Nevada Finally Embraces Juneteenth As A State Holiday
In a significant stride toward acknowledging the importance of African American history and the ongoing struggle for racial equality, Nevada has taken a historic step by recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday, CNN reported.
On June 6, 2023, Governor Steve Sisolak signed Senate Bill 1, designating Juneteenth as a state holiday in Nevada. This move could set the tone for the state’s opportunities for elevated education, reflection, and celebration of African American history and culture.
“As the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, which gave African Americans the right to vote, Nevada has a long and proud history of supporting civil rights,” said Democratic Assemblywoman Claire Thomas as Fox News reported.
Nevada, maybe surprisingly, has a history of being a supportive state of the Civil Rights movement. Beyond Nevada’s borders, the recognition of Juneteenth as a state holiday in various parts of the United States signifies a broader societal shift. With states like Florida and Utah taking steps back, censoring books and the discourse around our nation’s history, Nevada is raising the bar higher. Nevada is demonstrating an increased willingness to confront the darker chapters of history and highlights the importance of inclusivity in the national discourse.
Nevada’s decision to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday is a momentous step forward in the pursuit of equality and justice. By commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and acknowledging the historical significance of Juneteenth, Nevada joins a growing movement to promote a more inclusive understanding of American history. The real hope is that we see a rapid fire of other states joining Nevada to honor the holiday, and actually mean it.
Juvenile Added To Essence Festival Hip-Hop Lineup After Speaking Out
Essence Festival is celebrating 50 years of hip hop this year and Juvenile was confused about why his name wasn’t on the original lineup.
After blasting the initial lineup for Essence Fest, Juvenile was proud to announce his inclusion in this year’s roster of live performances. The Cash Money rapper sent out a tweet on Wednesday, June 7, confirming his set.
“Hip-Hop 50 without Juvie? Not a chance. June 30th, NOLA we live!” Juvenile tweeted.
The announcement comes one week after Juvie spoke out about the initial Essence Festival of Culture lineup which included a number of A-list performers but only one New Orleans native.
“How is essence doing 50 years of hip hop in New Orleans without me???” Juvenile wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “F that Donna Fest July 2nd me w my live band +Mannie Fresh +Rebirth & more.”
Mia X was the only New Orleans native included on the initial bill. Headliners include Ms. Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, and Megan Thee Stallion, with a celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary from pioneers like Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, EPMD, Gucci Mane, Big Boi, Jermaine Dupri, KRS-One and more. There’s a West Coast set featuring Ice Cube, E-40, Ice T, and more.
There is also a “South Got Something to Say” set where prominent Atlanta natives will perform including Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri, and Gucci Mane, among many more. When a fan brought this up to Juvie last week, he shamed the festival for acknowledging the south but not natives from the city where the festival is hosted each year.
“They have a segment called ‘the south has something to say’ with all Atl rappers,” the fan wrote.
“They did not understand the assignment,” Juve replied.
Essence took to Instagram to address the matter and announce Juvenile’s inclusion in the coveted show, Okay Player reports.
“As we prepared to celebrate the cultural commemoration of 50 years of Hip-Hop at this year’s festival, we planned with intention around the integration of New Orleans & Louisiana artists and the musical heritage across several experiences,” they wrote.
“Whether it be the celebration of Hip-Hop femcees like New Orleans native, Mia X, who has previously been announced, or special surprise performances from local Hip-Hop artists that should not be missed, along with our all Crescent City musical line-up during our Family Day celebration, the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana will be well represented including Hip-Hop artist, Juvenile.”
It looks like Essence Festival of Culture has a jam-packed lineup for 2023 that will have the culture talking.
DC Young Fly Slammed For Making Fun Of Stretch Marks And Tummy Tucks Amid The Death Of His Children’s Mother, Jacky Oh
DC Young Fly is under fire after a video was released of him making disparaging comments about women’s bodies, tummy tucks, and Brazilian butt lifts. This comes just one week after BLACK ENTERPRISE covered reports that his longtime partner and mother of his three young children died from complications stemming from a mommy makeover. The popular cosmetic surgery involves both aforementioned procedures.
The Wild ’N Out comedian was engrossed in a conversation with the co-stars from the podcast 85 South Show, according to OnSite. One show host said, “N—– love stretch marks.” DC Young Fly responded: “Not the deep ones.”
He continued, “No, no, my boy, you got to lay on that one … It’s a lotta s— going on … it’s like laying on dirty clothes.”
Someone in the video referenced the stretch marks on a woman’s stomach, calling them a “pack of noodles.”
The group of men went on to ridicule and trade animated but not-so-funny remarks about BBLs and the outcome of tummy tuck procedures and how they are performed.
“They pull it up, they pull it up, that n—- shit be stretched,” DC Young Fly said. “Whatever they do, they taking that shit and they pinning the skin back together.”
“They done went and put a booty hole in her stomach,” the Wild ’N Out star said in response to another speaker’s outlandish remarks.
One in 13,000 people die from complications of tummy tuck surgery, according to the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.
People are not pleased with the crude commentary DC Young Fly participated in considering the loss of Jacky Oh due to plastic surgery and the physical changes most women experience as a result of childbirth. Social media users’ disdain and disgust was shared via an OnSite Instagram post.
“Having this conversation while knowing your girlfriend, who carried and birthed your 3 children, was about to have a mommy makeover and to release said conversation after she passed away as a result of the surgery? Interesting choices ….”
“I literally talked about this in my last video. These men say stuff like this and wonder why women feel the need to do it.”
Tami Roman, the outspoken former Basketball Wives star, questioned the couth of the conversation, not to mention the repost.
“Who on this show thought this was a good idea to post AFTER her passing?” Roman asked.
South African Firefighters Do An Emotional Praise Dance Before Fighting Canadian Wildfires
One thing about Black folks, we’re going to bring good energy wherever we go — even to help eradicate the Canadian wildfires. Our people know how to heal, OK?
Two hundred South African firefighters arrived in Edmonton, Canada, on June 4 and performed a traditional song and dance, eager to get rid of the fires that had been intensifying over the past six weeks, WFAA reported.
According to OkayAfrica, a video posted to Facebook of the firefighters waving their flag proudly and dancing with all their being went viral on Twitter and TikTok. Many Canadian users sent well wishes and gratitude to the men and women risking their lives to fight the wildfires.
Those who were fortunate to witness the performance in person noted how emotional the moment was and detailed their experience on Twitter. The video has since gone viral on social media, with concerned people all over the world witnessing the effects of climate change.
This may be one of Canada’s worst starts to the wildfire season ever, and it’s understandable that worldwide help is appreciated.
In the United States, the East Coast experienced the fires’ smoky aftermath, with an eerie orange haze filtering New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.; residents were warned to stay inside. Some schools were closed in New York City and New Jersey on June 9 due to poor air quality.
The Canada wildfires have been affecting millions on the East Coast and even the Midwest. Seeing the South African firefighters bring their morale and support through traditional song and dance is not only uplifting, it can also remind us just how much we need each other, as fires and climate change continue to affect our seasonal experiences.
Black Lives Matter Cancels Bankruptcy Rumors As Documents Show Millions In Assets
Reports that the Black Lives Matter organization is heading to bankruptcy seem to be false.
Recent tax documents filed show the nonprofit did in fact lose some money in 2022 but still has $30 million in assets, USA Today reports.
Documents show that BLM raised a little more than $9 million in its last fiscal year, running from July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. The 60-page file alluded to the fact that the organization spent more than what it has made, coming away with about $12 million less than the $42 million in assets it reported the previous fiscal year.
Shalomyah Bowers, who replaced co-founder Patrisse Cullors after she quit the organization, says the organization is nowhere near going bankrupt and describes its finances as “strong and stable.”
“Record-breaking fundraising is just that: record-breaking,” Bowers said. “The organization obviously does not expect to continue fundraising at such exceptional levels – even as it continues to raise millions of dollars – and has therefore planned its budget and future spending accordingly to ensure a stable and strong financial future.”
The accounting department at Marquette University defines bankruptcy as when “your assets aren’t enough to cover your liabilities.”
Rumors of bankruptcy started flying after a screenshot of a tweet from conservative commentator Benny Johnson began to circulate. “BLM Is Officially BANKRUPT,” the tweet read. “Bye Bye!” Attached with a video, it was viewed more than 700,000 times.
Tax documents also showed BLM’s Global Network Foundation ended the financial year with $8,559,748 and still owed millions to organizers and relatives of Cullors.
Bowers has been accused of mishandling money as a lawsuit from another organization, BLM Grassroots, alleges that he and his consulting firm disbanded an agreement to keep control of BLM’s digital presence, according to the Stamford Advocate. He denied the allegations, calling them “frivolous” and untrue.
“The auditor found that our financial outlook is healthy, there is no fraud or abuse within the organization,” Bowers said.
New York City Sues 30 Counties Over ‘Xenophobic’ Bans Against Migrants
New York City has filed suit against over two dozen counties for refusing to offer asylum to migrants who have poured into the city in recent months.
The lawsuit is the latest clash between state officials and local leaders in the Big Apple who hold opposing beliefs on how to handle the influx of asylum seekers. New York City is suing 30 counties for attempts to “wall off their borders” through “xenophobic” executive orders that violate a bevy of laws, according to ABC News.
Mayor Eric Adams offered a solution to the overwhelming number of migrants descending upon the city by offering houses of worship as alternative living options, however, the sheer volume of asylum seekers has triggered a series of emergency declarations across the state. Local officials have began threatening NYC and any willing hotels and businesses who aid in the relocation of migrants with criminal penalties.
“These counties have implemented misguided and unlawful executive orders premised on false claims that the prospect of a few hundred asylum seekers sheltered at the city’s expense across multiple counties constitute an emergency and imperil public safety,” said Sylvia Hinds-Radiz, who is a lawyer for the city.
Though morality is at the heart of NYC’s lawsuit, state officials have raised concerns about the actual infrastructure of a city that is already overcrowded and that expects to host over 61 million tourists in 2023 alone, according to Thrillist. Concerns about crime and other acts of lawlessness have also been voiced alongside fears that once hotels and other businesses end their aid, the state will become responsible for the care of thousands of migrants.
“We are not equipped to humanely assist these individuals, which eventually we’re going to have to do,” said Ed Day, the Republican executive of Rockland County, which was one of the first counties to receive asylum seekers from New York City, according to ABC News.
Preston Mutanga Is The 14-Year-Old Behind Viral Lego ‘Spider-Verse’ Scene
The teenager behind the viral Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Lego trailer had a hand in making the actual film.
Preston Mutanga, 14, received the opportunity of a lifetime from Spider-Man writer-producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller to help direct the Lego scene of the highly successful film, Gizmodo reports. After fans of the film asked of his involvement, Mutanga confirmed via Twitter with a simple “Yes.”
Working remotely, the talented Minnesota teen spent weeks animating the Lego sequence and having meetings with Miller who would check in on his progress and give feedback, according to TheNew York Times.
“One new thing I learned was definitely the feedback aspect of it, like how much stuff actually gets changed from the beginning to the final product,” Mutanga said.
While still in high school, Mutanga is well on his way to fulfilling his dream of being a full-time animator. The inspiration began when he was younger and his father introduced him to a 3-D software program called Blender.
“I watched a lot of YouTube videos to teach myself certain stuff.”
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was released in theaters on June 2 and is already the second-highest opening for the year so far. With characters voiced by Shameik Moore, Daniel Kaluuya, Issa Rae, and Brian Tyree Henry, the sequel to the 2018 original tells the story of Miles Morales in his continuous journey across the multiverse.
A fan of the franchise, Mutanga said he was honored to be included on the popular film.
“I adored the first movie and was so hyped for the second one, so getting to work with the people who actually made this masterpiece was honestly like a dream,” he said.
The Meaning of Juneteenth – A Blast From The Past That Somehow Escaped Us
June 19 commemorates the day that all enslaved Black Americans were freed. BLACK ENTERPRISE honors this day by remembering the heroism of those who came before us and the story of how this day came to be.The history leading to Juneteenth is long and fraught with tragedy that cannot be unwritten. But, as racism and prejudice exist today, it is important to commemorate the legacy and resilience of those who endured oppression and evolved a history into a fully developed holiday that celebrates freedom and Black liberation.
Enslaved Black Americans awaited a future free of bondage for themselves and their descendants, envisioning a life filled with promise and opportunities rather than pain and suffering. On January 1, 1863, these dreams came to fruition with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, an official decree that all enslaved people were free. Black Americans rejoiced, traveling to announce the news. However, this was not everyone’s story.
The Proclamation was limited in its scope. It only applied to states that seceded from the United States, leaving border states unaffected. It also failed to impact Southern secessionist states already under Northern control. The Emancipation Proclamation was, at its core, a war measure to ensure the Confederacy’s readmission into the Union. Its implementation was to force the Confederacy’s hand and liberate those enslaved in the region. The Union had to win the Civil War to enforce the total abolishment of slavery.
But on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers marched into Galveston Bay in Confederate-controlled Texas, announcing their victory and enforcing the manumission of over 200,000 enslaved people, freeing them from subjugation. Juneteenth was born.
Many consider Texas the birthplace of the holiday. Juneteenth, a portmanteau combining the words June and nineteenth, was first celebrated in the state in 1866, one year after the complete abolition of slavery. Following emancipation, many formerly-enslaved Texans focused on locating long-lost relatives and improving their quality of life. To observe the shift in tide, they held prayer meetings, sang spirituals, and donned new clothes to signify their newfound liberation.
Some revelers made it a custom to travel to Galveston annually, in honor of the day. Others created new traditions, like rodeos and horseback riding, in celebration. Many newly-freed Black Americans were taught about voting rights. Soon, these traditions spread to nearby states like Mississippi and Louisiana and eventually, the holiday evolved into what we know it to be today. A day of religious services, speeches, educational events, music and food festivals, Juneteenth is now a largely-recognized festivity.
Juneteenth’s significance has escaped many African Americans, as it went unknown to Black Americans outside of the Texas region and surrounding Southern states. Juneteenth was not a formally recognized holiday by Texas until 1980. And, it is not uncommon for Northerners to be unfamiliar with the concept entirely.
During the country’s Reconstruction era, the commemoration of the day was hindered by White southerners’ efforts to glorify the Antebellum period, with the remembrance of slavery reserved for their fallen Confederate brethren. Despite even this, Black Americans still sought to honor and remember a victory over their oppressors. But as the years continued, war and racial violence further scarred the sanctity of the holiday until, by the 1930s and 1940s, celebrations began to dwindle.
As conflicting recollections of the Civil War, the horrors of slavery, and public unrest grew, support for Juneteenth lessened. Eventually, Black Americans opted to honor their traditions in private gatherings. There was little improvement in how Juneteenth was celebrated in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s. However, the country would witness a large resurgence of Juneteenth celebrations in the 1970s as many Black Americans sought to reclaim their heritage, including their emancipation. But, throughout the South, it always remained a fixture in Black America’s legacy.
Juneteenth celebrations differ from household to household. For many who grew up in Texas, celebrating Juneteenth was a tradition in the home. You could even find families wandering around Fort Worth’s Martin Luther King Junior Center, listening to retellings of what occurred that fateful day.
Opal Lee is an activist who has dedicated her life to honoring the memory of the formerly-enslaved people of Texas. Lee had a vision for how the state should commemorate Juneteenth. Rather than a single day that recognized the atrocities of the past, Lee’s cause expanded into a multi-day event in Fort Worth, TX, that includes a parade, breakfast of prayer, a health and job fair, a Miss Juneteenth Pageant, a 5k run, an art exhibit, and more. Her efforts did not stop there. Lee wanted to ensure that Juneteenth became a federally-recognized holiday so, at 90 years old, she began a walking campaign. Starting small, she traveled through Arlington, Grand Prairie and Dallas, 2.5 miles at a time. Soon, she traveled across states. Eventually, Lee covered 21 states until the Covid-19 pandemic forced her to stop. However, she witnessed the fruits of her labor on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
As Juneteenth has grown in popularity, more Americans have learned about its history. It has become a staple celebration in households throughout the country. But, while freedom was first granted to Northerners, it was the South that carried the torch and legacy of Juneteenth.
Celebrate Juneteenth 2023 with BLACK ENTERPRISE with month-long content that explores the history of prosperity and banking, and the future of investing and financial literacy for Black communities.
Co-founders of Black Farmer Fund Win ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ At James Beard Awards
Olivia Watkins and Karen Washington are the first African Americans to receive Humanitarian of the Year at this year’s prestigious James Beard Awards, referred to by many as as the “Oscars of the food world.”
Watkins and Washington, co-founders of Black Farmer Fund, provide access to capital that is otherwise hard to obtain for Black farmers. To date the fund has raised over $1 million for Black farms in America’s northeastern region.
According to its websitd, “Black Farmer Fund was formed out of a series of conversations among Black farmers in the Northeast who were seeking capital that did not replicate the discriminatory and predatory lending practices that have been driving Black farmers and land stewards off of their land for over a century.”
In an interview with As It Happens guest host Helen Mann for CBC Radio, Watkins shared, “We have worked hard to make the food system in the northeast region of the United States a just and equitable one. Being able to have access to organic, free-range, culturally appropriate livestock for communities of color is really, really important. And so we’ve been able to support those organizations with capital to dig well pumps, to have electricity, to build out a farm stand.”
This year, 25 people of color were among the 30 winners according to The New York Times.
“This year at the awards there was so much diversity across the Best Chef categories, across the leadership awards.” Watkins observed. “I think they have a lot of people who are in positions of power who are aware of that and are looking to make those shifts to make sure that people who are underrepresented in the restaurant and agriculture industry are given the stage as well.”
The James Beard Awards are held in high regard in the culinary industry. However, concerns about diversity led to a new voting system last year. The awards were canceled in 2020 and a New York Timesinvestigation revealed there were no Black winners in all 23 categories, according to Eater.
After having to push back its plans for its grand opening to coincide with the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the IAAM will open to the public on Tuesday, June 27. The $120 million project has been in the works for more than two decades and required unwavering support from leaders in the city of Charleston.
The location of the museum is central to the story of enslaved Africans who crossed the Atlantic to Gadsden’s Wharf, overlooking Charleston Harbor, where many Black ancestors first encountered America. Before the museum’s official opening, the city’s residents can take part in a worship ceremony on June 22 and a dedication ceremony community gathering on June 24.
“As this magnificent new museum demonstrates, Charleston isn’t just a city where history happened — it’s a city where history is still being made every day,” John Tecklenburg, the mayor of Charleston, said in a statement. “I couldn’t be prouder of this extraordinary achievement.” For the museum, Henry N. Cobb, Walter Hood, and Ralph Appelbaum designed 100,000 square feet of space including nine galleries, a genealogy center, and a memorial garden, according to The New York Times.
Visitors can also expect to see work by the Malian photographer Seydou Keïta, local artist Fletcher Williams III, and a short project by legendary Daughters of the Dust filmmaker Julie Dash entitled Seeking. The video “re-interprets the coming-of-age traditions of the Gullah Geechee, the descendants of West Africans brought to the American Southeastern coast, into a narrative of resilience,” according to The New York Times. The museum will also be home to pottery by the enslaved artist David Drake.
Tonya Matthews, the museum’s president and chief executive, expects the grand opening of IAAM to be an emotional one, with the weight of the history of Black Americans very present within its walls. Employees have received training on how to console visitors who may find the gravity overwhelming. “There is a lot of emotion associated with this museum,” said Matthews. “Some folks have waited so long, and they thought this moment would never come. You don’t know whether to laugh or cry or shout or sing. You probably will want to get that all in.”
