Boston Celtics Teammates Are Rumored To Have Fake Love For One Another
The Boston Celtics have a famed history of brotherhood between the players that is practically unmatched in the NBA. However, that mindset may have left the team.
According to a report by Clutchpoints, the way the Celtics might begin their summer vacation sooner rather than later. They’re down 3-2 in its Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Miami Heat and there are reports teammates have been “fake liking” each other.
“This is a Celtics team that has had chemistry issues in the past,” The Ringer’s NBA reporter Kevin O’Connor said. “They got through it, they got better, but I’ve had a source tell me in the past week that this Celtics team feels like a group that’s tired of fake liking each other. They’ve been around each other forever… and they’ve got to shake things up on different levels.”
“I’ve had a source tell me in the past week that this Celtics team feels like a group that’s tired of fake liking each other.” @KevinOConnorNBA on what’s led to the Celtics struggles in the Eastern Conference Finals 😳
Before Kyrie Irving left the team, it was rumored even that Irving wasn’t well-liked and the majority of Celtics players were ecstatic that he was gone. But it seems that whatever distrust or dislike the players have for one another may cause management to make decisions on how to handle the discontent, especially if the team loses this series.
According to NBC Sports Boston, it appears that Celtics guard Jaylen Brown may have been responding to rumors regarding his team.
“You start to hear all these stories come out about x, y, and z. Who knows where they actually come from? And 99 percent of them are not true at all.” Brown said.
As the series nears its end, we’ll see how their chemistry effects the team.
Victims Caught In George Floyd Protests Awarded $80M Settlement
At least 19 American cities are set to pay more than $80 million to protesters injured by police during 2020 racial justice protests stemming from George Floyd’s tragic murder.
The Guardianreported that the whopping settlement deal may increase as many lawsuits persist. It has been three years since the murder of Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, sparking the largest racial justice protests in the United States since the Civil Rights Movement.
But the movement went far beyond this nation’s borders: more than100 cities and millions of people rallied to stand against police brutality and racial injustice.
During this critical time, the National Guard was deployed and police officers discharged use-of-force tactics, including tear gas and projectiles. Dozens of lawsuits were subsequently filed for trauma as well as permanent bodily injuries. According to the news outlet, experts believe that the potential $80-plus million is a record considering the “unprecedented” number of lawsuits stemming from the George Floyd protests.
For instance, Anthony Evans of Austin, Texas, said he was peacefully protesting the murder of Floyd with his twin brother on Sunday, May 31, 2020 when he was struck in the jaw with a less-lethal bean bag round, according to KVUE. He underwent two surgeries and had a permanent titanium plate installed in his jaw.
“I never thought anything like that would happen to me,” Evans told the Austin outlet. “They said my jaw looked like I got hit by a car.”
The city of La Mesa, California, awarded a local woman $10 million after an officer shot her in the head with a bean bag projectile, CBS 8 News reported. The traumatic incident landed Leslie Furcron in the ICU in a medically induced coma and lost vision in one eye.
Cities involved in the mounting settlements include New York, Philadelphia, Denver, and Atlanta. In fact, New York City and its police department have settled with 320 protesters who were victims of batons, pepper spray, and being zip-tied during a June 2020 protest.
A total of $9.25 million was paid to hundreds of Philadelphia protesters. The city agreed to pay plaintiffs in four federal civil rights lawsuit as well as contribute $500,000 to a fund that will provide counseling to victims of police violence and offer community-led programming.
Exonerated: 33 Years Too Long For Dallas Man To Serve Wrongful Conviction
Tyrone Day, another wrongly accused and imprisoned Black man, has been exonerated and is now a free man.
According to the Innocence Project, Day spent more than a quarter of a century in prison for a crime he did not commit and was released after being exonerated. In 1990, a then-19-year-old Day was convicted of a 1989 sexual assault of a woman in South Dallas. He has always proclaimed his innocence throughout the years.
“I want to thank the Dallas County Conviction Integrity Unit for bringing this to a conclusion. It has been a long, hard journey for my family and me, but I never lost faith that my innocence would be proven,” said Day.
“Today, I am focused on my family and my passion for sustainable farming. I was born and raised in South Dallas, and the opportunity to bring fresh produce here, where it’s scarce, and train the next generation of farmers is so meaningful to me.”
Day believed that if he were convicted at trial, he would face a life sentence and, based on the advice of his attorney, decided to accept a plea deal. He expressed his innocence to his attorney but was told that he would likely be released on parole after four years in prison if he pleaded guilty. Placing faith in his attorney and knowing the other option was life in prison, he accepted the plea.
He was then sentenced to 40 years in prison. He served nearly 26 years in prison before being released on parole and required to register for life as a sex offender.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) began another investigation into the crime. A DNA test cleared Day from being at the scene of the reported assault and identified two other suspects instead. The investigation also found the woman who was attacked never saw Day’s face when she identified him as one of her attackers. The victim identified him as the assailant due to a similar hat he had been wearing.
“This case is another example of how wrongful convictions can be corrected when a prosecutor’s office works with Innocence Project attorneys to find the truth,” said Gary Udashen of the Innocence Project of Texas, one of the attorneys who represented Day.
“The work of Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, as well as Conviction Integrity Unit Chief Cynthia Garza and her staff, was essential to justice being achieved for Tyrone Day.”
After the former prisoner was released, he returned to his hometown of South Dallas and has been the system manager and lead horticulturist at Restorative Farms, which he helped found.
Diddy Wants To Help You Track Down Comb Spirits With ‘Diddy Direct’
If you’re craving Ciroc Vodka or want to sip on some DeLeon Tequila, Diddy has found a way to see exactly where you can purchase it from, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.
The Chairman of Combs Global, Sean Combs, launched Diddy Direct, a platform the entrepreneur created to assist customers and retailers alike to find and buy any of the spirits under his brand.
“This platform is a game-changer for the spirits industry, and we’re proud to offer consumers and retailers direct access to our portfolio of premium spirits,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs in a written statement. “With Diddy Direct, we’re setting a new standard for direct-to-retailer & direct-to-consumer experiences and bringing the best of Combs Spirits directly to anyone, anywhere in the country.”
To announce the new venture, Diddy teamed up with DJ Khaled to bring attention to the site. A video clip showed the pair on a golf course discussing the new service.
The website directs consumers and retailers to locate Combs Spirits products in proximity, searching by location, brand, and flavor across the United States. A game-changer indeed, as the multifaceted entertainer described, because it provides easier access for beverage managers, nightclub owners, and anyone wanting to visit clubs, restaurants, and liquor stores to find out if they have Ciroc and/or DeLeon available.
This announcement comes after Diddy introduced his latest flavored vodka, CÎROC Honey Melon. It’s been described as a full-bodied spirit made with vodka distilled from fine French grapes, brimming with subtle notes of melon, honey, and other natural flavors, culminating in a taste experience that is both boldly distinct and elegantly smooth.
This Black-Owned Vision Company Offers More Than Just Basic Contact Lens
Black Pearl Vision, the world’s only Black-owned and woman-owned contact lens manufacturer, is making history one acquisition at a time.
In less than a year, the Sarasota, Florida-based company has acquired another content lens manufacturer and expanded its signature Extreme H2O product line. According to a press release, the company has fully absorbed Ireland-based color contact lens manufacturer PolyDev, now offering opaque color contact lenses in toric, plano, and spherical parameters.
As stated on the company’s website, PolyDev is the manufacturer behind the innovative TORIColors, the only disposable color contacts for patients with astigmatism. Now, the company has powered these base lenses with Extreme H2O, stunning colors, proven comfort, and outstanding visual quality. Add color to your lenses with TORIColors’ blue, green, grey, or amber.
“There’s limitless potential for this expansion as we continue broadening our footprint in the vision industry and improving eye health for those who are underserved or underrepresented,” said Dr. Shante’ Williams, CEO of Black Pearl Vision, in a statement.
“The work of our incredible team and partners will help strengthen our expertise in research and development to provide more options for contact lens wearers.”
As part of the deal, PolyDev’s 2,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Dunleer, Ireland, is anticipated to have a new home with the company by June.
For Black Pearl Vision, recognizing the potential of other companies forwards its mission.
Last year, Black Pearl Global Investments— the Black-owned asset management firm focused on reducing health disparities globally—acquired Florida-based contact lens manufacturer Hydrogel Vision Corp. (HVC). HVC, a division of Clerio Vision, is best known for its Extreme H20 contact lenses. As a result of the acquisition, HVC was renamed Black Pearl Vision and became the first of its kind.
Through the deal, Black Pearl Global Investments retained HVC’s 38 employees while increasing the number of jobs in the area. They have also occupied Sarasota’s 33,926-square-foot Food and Drug Administration-regulated manufacturing facility.
Former NFL Player Claims He Was Down Bad And In Despair After Trash Shark Tank Deal
Many entrepreneurs hail the business reality television series Shark Tank as a golden ticket to achieving the American dream.
That dream was short-lived for Al “Bubba” Baker, a former NFL player. The creator of Bubba’s Q Boneless and Baby Back Ribs revealed that the deal he made with Shark Tank investor Daymond John turned out to be a “nightmare.”
Baker and his daughter, Brittani Bo Baker, who appeared on the show with her father, revealed to the Los Angeles Times they received $553.35 in profit from January to March of this year. However, Brittani said they were left in the dark when it came to finances. A 2019 lawsuit filed by Rastelli—a manufacturer John recommended—was filed in response to the Bakers putting a hold on dealings until accounting issues were settled, leaving the Bakers with $171,000 to pay in attorney fees.
The Bakers said the business had earned $16 million in revenue after the first three years. According to their interview with the Los Angeles Times, the father-daughter duo claimed they pocketed just 4% of that money. Baker’s daughter said in a video on social media, “The day after airing, we had to refund over $30,000 worth of sauces.” Brittani said John put the Bakers in contact with Nate Holzapfel, a former Shark Tank contestant and inventor of the Mission Belt, to set up a website where people could purchase the product after the show aired. The refunds were a result of Holzapfel not setting up “sales taxes on the sauces,” according to Brittani.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Baker also said that John changed the offer he initially agreed to on camera. John allegedly called after the show, offered $200,000 less than his initial offer, and asked for a 35% stake. The episode showed the Bakers accepting the original agreement of $300,000 for a 30% stake.
Brittani revealed the losses she and her father have allegedly suffered throughout their dealings with John, including losing their family home, savings, and control over the business.
John responded to the family’s claims in a video. He noted that he chose not to send a cease and desist because he had hoped “the truth would come out.”
As we know, the new millennium ushered in great advancements in technology and globalization. Countless scholars and analysts have said it over and over again — it is critical for our students in the US to have an education grounded in science, technology, engineering, STEM and math — preparing them to compete in the modern economy.
As President Obama stated during the 2014 White House College Opportunity Summit — the key is to “expose students to STEM disciplines in elementary and middle school, increase college access, and maintain postsecondary affordability.” For African American students, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are playing a key role in this — by providing affordable education, providing support to excel in college, graduate and thrive in successful STEM careers, according to UNCF. But, how do we build a sustainable pipeline for this?
Since 2002, Kevin Mondy, Sr., founder of Project Still I Rise, has answered the call by bridging the education equity gap amongst African American students in underserved communities. He is building a pipeline by:
• Stimulating interest in STEM beginning in elementary school
• Providing exciting and challenging STEM-based programming like robotics and coding
• Extending wraparound support services in math and science subjects
• Creating STEM professional mentorship opportunities
• Working alongside inner-city school counselors to guide students in their educational journey
Several of PSIR program alumni are now successful STEM professionals, graduating from HBCUs across the country:
George Polk – PSIR program participant (from 4th grade through 12th grade), majored in Electrical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. He is currently employed at ConocoPhillips.
The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest in engineering are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative, Project Manhood, PSIR Urban Scholars Program, and PSIR NSBE PCI Chapter Robotics & MATHCOUNTS Team.
Nickalas Lampkin – PSIR program participant (from 4th grade through 12th grade), majored in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He is currently employed at Lockheed Martin in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest in engineering are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative, Project Manhood, PSIR Urban Scholars Program, and PSIR NSBE PCI Chapter Robotics & MATHCOUNTS Team
Kevin Mondy, Jr. – PSIR program participant (from 5th grade through 12th grade), majored in Cybersecurity and Information Assurances at Hampton University. He is currently employed with the Department of Defense, Naval Warfare and Intelligence Command Center in Norfolk, Virginia.
The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest in technology are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative, Project Manhood, PSIR Urban Scholars Program, and PSIR NSBE PCI Chapter Robotics & MATHCOUNTS Team
Taylor Brooks – PSIR program participant (from 5th grade through 12th grade), majoring in Computer Science at The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He recently accepted an internship with Medtronic.
The PSIR Programs he participated in and stimulated his interest in science are Urban S.T.E.M Initiative and PSIR Urban Scholars Program
The successful programming that PSIR has utilized since 2010 to activate and engage youth in STEM includes:
Urban STEM Initiative — The engagement of this initiative originated through a summer experience at The University of Texas at Dallas known as the ‘Urban STEM Camp’ — a camp that gives 35 middle school students an opportunity to experience college life, gain exposure to STEM professionals and receive instruction on advanced math principles and robotics. The camp also includes a math skills competition and an engineering design competition, along with Youth Hackathons and our Urban STEM Pop-Ups. PSIR partnered with the Johnson School of Engineering and industry professionals from Google, Microsoft and Titus HVAC at UT Dallas to provide a year-long STEM outreach opportunity for students. The Pop-Ups engage university faculty and staff, industry professionals, and community members and are held on the third Saturday of each month. At initial enrollment, PSIR had 58 students register for the program in fall 2022.
Community STEM Empowerment Conference — This annual conference included a town hall and panel discussion for STEM professionals, community members, parents, educators and students. The goal of the conference is to engage the participants on the critical importance of STEM and its relevancy in today’s society. The panel discussions are followed by industry professional-led workshops.
The last weekend of July, Teyana will serve as a hometown hero alongside Cam’ron, Doug E. Fresh, and MA$E who are Harlem natives set to perform for their city’s first-ever music festival. Joining the Harlemites are Grammy award-winning musician Wyclef Jean, rising star Coco Jones, Adam Blackstone, Bell Biv DeVoe, Eric Bellinger, Fat Joe, Jozzy, MAJOR., Muni Long, Remy Ma, Ro James, Tink and more!
Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Estelle is curating a special Dancehall LinkUp that will include special appearances by Lumidee, Max Glazer, Mr. Killa, Nadine Sutherland, Nina Sky, Rupee, Serani, and Wayne Wonder. To top off the iconic event, hip Hop legend MC Lyte will serve as host for the entire Festival weekend.
“As a native New Yorker, I’m honored to host the very first Harlem Festival of Culture,” MC Lyte said in a statement.
“Harlem Festival of Culture has planned something special that I think everyone – whether they’re from around the corner, across the country or around the world – will enjoy.”
The festival will run for three days from July 28– July 30 on New York City’s Randall’s Island – an island located between Queens and East Harlem and under the jurisdiction of East Harlem’s Community Board 11. The rebooted festival was inspired by the groundbreaking Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 that served as the focus of Questlove’s Oscar-winning 2021 documentary “Summer of Soul.”
The newly rebooted HFC will include interactive art installations, a curated culinary court, and a reimagined Mart 125 marketplace named and modeled after Harlem’s famed economic hub and incubator that once housed a number of small, Black-owned businesses on the legendary 125th Street.
Festivalgoers can also take part in more intimate concert events at the famed Apollo Theater as well as other activations that will be going on throughout Harlem.
Get your tickets for the Harlem Festival of Culture HERE.
South Carolina Slammed For Using White People To Promote ‘Inclusive’ Juneteenth Festival
Black residents of Greenville, South Carolina were shocked at the town’s choice of Juneteenth celebration promotion and advertisement.
Organizers for the event are now apologizing after hanging lightpost banners featuring white people, DailyMail reports. The event is being promoted as “a celebration of freedom, unity and love” and quickly caught the attention of Black twitter.
The plot thickens as the organizer of the event, Juneteenth GVL co-founder Rueben Hays, is black. Hays says the design was one of many in a bid to be inclusive.
“Juneteenth GVL would like to offer an apology to the community for the presence of non-black faces being represented on two flags representing Juneteenth,” Hays said in a statement.
“Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring that our events fully the diversity, inclusivity, and historical significance of Juneteenth.”
Juneteenth GVL had 50 banners set up around downtown Greenville for the event next month.
Several activists and community members sent emails expressing their concerns and even posted some questions about the banners on social media. One user said, “This isn’t a all lives matter holiday” in response to a tweet defending the banners.
Do you even know what Juneteenth represents? This isn’t a all lives matter holiday, it is a celebration for one particular group of people.
Hays says he approved the banners himself along with his co-founders and the decision was made months ago.
“The city of Greenville was extremely helpful in supporting with the direction and the positioning of our choosing,” Hays told WYFF News 4. “They had no input on any artwork or anything creatively that we’ve done for Juneteenth.”
The event is scheduled for June 10-17. A flyer posted on Facebook paints a very different depiction of what the event entails.
The banners have since been removed, according to Post and Courier. Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, the day when the last slaves were finally freed, finalizing the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. President Biden proclaimed the celebration as a federal holiday back in 2021.
Jay Ellis Leaves His ‘Insecure’ Days Behind To Investigate The Serial Murders Of 6 Black Girls
Actor Jay Ellis has a new investigative series aimed at solving the serial 1970s murders of six Black girls whose bodies were discarded along the Washington D.C. highway.
It was between 1971 and 1972 when six Black girls between the ages of 10 to 18 went missing in the Washington D.C. area. The bodies of Carol Spinks; Darlenia Johnson; Brenda Crockett; Nenomoshia Yates; Brenda Woodard; and Diane Williams were found murdered and discarded alongside D.C. highways.
Local media dubbed Washington D.C.’s first serial killer as “The Freeway Phantom.” The killer would go on to taunt police with a chilling note claiming responsibility, and terrorizing phone calls to the victims’ families. Five decades later and the killer has never been brought to justice.
Now, Ellis’ Black Bar Mitzvah, Tenderfoot TV, and iHeartPodcasts is presenting the “Freeway Phantom,” a 10-episode podcast series that kicked off on May 17. The series will explore the racial disparities that plagued the case at the time, how strategies for solving murders have evolved since then, and the lack of trust between law enforcement and local communities, that still exists today.
Hosted by award-winning journalist and public radio veteran Celeste Headlee (NPR, PBS, TEDx), she shows passion in unearthing the truth behind the disturbing case she spent the last two years investigating.
“In addition to helping these families get answers and justice, Freeway Phantom also aims to bring awareness to these cases by examining the racial disparities that continue to exist today between law enforcement and local communities,” host Celeste Headlee tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“The most urgent issue is finding some measure of justice or at least closure for these families who have suffered for so long. The murders of these young girls did not get the attention or investigation they deserved, and it is important that their stories be heard nationally.”
“What’s more the same issues that hampered law enforcement back in the 1970s–racist assumptions about the victims and their families, mistrust between police and Black communities, and lack of communication and cooperation between separate law enforcement agencies–still impede modern efforts to solve violent crimes and protect children from harm,” she continued.
“This story is both decades old and painfully current.”
Press play below for an exclusive sneak peek from Episode 3.
