• News

by Iman Milner

June 10, 2023

International African American Museum To Open Its Doors In Charleston, South Carolina

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The long-awaited International African American Museum will finally open its doors later this month, and the city of Charleston, South Carolina, is preparing for an emotional week.

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.

• News

by Iman Milner

June 10, 2023

Former Music Executive Ceci Kurzman Launches Data-Tech Platform For Textured Hair

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Ceci Kurzman has worn many hats throughout her career and now she’s taking on the task of merging technology with the needs of the textured hair community through her new platform OurX.

The former music executive, Revlon board member and private investor believes the data-tech platform is the answer to oft-ignored hair needs of women of color.

“Presently, hair care remains segregated in the beauty and personal care industry, with solutions for those with textured hair remaining separate and unequal,” she said in a statement. “While celebrating the many powerful brands already shaping this category, OurX endeavors to use proven data to combat an oversimplified, one-size-fits-all view of the textured hair consumer.”

The company’s mission is to bring “personalized, high-performance innovation to the underserved textured hair consumer” and with the help of a seed round funded by Reign Ventures and other angel investors, OurX is entering the market at a time where Kurzman believes its needed the most, according to AfroTech. 

“As an investor and Black woman in business, I was frustrated by some of the industry’s best practices not reaching the textured hair market, and the absence of reliable data to support those within it.  As a consumer, I knew I wasn’t alone in my personal experience of spending a lot of time, money, and energy on my hair and not getting the results I was looking for,” Kurzman said.

For the founder, OurX stands to push back against ideas that textured hair does not need specialized care and attention; as well as providing factual evidence to support the power of consumers in this community.

“I feel like haircare is that last frontier of segregation in beauty because it really is separate,” she said. “How it’s developed, how it’s marketed, how it’s funded, how it’s distributed, and we go back to separate and not so equal because the brands, whether they’re indie brands or actually part of larger corporations, are not getting the same access. A lot of that comes down to just an age-old perception that somehow it’s a niche audience. It’s an audience that’s broke. It’s an audience that cares more about efficacy than it does about healthy ingredients.”

OurX will provide users with a personalized hair assessment before curating a customized regimen for optimal scalp and hair wellness including a comprehensive breakdown of suggested product usage.

RELATED CONTENT: Dr. Nadia Lopez Talks Upcoming Brooklyn ‘Hair Fest’ Designed For Youngsters

• News

by Iman Milner

June 9, 2023

Cleveland Browns Players Robbed At Gunpoint After Leaving Nightclub

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The hits keep on coming for the Cleveland Browns as cornerback Greg Newsome II and defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey were robbed at gunpoint while leaving a nightclub on June 5, according PEOPLE.

PRAYERS: Cleveland #Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II was robbed at gunpoint for his vehicle, per @BrandonLittleBL of @SInow.

This makes the second #Browns player to be the victim of a crime in the last two days. Demetric Felton had his car stolen on Sunday and there is a… pic.twitter.com/ciBrikjWze

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 6, 2023

The two players exited the club around 3:30 a.m. and made their way to Newsome’s vehicle, ESPN reported. Once there, six masked men allegedly brandished weapons and demanded that the players hand over jewelry before fleeing in Newsome’s truck. Neither men were harmed in the incident, however, it was reported that Newsome’s vehicle has yet to be recovered.

Newsome referenced the attack on Twitter saying, “it’s a cruel world we live in”, to which fans and supporters offered overwhelming positive words while expressing their gratitude that neither men were fatally wounded in the robbery. 

It’s a cruel world we live in🙏🏽

— Greg Newsome II (@gnewsii) June 6, 2023

Brown’s coach Kevin Stefanskispoke to media ahead of the team’s training camp, expressing similar sentiments. “I’m glad our guys are OK. … We want everybody to be safe and we want to get violent people off of our streets,” he said. Declining to comment further, Stefanski added that he had spoken to police following the incident. It’s unclear whether this is an isolated attack as Browns backup running back Demetric Fulton also had his vehicle stolen earlier this week, according to ESPN.

The Browns are hoping to recover from a less than stellar 2022-23 season which began with their star quarterback Deshaun Watson serving an 11-game suspension for allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct with over two dozen women while receiving massages. The team finished last in the AFC North division in a season that many thought would be highly successful.

This rapper is getting crunk for a new season of his home renovation.

On July 10, 2023, Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Jon will premiere season two of Lil Jon Wants to Do What?  “I can’t wait for viewers to see what we’ve created in this season of Lil Jon Wants To Do What?,” Lil Jon said in a statement.

The producer and DJ has no plans of turning down his creativity—and for what? His ideas include giving a sitting area a hotel lobby vibe, an upscale sports bar according to an HGTV press release. The first episode will feature a basement makeover into a family entertainment area.

“We went bigger, bolder, and way outside of the box for these families,” Lil Jon said. “It’s been an incredible experience and I’m excited that soon we get to share it with everyone. Get ready for a wild ride!”

The rapper is channeling his creative energy alongside designer, Anitra Mecadon.

Season one came to the screen on May 2, 2021. At the time, the Lil Jon said it was something he had worked on for a while. Nearly 13 million viewers tuned in for its first season.

Lil Jon has found more than one reason to turn up as spring heads into the dog days of summer. The National Hockey League (NHL) reported that he made an appearance with the The Stanley Cup at a day club in Las Vegas, telling the NHL’s website, “The Stanley Cup in the building tonight!” “Now, in about two weeks, the Golden Knights are going to close this series out with the Stanley Cup, and we’re going to parade this thing down Las Vegas Boulevard!”

Lil Jon is a “real NHL fan,” said NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer.

The countdown is on for the season 2 premiere, so make sure to set your DVRs!

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 9, 2023

Wilt Chamberlain Is The Goat and ‘Goliath’ In Upcoming Docuseries On Showtime Sports

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Goliath, a three-part sports documentary on NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain, will premiere in summer 2023 to any subscriber of Paramount+ With Showtime, according to Showtime Sports.

Arguably the greatest center in basketball, Goliath will debut July 16, followed by two more weekly episodes.

Former NBA player Kevin Garnett and his Content Cartel production company are producing Goliath along with Village Roadshow Television, Gotham Chopra’s Religion of Sports, Happy Madison Productions, and Heeltap! Entertainment.

“It was an honor and privilege for my team and me to share Wilt’s incredible legacy with the world,” said Garnett in a written statement. “Wilt’s cultural impact as a prominent outspoken African American athlete was revolutionary, especially during a time when social strength was not popular. There is no KG, [Michael] Jordan, Hakeem [Olajuwon], LeBron [James], Kobe [Bryant], or Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal] if Wilt doesn’t pave our way. We all stand on his strong shoulders. We all owe a very special thanks to Barbara Lewis and Wilt’s family for allowing us the full access and trust which was crucial to tell this extraordinary story. GOLIATH is not only a tribute to Wilt’s extraordinary career but also a celebration of the mark he left on and off the basketball court and the world.”

Although Chamberlain died in 1999, through the use of artificial intelligence, the audience will hear Goliath  through his voice.

The story will take us through his breakthrough as an athlete and a high school basketball player as well as Chamberlain’s cultural impact. The docuseries will follow him through his dominance of college, the NBA, and the many records he shattered.

There will be contributions from various notable figures, including Garnett,  Pat Riley, Rick Barry, Bill Walton, Lisa Leslie, Oscar Robertson, Jemele Hill, Jerry West, and the late Jim Brown.

If you’re a Wilt Chamberlain fan, or simply get a better understanding of a basketball legend, get your popcorn ready.

• News

by Stacy Jackson

June 9, 2023

Economists Urge Caution As Unemployment Benefits Skyrocket To More Than 260K Claims

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Recently, the U.S. Labor Department saw a spike in unemployment benefit applications.

The Associated Press reported the number of unemployment benefits applications was the most since October 2021. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of jobless claim applicants on June 3, 2023, was 261,000. The number increased by 28,000 compared to the previous week, which ended May 27, 2023. Moreover, the unemployment rate rose to 3.7% from 3.4% in April 2023.

Stephen Stanley, chief U.S. economist for Santander, said Memorial Day weekend may have impacted the numbers. Per the Associated Press, he said, “The latest reading reflects a holiday-shortened week (Memorial Day), which ought to raise suspicions that the big move was more noise than signal.” As a result, Stanley added that he would not conclude that layoffs are increasing overall. “I am eager to see next week’s reading before I draw any conclusions,” he said.

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark lending rate in May 2023, and economists think there will be a pause on rate hikes next week.

Both unemployment and hiring have increased. The Associated Press also reported U.S. employers added 339,000 jobs in May 2023.

How are Black people managing? The unemployment rate for Blacks is the lowest it has ever been. This year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 5.5% of Black or African American people ages 16 and older are unemployed. The number is a 1.3% decrease from 2022. Black or African American women are unemployed at a 5.1% rate. Black or African American men are unemployed at a higher rate (6.0%). When comparing total unemployment rates for 2023, Hispanics follow closely behind with 5.4%, whites 3.5%, and Asians 3.1%.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed in 2021 that the unemployment rate was highest for Black people. Unemployment was 8.6% for Blacks and 4.7% for whites. Other data showed 6.8% unemployment for Hispanics and 5.0% for Asians.

Twenty Black-owned small businesses in the New England region could pocket $25,000 grants to help them grow, invest in their business, and gain additional resources.

Launched in 2021, the Power Forward Small Business Grant program is geared toward creating a lasting impact in the economic empowerment of Black entrepreneurs.

The fourth round of funding, totaling $500,000, is being provided by the online marketing services firm VistaPrint and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, each contributing $250,000. This funding means 20 eligible businesses in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and parts of Connecticut can apply between now and June 30, 2023. Grant recipients will also receive customized design and marketing assistance from VistaPrint to help scale up their business.

Applications for the grant will be run by the civil rights group NAACP in partnership with the technology platform Hello Alice. Small-business owners should be able to show the impact their firm has had on their community and explain how they plan to use the grant.

New or existing Black businesses based and operating in the six states and with up to 25 employees can apply. So far, Power Forward has given grants to 39 Black-owned small businesses totaling $1 million across many industries, including events and entertainment, food and beverage, health and wellness, and transportation.

The grant help is truly needed: In 2022, it was reported some that 41% of Black small-business owners were more likely than the average 32% of small-business owners to seek more financing to address challenges their businesses face. Those findings arrived while minority entrepreneurs were oftentimes not applying for small-business loans due to fear of rejection or the unfortunate circumstance that they might receive lower amounts and higher interest rates if approved.

Emily Whittaker, EVP, commerce and marketing at VistaPrint, stated, “Opportunity is what empowers small-business owners to have an outsized impact on their community and succeed. That’s why it’s vital that accessible resources exist to create equitable opportunities for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs, including Black small-business owners.”

Ted Dalton, chief partnership officer at the Boston Celtics, said, “Alongside our valued partners, VistaPrint and the NAACP, we are thrilled to announce a new round of funding for The Power Forward Small Business Grant. Like all of the programs under our Boston Celtics United for Social Justice initiative, we remain focused and committed to addressing the systemic origins of inequities in our community.”

The application deadline is nearing, so if your company fits the bill, apply today!

As Tory Lanez prepares for his sentencing in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting, newly unveiled details could impact how much time he’s given.

The Toronto rapper is accused of trying to ambush Megan’s Rolling Loud set with Da Baby in July 2021, The Daily Beast reports. The State of California listed the incident in a 12-page sentencing memorandum detailing how Lanez planned to jump on stage during Megan’s set despite the protective order she filed after he shot her in July 2020.

“It was also brought to the victim’s attention that the defendant and DaBaby attempted to rush the stage during her performance,” the memo stated.

“In no way was the victim previously aware of nor did she consent to the defendant’s presence at the venue when she would be performing.”

Da Baby brought Lanez out as his surprise guest at the July 25, 2021 concert. It was a bold move as Da Baby’s performance directly followed Megan’s set and she had an order that prevented Lanez from being within 100 feet of her, according to Variety.

With Lanez allegedly trying to ambush Megan’s set, prosecutors are accusing the “Say It” singer of trying to “re-traumatize” Megan in addition to having allegedly “weaponized misinformation” on social media in an attempt to discredit the “Savage rapper.

The new findings are expected to be presented when Lanez appears for his sentencing on June 13. Prosecutors are allegedly trying to sentence Lanez to 13 years in prison for shooting Megan.

Lanez has been jailed since December 2022 when he was found guilty of felony assault for shooting Megan in July 2020. Last month a Los Angeles judge denied Lanez’s request for a new trial, CBS News reports.

The “Stupid Again” rapper claims evidence was wrongly admitted at the trial but Superior Court Judge Herriford rejected the arguments saying even if the evidence was resubmitted it wouldn’t change Lanez being found guilty on three felonies.

Meanwhile, Megan has kept her distance from Da Baby after he seemingly sided with Lanez after the shooting. The “Suge” rapper also later revealed his sexual encounter with Megan in his song “Boogeyman.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tory Lanez’s Lawyers Petition Judge To Be Disqualified From His Case Due To ‘Favoritism‘

• News

by Stacy Jackson

June 9, 2023

Black News Outlets Hopeful For Proper Compensation With New California Pro-Journalism Bill

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Black news outlets could receive a hefty sum from social media giants using their content.

The California Journalism Preservation Act aims to help support local, small, and ethnic news publishers in the state.

The bill, also known as AB-886 was passed on June 2, 2023, and says platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram should pay news outlets for circulating their content. According to NPR, about 70% of the collected money would help create newsroom jobs and support staff—which has dwindled in the past 10 years the bill says.

Assembly woman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) shared that she created AB-886 to protect free speech. Wicks reasoned with the Assembly, “Free press is in our constitution, and it is at risk right now. That is what this bill is about,” per the Los Angeles Sentinel. The bill states that, “enabling publishers to receive fair market value for their content used by others will preserve and ensure the sustainability of local and diverse news outlets.”

AB-886 also addresses the importance of African Americans telling their story and argues in favor of Black news outlets saying they should be “justly compensated” for what they produce. The bill mentions Samuel Cornish, African American journalist and abolitionist, and his 1827 preamble, “We Wish to Plead Our Own Cause.” “This call to action spurred the establishment of numerous Black-owned newspapers and publications, solidifying the role of the Black press as a powerful tool for empowerment and social change, and laid the groundwork in our country for other ethnic media to plead their own cause.”

However, an analysis estimated that giants like Fox News would benefit the most from the bill. The analysis estimated that 844 times more money would go to news giants than Black news outlets in California.

In May 2023, Facebook and Instagram said they would remove news from their platforms if the bill was passed. The Los Angeles Sentinel reported a spokesman for Meta said, “If the Journalism Preservation Act passes, we will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram, rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers.” Meta owns Facebook and Instagram.

A Pew Research study found 53% of Americans get their news from social “at least sometimes.” One third (36%) get their news from Facebook.

Social media personality Tabitha Brown kept her promise to her father and walked across the stage as a graduate from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Brown received her honorary doctorate of humane letters on June 2 and in an emotional Instagram post, shared the story of her early college days and how a phone call transpired to her dreams coming true. “In 1997, I attended International Fine Arts College to study fashion design. Halfway through the first semester all I could think about was acting and performing,” Brown remembered.

“Daddy you need to come get me, I’m wasting your money. I’m supposed to be an actress! That Saturday morning I got in my daddy’s car and said “Daddy I’m sorry I’m quitting, but I promise you, one day I’m going to be famous and when that happens I will do fashion then, but for now I gotta pursue this passion for performing!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)

Little did Brown know, more than 20 years later, she is gifting the world with her talents in multiple industries.   Brown has appeared on Showtime’s The Chi, hosted her own pre-school YouTube series Tab Time, launched a hair care and spice line plus curated numerous collections with Target, Global Grind reports.

The TikTok influencer – with more than five million followers – talked about the full circle moment of having her father by her side from college to the corporate spaces.

“Well that was 1997 and I’ve been pursuing entertainment every since! Last year I debuted my first clothing line with @target and my daddy was right by my side!!,” the mom of three said. “Today @scaddotedu presented me with an honorary doctorate’s degree and daddy was right by my side!!!

 

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A post shared by Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)

Brown has been a favorite amongst the Black community and worldwide. The Hollywood Reporter recently listed her No. 2 out of the 75 most powerful people in kids entertainment.