ADOS cartoonist M. Rasheed sparked outrage over his recent Instagram post.

Rasheed contends Juneteenth should only be celebrated by Black Americans. The federal holiday recognized on June 19 commemorates the official and final emancipation of all Black people who were enslaved in the United States with Black Texans being the last to find out about their freedom.

The  American Descendants of Slavery member has a divisive take on what is considered a holiday for all within the Black diaspora.

“#Juneteenth is not an African Holiday,” shared Rasheed. “It’s the holiday for the American Descendants of Slavery (#ADOS) commemorating the formal abolishment of the chattel slavery institution in the #USA specifically. The official colors are the red, white, and blue of Old Glory.”

 

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A post shared by M. Rasheed (mrasheed.com) (@mrasheedcartoons)

Responding to a commenters, the cartoonist explains his interpretation of why Juneteenth is celebrated and not January 1 when the emancipation was actually signed:

“There were a lot of laws passed that were supposed to make things better, but lack of enforcement kept my ADOS ethnic group as a wealth-less bottom caste. You’re dismissive of when the news reached the people, but the practicality of pro-ADOS laws in action is very important.”

ADOS members claim to mainly advocate for reparations for the systemic impact of slavery. Yet, they are known for also promoting a pro-Black, right-wing rhetoric.  ADOS agenda according to a piece written by USA Today, is to exclude certain Black people who do not share ancestral ties to slavery. Juneteenth celebrations have now perpetuated more divisiveness and strife within the global community.

Though not all Black people are the descendants of enslaved people, anti-blackness is a worldwide issue. ADOS rhetoric may land squarely in anti-Black territory. As the ADOS movement continues to expand their membership and outreach the conversations regarding Black holidays may also become more polarizing.

RELATED CONTENT: Floyd Mayweather Gets Juneteenth Championship Belt Ahead Of The Holiday

Someone just paid over $1 million to get their hands on Michael Jordan’s iconic “flu-game” Air Jordans he wore during the 1997 NBA Finals.

On Wednesday, June 14, the Jordan 12’s the legendary NBA star wore during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals sold for a whopping $1.38 million, ESPN reports. Jordan scored 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in the Chicago Bulls’ win against the Utah Jazz before giving his signed sneakers to Jazz ball boy Preston Truman.

Truman gained favor with Jordan by bringing him applesauce before each game. He held on to the sneakers for 15 years before consigning them to Grey Flannel Auctions in 2013 for $104,765. Preston likely had no idea the shoes would auction a decade later for a 1,200% price hike.

“To me, the ‘Flu Game’ is the most iconic game of Michael Jordan‘s career, and that’s what everyone refers to when they talk about toughing it out and rising to the occasion under difficult circumstances,” Ken Goldin, owner of Goldin Auctions said.

“To me, these are the most important and most valuable pair of sneakers that will ever be sold.”

Despite the hefty price tag, the “Flu-Game” auction doesn’t surpass the Air Jordan XIII Breds that Jordan wore during the 1998 NBA Finals, which sold for $2.238 million with Sotheby’s in April, as noted by Sports Illustrated. The previous record was held by the Jordan Air Ships the pro athlete turned business mogul wore during his rookie season in 1984, which Sotheby’s sold for $1.472 million in 2021.

Jordan’s iconic Nike deal is documented in the new “Air” movie starring Viola Davis, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. Jordan had initial loyalty to Adidas and was hoping to secure a deal with the sports apparel brand that was a lead contender behind Converse at the time.

But with three major sneaker deals on his plate after his NBA draft, it was Jordan’s mom who helped secure his landmark Nike deal that included a $2.5 million deal for five years, his own line of signature shoes called the Air Jordan, and an additional 5% royalties on the profit from the sale of his signature sneakers.

Jordan still had loyalty to Adidas and returned to them after Nike presented their pitch, as noted by Sports Rush. But, Adidas and Converse weren’t able to match Nike’s deal, and the rest is history.

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

June 16, 2023

South Carolina State Representative Deon Tedder and Every 1 Voice Matters Join Forces to Promote Summer Reading Initiative

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South Carolina State Representative Deon Tedder and Every 1 Voice Matters are thrilled to announce their collaboration in promoting summer reading. As part of this partnership, 800 copies of the acclaimed Lil Herbie Series books will be generously donated to four Title 1 schools in Charleston County School District.

The objective of this initiative is to foster a love for reading among young students while combating summer learning loss. By providing these captivating books to underserved schools, Representative Deon Tedder and Every 1 Voice Matters aim to ensure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, have access to high-quality literature.

The Lil Herbie Series books, written by esteemed author and advocate for literacy, Sherrika Myers, beautifully illustrate the power of self-esteem, self-confidence, empathy for others, friendship, and perseverance. The series follows the adventures of a young boy named Lil Herbie, who has a speech impediment, which caused him to develop low self-esteem and lack self-confidence, but along the way, he learned to love himself and realize that even though everybody is different and unique, we are all still the same and that his voice matters too. These engaging stories not only captivate young readers but also instill essential values and promote self-love

Representative Deon Tedder expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “I firmly believe that literacy is the key to unlocking a world of possibilities for our children. By providing these books to Title 1 schools, we are investing in the future of our community, empowering young minds, and fostering a lifelong love for reading.”

About
Every 1 Voice Matters is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting education and social-emotional awareness. Their mission is to empower underprivileged communities by providing resources, programs, and support to enhance educational opportunities and foster positive social change. Learn more at Every1VoiceMatters.org

This news first appeared on blacknews.com.

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

June 16, 2023

TrueCare Receives Health & Human Services (HHS) $2 Million Grant to Expand Community Access to Maternal Health Care

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TrueCare™, a community-based health center serving San Diego and Riverside counties, has been awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). TrueCare will use grant funding to impact maternal and newborn health outcomes through a new doula program.

The U.S. has the shocking distinction of reporting the worst maternal mortality outcomes among industrialized nations. Women of color are two to three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes. Research demonstrates that doula support increases maternal engagement during prenatal care, offers better preparation for labor and birth, reduces cesarean deliveries, and increases breastfeeding success. Doulas have typically been accessible only to women who can afford the additional out-of-pocket cost.

“Not only have women of color endured generations of inequities in the health care system, but today they are dying at alarming rates during childbirth,” said TrueCare President and CEO Michelle D. Gonzalez. “This national crisis disproportionately impacts our communities. TrueCare’s doula program will help remove barriers to maternal health care by offering women and families supportive pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum services. We will continue to advocate for our mothers by helping them birth happy, healthy babies.”

Adding a doula program to TrueCare’s wellness services reinforces the organization’s mission of providing comprehensive, affordable, and culturally sensitive health care options. TrueCare prioritizes a patient-centered approach that offers specialized care in a warm and welcoming environment. The organization also proudly serves as a migrant health center providing tailored health care services to migrant farm workers and their families.

“As a person-focused health center with integrated women’s health services and a comprehensive offering for quality physical and mental health care, we are excited to be a systemic force in bettering pregnancy experiences and health outcomes for both moms and babies,” said TrueCare Chief Medical Officer / Chief Operations Marie Russell, MD. “We have plans to launch programming to enhance culturally humble maternity care through this new and unique service not typically offered at a community health center.”

Additional information on TrueCare’s doula program will be released in summer 2023.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

Playwright Katori Hall has a new theater show that pulls back the veil on what the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. might’ve experienced the night before his death.

Written by Hall and directed by Patricia McGregor, The Mountaintop follows MLK’s return to the Lorraine Motel on April 3, 1968, after delivering his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. The play highlights the fictional encounter between MLK (played by Jon Michael Hill) and Camae, a young maid at the Lorraine Motel ( played by Amanda Warren) who delivers MLK’s room service.

In a dialogue that highlights the humanity of who MLK was as a person, the fictional version of the famed civil rights leader wrestles with himself over the realities regarding racism, morality and the fight for justice while a storm rages through Memphis. The night in question is significant as it was MLK’s final hours before he was fatally shot while standing on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968.

Hall has revived her original play a number of times including in 2021 with director Roy Alexander Weise, The Guardian reports. Controversy stems around the early flirtation between MLK and Camae that seemingly plays off age-old accounts of MLK’s alleged infidelity, via IB Times.

Their discussion sees King open up about his heart complications as well as his alleged cheating encounters. He also touches on political debates surrounding the war in Vietnam, the rights of sanitation workers in Tennessee, which prompted his visit to Memphis and his non-violent approach to activism compared to Malcolm X and the Black Panthers.

Hall wrote the play after listening to her mother recall her plans to attend MLK’s “Mountaintop” speech but was stopped by her mother, Hall’s grandmother, who prevented her daughter from attending what would be King’s last speech because she believed the church where was speaking would get bombed.

“Big Mama … was like, ‘You know they’re gon’ bomb that church, girl. You know they’re gon’ bomb that church, so you need to sit your butt down and you ain’t going to that church,’ ” Hall recounted to NPR in 2011.

She ended up naming the maid Camea after her mother as a nod to her matriarch’s desire to attend King’s last speech. The Mountaintop is currently showing in Los Angeles at the Gil Cates Theater until July 9. You can buy tickets HERE.

RELATED CONTENT: Playwright Katori Hall Celebrates MLK’s Legacy with ‘The Mountaintop’

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 16, 2023

Why Black Twitter Is Shading Tyler Perry’s Reported BET Deal

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Tyler Perry has the streets talking amid reports he might’ve successfully acquired BET and VH1. But Black Twitter is expressing their skepticism over the rumored deal.

Many have been reacting to a since-deleted article that seemingly announced Perry’s acquisition of BET after months of negotiating and competing against fellow moguls like Byron Allen, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shaquille O’Neal and others who also expressed interest in buying the network, as BLACK ENTERPRISE recently covered.

For the first time in 21 years, BET is black owned again, and for the first time ever VH1 is now black owned!

Tyler Perry just made history as the first African American to buy two major television networks pic.twitter.com/vd51oMKouQ

— CultureCentral (@CultureCentral1) June 13, 2023

While Perry, Viacom, nor BET Networks Paramount Global have confirmed or denied the reports, social media is still sounding off about the possibility. Particularly on Black Twitter where many are sharing their reluctance to accept the deal considering Perry’s long-rumored way of producing content.

On June 13, a Twitter user posted a screenshot from Tyler Perry’s Sistas that lists the media mogul as the executive producer, creator, writer and director.

“This might change the game for Black creatives & BET content! Tyler Perry’s table just got bigger!”

TP: pic.twitter.com/4CrYVsGROX

— I appreciate you. (@DeeLaSheeArt) June 13, 2023

“It’s officially over for BET. This man don’t even share his writers room so I know he gone turn the network into medea town,” one spectator wrote.

“Like this man is notorious for saying he writes all his stuff,” added someone else.

One critic accused Perry of being “addicted to them checks and not in putting out quality content that makes our ppl proud and paid.”

“Change the name of the network to Tyler Perry’s BET,” another user quipped.

The criticism stems from Perry’s honesty about not having a writer’s room like most productions. In 2020, he received mixed reviews after crediting his lack of a writer’s room to his “work ethic.”

“So, I don’t know if you know this, but all shows on television have a writers room,” he said in the video clip, while showing off piles of scripts.

WORK ETHIC!! Come on. Let’s go get 2020!!! pic.twitter.com/BzADIi1rAa

— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) January 6, 2020

“Most of the time, there are 10 people or 12 or whatever that write on these television shows. Well, I have no writers room. Nobody writes any of my work. I write it all. Why am I telling you this? I wrote all of these scripts by myself in 2019. Work ethic!”

However, many have criticized Perry’s lack of a writer’s room saying his movies and television shows lack quality, relatable storylines and worthy hair units for his cast.

“This actually explains a lot. 🤨,” one person wrote in response.

“And this is why so much of your work is essentially the SAME.You ain’t tired? Hire some writers please,” added someone else.

Donald Glover infamously took aim at Tyler Perry’s way of directing in an episode on his show Atlanta that focused on the fictional character Kirkwood Chocolate. Glover revealed to GQ that he gave Perry advanced notice of the season 4 episode, but never heard back.

“I told him I was gonna do it,” he shared. “I don’t know how he took it. I texted him once, I think, for something… I didn’t hear back. That’s the thing about being Black. It becomes so personal so fast. I’m not s####### on you.”

Maybe Perry will take some pointers from the Black delegation if he is set to acquire Black Entertainment Television.

RELATED CONTENT: Tyler Perry Is The Only Black Celebrity To Make Forbes’ ‘World’s 10 Highest-Paid Entertainers’ List

Rabble, a social discovery app focused on connecting people to community events that align with the issues they care most about announced its partnership with Everybody Eats Philly, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing food security. The partnership kicks off at Everybody Eats Philly’s annual Juneteenth BBQ on June 18, bringing together Philadelphia’s Black community and allies for a historical celebration of Black freedom that recognizes and honors when the last enslaved people were free.

Rabble chose Everybody Eats Philly as its first major partner given the city’s civic pride and the opportunity to unite the community as the nation faces an increasingly polarizing political environment, worsening socioeconomic disparities, and the adverse effects of climate change. Philadelphia also has a huge college-aged population that lacks an entry point to gather for purposeful activities. Rabble aims to serve this demographic, with the understanding that 94% of Gen Z are passionate about a social cause and 73% of Gen Z report feeling lonely and in search of community — the highest level of any generation.

“Philadelphia is primed to be a leading hub for change, which underscores why Rabble chose to partner with Everybody Eats Philly,” said Becky Wang, co-founder and CEO of Rabble. “The annual Juneteenth BBQ allows us to engage with a core subset of Philadelphia’s youth, offering them a single destination to remain connected and discover future actions to support in their community. We’re proud to partner with such an impactful nonprofit and honored to have a seat at their table as we continue to make strides in our goal to curate local impact experiences in cities across the country.”

In three years, attendance to Everybody Eats Philly’s annual Juneteenth BBQ has gone from 250 people in 2020 to more than 2,000 people in 2022. To continue this momentum and maximize the event’s impact, Rabble engaged more than 25 organizations, including the Philadelphia Eagles and San Pellegrino, to make donations such as signed jerseys, gift cards, theater tickets, and food. Money raised from these donations goes directly to Everybody Eats Philly and their mission to increase food security and build community. Brands are able to track the impact of their donations directly from the Rabble app, and event organizers are able to track proof of attendance and donations to assist with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) tracking.

“Thanks to Rabble, Everybody Eats Philly has been able to reach donors that we never thought to reach out to in past years, while also widening our presence across the city’s wide population of college-aged youth,” said Stephanie Willis, founder and CEO of Everybody Eats Philly. “We look for partners who understand how to serve and listen to the Philadelphia community to create magic, and Rabble reflects exactly that. We’re thankful our community members — especially youth who are interested in getting involved but don’t know where to start — will have the opportunity to register for their platform and create positive change in Philadelphia and beyond for years to come.”

Through the partnership, event attendees will gain access to Rabble’s marketplace, allowing them to connect with other local members and grassroots organizations with similar interests. The goal of these connections is to build long-term community and impact. These new bonds allow groups to support each other for future events that closely align with the social justice issues they are most passionate about.

For future events, Rabble’s core focus will remain on reaching the following audiences:

• Young change makers and event organizers that are looking to build local connections and take action that aligns with the issues they care most about.
• Culture-driven, value-aligned brand donors that want to take a stance on a social cause and provide resources to their community in a meaningful way.

Looking ahead, Rabble plans to expand support to other issues that impact the Philadelphia community and beyond, including climate catastrophe, digital access, women’s health, criminal justice reform, Black farmers, and food security in other areas of the U.S.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

Rihanna and her baby bump were the inaugural stars of Pharrell’s first-ever Louis Vuitton campaign that teases his first menswear show as creative director.

Pharrell took to Instagram on Thursday, June 15 to share a photo of himself standing in front of a giant billboard in Paris that shows pregnant Rihanna modeling his Louis Vuitton menswear collection for Spring-Summer 2024.

 

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The photo tease comes days ahead of Pharrell’s official debut as Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director at Paris Fashion Week, Hypebeast reports.  The partnership was a long time coming with Pharrell first collaborating with LV and Nigo back in 2004 with his “Millionaire” sunglasses collection.

Pharrell was named the new creative director of menswear in February. He was selected to succeed the late Virgil Abloh who passed away in November 2021 at age 41.

Rihanna and Pharrell are no strangers. The two collaborated in 2017 on N.E.R.D’s “LEMON.” In 2020, Rihanna teased the music she was recording with Pharrell for her new album, which has yet to be released or announced.

The Bajan superstar also has a solid relationship with the LVMH conglomerate as the company has a stake in Fenty Beauty and helped launch the Fenty luxury line, as noted by Fashionista. Rihanna has been slowing down her public sightings as she prepares to welcome her second child with rapper A$AP Rocky.

The “Diamonds” singer announced her pregnancy in February while headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. She remains mum on her plans for baby number two, just as she did with the birth of her son in May 2022.

It was only recently that word got out on what Rih and Rocky decided to name their first child. Baby Rza celebrated his 1st birthday last month at Wu-Tang-inspired party his celebrity parents threw for him.

RELATED CONTENT: Rihanna Radiates MILF Vibes In Latest Maternity Shoot