the most troubling sign in this report.”
He added, “Almost half of the increase in the number of unemployed workers was due to a spike in Black unemployment. This might be statistical noise, or it could be a sign of Black workers’ disproportionately bearing the brunt of a rise in joblessness.”
This new data also illuminate gender as a factor in the significant job loss within the Black labor force. Black women have been burdened with most of the fallout, according tothe Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The unemployment rate for Black men has also witnessed an unwelcome increase, from 4.5% to 5.6%.
This data have surprised many laborers. Last month, CNBC reported that the unemployment rate for Black workers peaked at 4.7%, the lowest it has been for over five decades. According to NBC News, an influx of jobs within the transportation and warehouse sector led to many Black men finding work, a feat that contributed to low unemployment rates.
With such high unemployment rates, Black households will become collateral.
“That level of economic insecurity, I think, feeds into the more harmful impact of a job loss when you don’t have another earner in your household income,” Valerie Wilson, director of the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and Economy, told NBC News. “And then if there are not sufficient savings to sort of fill in that loss of income until someone can find a job.”
These changes are a stark contrast to the previous years. Black unemployment rates remain considerably low in light of the 2020 record high of 16.8%, Axios reported.
Deborah Roberts Reflects on Childhood, New Book, and Advice She Would Give Her Young Self
Award-winning journalist Deborah Roberts has tackled stories from the White House to the Royal Family’s King Coronation.
Now, she is on a mission to share the stories of teachers across the nation and the monumental impact they can have on the trajectory of one’s life. With teachers leaving the classroom in record numbers, the teaching profession’s status is at its lowest in five decades. The reasons are that many feel overworked, underpaid, and undervalued, according to researchers at Brown University and the University at Albany.
Roberts believes the time is now to shine a bright light on the life-changing work of educators with the release of her new book, Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life. The curated collection of essays, featuring the help of celebrity friends from Spike Lee to Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey, features unique stories on how particular professors throughout the contributors’ lives imparted life lessons both inside and outside school walls
Recently, BLACK ENTERPRISE virtually chatted with the ABC News Senior National Affairs Correspondent to discuss leadership qualities, advice she would offer her younger self, and how she hopes her new book will resonate with audiences.
BLACK ENTERPRISE: At this particular stage in your life and career, why was this the right moment to author this book?
Deborah Roberts: It was one of those things that happened to come together at the right time. Teachers are under a lot of stress right now and dealing with a lot in terms of job satisfaction, and they are experiencing a 50-year low. I know that teachers are under the gun, feeling discouraged, dissatisfied, and devalued, and I thought, “This is a great moment to highlight teachers and remind us all about what they mean to us.”
(Photo: Andscape)
You spoke a great deal about your parents throughout the book and dedicated it to “Mom and Daddy.” What is a guiding principle you carry from your parents that has shaped your life?
DR: When I think about my parents, I think about how they grew up in the Deep South during the Jim Crow era during segregation. They didn’t have the kind of opportunities I had, so I knew they would be so proud of my career and the idea that I was going back and exploring my life through this book and putting something out in the world.
They’ve passed on, but my parents taught me humility is very important, treating people respectfully and working hard. Those are values they imparted to me, which are traits I carry with me and have a lot to do with my success in this business.
As an award-winning journalist for a major television network, how do you define yourself as a leader?
DR: That’s a very good question. I’m not always aware and don’t always think of myself as a leader when I walk into a room. Still, I work with people looking for occasional guidance. More than anything else, I make sure I lead the path with grace and all the things that matter to me. I’m always aware there are people around me, younger people who are new in this business, but also people who’ve been in a while, who might be watching me and looking to me for leadership qualities. I try to rise to that occasion and do what I can to ensure I’m setting a good example and a high bar of excellence.
(Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
What does it mean to you to have the platform to talk openly and candidly about your son’s learning disability and emotionally connect with others who share a similar experience?
DR: We don’t own it in any formal way. We just put ourselves out there because Al [Roker, her husband] and I have a unique opportunity to speak out about our struggles, strengths, and apparent things in our lives. One of them is that we have a son who deals with learning challenges and developmental disabilities.
We were talking about Nick, now 20 years old, when many people didn’t want to talk about their children not being perfect. We both thought it was a unique opportunity to bring people into conversations and normalize the idea that no family is perfect. We see it as normalizing conversations to talk about family struggles, strengths, and things people don’t always want to talk about because they feel like somehow it brings some weakness upon them.
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give a young Deborah as a Black woman stepping into womanhood and embarking on her dream career path?
DR: To a young Deborah, “You are more than capable. You are more than ready, and you are more than smart.” Early in my career, I had imposter syndrome. Many of us have that moment where we feel like, “Maybe I’m not quite as good as I think I am?” Or somebody said something to you that left you wondering whether or not your reporting was really on par.
I now realize I had the goods, the curiosity, and the passion, but I needed the experience to eventually hold my own with the big names in the business. I would also tell myself, “You’re ready. You can do this, and although it’s going to take a while, you’re going to be prepared and have what it takes.”
