• News

by Iman Milner

May 22, 2023

Rapper G Herbo Announces ‘Swervin’ Through Stress’ Mental Health Organization

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Chicago rapper G Herbo is deepening a commitment to his community through his new mental health initiative, Swervin’ Through Stress. The organization will cover the cost of therapy for Black youth ages 18–25 seeking support. According to its website, it also aims to increase access and utilization of mental health services amongst Black young adults and de-stigmatize cultural narratives about therapy among Black people.

Last week, the nonprofit organization announced a slate of events that kicked off on Saturday (May 20) with a “Black Joy Ride” event in partnership with SocialWorks, according to RapUp. The ride occurred in Chicago, beginning and ending at the Harold Washington Cultural Center. Attendees also had the option to shop with myriad local wellness brands. On Sunday, the organization focused its efforts on women affected by gun violence. Guests were treated to a spa experience, a breath-work workshop, and a host of sensory wellness activities, according to Billboard.

G Herbo has been open about how his upbringing affected his overall mental health. Last year, on an episode of Caresha Please, the 27-year-old talked about his use of alcohol to numb the grief of losing his brother and his inability to shake the many tragic events he’s witnessed. The rapper told host Yung Miami, “I think, you know, I be going through phases mentally. I really do suffer from PTSD.” And it seems he understands how much other people from his same circumstances may need extra support to help them cope. “Our community doesn’t talk about mental health enough,” Herbo told Billboard. “With Swervin’ Through Stress, I really wanted to create a space where it’s OK for us to talk about what we’re going through. A lot of us can relate to each other’s struggles.”

Last year, G Herbo made a clear move ahead of the pack with the release of his album Survivor’s Remorse which debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard charts. The double-sided album is one of the rapper’s most vulnerable, with topics ranging from his adjustment to fatherhood to wrestling with the gun violence he took part in during his upbringing in Chicago.

Swervin’ Through Stress is accepting donations here.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 22, 2023

North Carolina Lottery-Winner Plans To Open School In Mali With $100K Scratch-Off

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Souleymane Sana from North Carolina hit the lottery jackpot and is now making big international plans.

Sana spent $30 on a Millionaire Maker scratch-off ticket and won $100,000. With his prize money, Sana is hoping to build more schools in his native country of Mali, Insider reports. Now living in the small town of New Bern, the dance instructor says this is his dream. “I’m going to keep doing my best to help build more classrooms for the children in Mali,” Sana said. “That is the thing that makes me really happy.”

For Souleymane Sana, a #NewBern resident and native of #Mali, a $100,000 Millionaire Maker scratch-off win will give him the chance to help schoolchildren from his hometown! Check out the video of Sana telling his story. #NCLottery https://t.co/KY4lKvBLkH pic.twitter.com/0nTprUxuK9

— NC Education Lottery (@nclottery) May 19, 2023

The North Carolina Education Lottery posted a touching video on Twitter of Sana telling his story and explaining how his winnings will help students in his native country. “These schools don’t even have a classroom; they don’t have a desk to sit,” Sana recalls. “They have to walk miles and miles to come.”

According to the press release, Sana purchased the ticket from Neuse Shop & Fuel on West New Bern Road in Kinston. The 39-year-old opted for the lump-sum option, and after state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $71,259 at the lottery headquarters. The lottery can raise $2.5 million a day with scratch-off ticket purchases.

He started a nonprofit designed to help the residents of the West African country and now plans to use the money to build a dance center for children. “I love to dance, and I want to teach the children in Mali to love it too,” he said. “If you talk about culture and you talk about education, they both go together.”

These young men were highly successful throughout their undergraduate studies, resulting in a three-way tie as the highest academic achievers in their class.

On May 21, Morehouse College held its commencement ceremony for the graduating class of 2023. It proudly honored three valedictorians, Alan Cowan, George Pratt, and Darryl Sams, top scholars spanning three academic divisions.

A finance major, Cowan is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented business owners through venture capital. “This institution has fueled my drive to support business owners in my community, and I look forward to making a meaningful impact in supporting their growth and development.”

The Brooklyn native holds titles as a Martin Luther King Jr. scholar, Black Venture Capital Consortium member, and Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society member. According to LEX 18, Cowan has also spent his time bridging the gap between chess and the Black community by creating a movement called “The Black Odyssey.”

 

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Pratt graduated as a double major in history and religion. The scholar, from Jacksonville, Florida, is pursuing cultural theory and Black studies. The International Chapel Assistants Program was a significant part of his studies at Morehouse. “Working under the tutelage of Dean Lawrence Carter has proven to be a transformational experience that has enriched my learning environment far beyond the classroom,” Pratt said.

 

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From St. Louis, Missouri, Sams traveled to Morehouse and pursued his studies in Biology. The Phi Beta Kappa Society member and president of the Health Careers Society, seeks to provide healthcare resources to underserved populations. “The most transformative and fulfilling part of my Morehouse experience has been the constant reminder of my worth, importance, and necessity as a Black man in society,” Sams said.

 

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Morehouse also acknowledged top scholar William Whitfield as its 2023 salutatorian. Whitfield, from Texas, is passionate about “filling the deficit of Black male physicians.” It is important that he is a role model for Black men who aspire to work in the medical field. “I can educate my community on the heart, how to keep it healthy, and provide exceptional care to those with cardiovascular diseases,” said Whitfield, who was honored with the Atlanta Advancing Research Careers in Science Award for his research.

 

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The future is looking bright for all four of the Morehouse scholars.

Cowan will move to San Francisco to work in late-stage investing at Mastry Capital. Pratt plans to obtain a master’s and doctorate of philosophy in theology at the University of Oxford. Sams will pursue a medical doctorate at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Whitfield is headed to Baylor College of Medicine’s post-baccalaureate Research Education Program to pursue a medical scientist training program.

Congratulations to these young men!

Bravo is making heads turn and eyebrows raise as it debuts its official spinoff to the summer house franchise, “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard.”

Martha’s Vineyard is an island in the Northeastern United States south of Cape Cod in Dukes County, Massachusetts. While known for its scenic beaches and Black prestige residency, this summer, it is the prime destination for all things fun and unexpectedly disruptive. The reality show follows the journey of an all-Black cast, the first of its kind in the franchise coming to the Vineyard looking for love and a good time with friends.

BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke to three of the 12 cast members, Amir Lancaster, Jordan Emmanuel, and Preston Mitchum, to talk about inclusivity, what they learned, and their hopes for the show. 

Martha’s Vineyard celebrates Blackness and success, meeting all in one. Am I hitting it on the nail?

Preston Mitchum: 100 percent. It’s interesting you say that because I describe the show as a love letter to the Vineyard. There are many times we have yet to learn the history of the Vineyard, myself included, about all the rich past and legacies, including the Black people and Black collectives who owned the homes, the generational legacy, and the wealth, both in terms of finance and enriched love. There’s a lot of deep history, and I hope that is the part people take away from it.

Preston, on the show, you are deconstructing gender norms. How important is it to have Black Queer representation on a reality show like this one?

PM: The reality is, I think, for so long, TV, film, and media broadly create caricatures of Black or Black queer people. They become the totality of their queerness, or their queerness becomes the totality of them, making them one-dimensional. I tell people all the time, I love being queer, I love being gay, but I also love being Black. I’m certainly not the only person like Preston that exists, and we often don’t get these opportunities. 

Being the only Black queer person on the show and among these friend groups, I think viewers will also appreciate the dynamics of what it means to have straight men be in love and community with their friend who happens to be gay and are fiercely protective of him. 

Amir, you’ve spoken about not feeling like you were able to connect to the Black side of your family growing up. Being on the show, did you feel more connected to your Blackness?

Amir Lancaster: Yes, I found a piece of myself and my identity that I never thought I would have been able to come across. I found it in a way that is very unique from other people. Many of my friends who have grown up with Black families and backgrounds have that essence. The real building of my identity didn’t come from outside the house and our experiences. It came from the relationships I built with Jordan, Preston, and Nick Silas. It’s beautiful. 

Jordan, on the show, you mentioned during the first episode about your experience at Playboy and being in the minority while you were there. How does a show like this bring up some themes for you about representation and being the minority?

Jordan Emmanuel:  At the end of the day, I’m a one-of-a-kind person because I do so much and do it all simultaneously. I’ve had these unique experiences, and Playboy is one of them. In that, you get to see people’s reactions, and that’s more revealing about them and society than it is about me or their thoughts about me. I’m always going to advocate and be a pioneer for women standing up for themselves and standing their ground in what we want to do.

I am excited for people to see more of that behind-the-curtain moment than just what they’ve seen in magazines or on my Instagram. I love creating a space for the other side of it, of being a multidimensional woman with more than one thing to offer. I do have different business endeavors, and I do different things. 

What are your hopes for the success of this show?

AL: I hope we have the opportunity to share our stories and continue our journey. But also to change how we cast for shows like this, and the sense of bringing [people together]. There are a lot of interesting people in the world. And there are many beautiful people worldwide, as you can tell from our cast. Highlighting that and making sure these people who have these stories to tell and these experiences finally have a platform they can do it on.

by Black Enterprise

May 22, 2023

Dallas Police Department Announces Plans To Move Non-Emergency Calls To Online Reporting System

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In an effort to improve response times, the Dallas Police Department will now be diverting all non-emergency incidents to an online reporting system, according to Dallas Magazine. 

Estimated to save over 100,000 hours, the Dallas Online Reporting System (DORS) will now be used to report all low-priority and non-emergency incidents. Deputy City Manager Jon Fortune delivered a memo to the Dallas City Council, saying that incidents such as vandalism and minor car wrecks will soon be reported online rather than directly with the police department. Doing so is expected to free hours of the department’s time, allowing resources to be spent on more serious issues and to work on crime prevention. These new procedures are set to be implemented in mid-June.

DORS is not an entirely new concept for many Dallas residents. Those who have previously been involved in non-emergency incidents like small car accidents or theft have likely already utilized the system as people are able to report such incidents on the Dallas Police Department’s website. However, now this online reporting will be required, not optional. If a person is not able to complete an online report because of internet inaccessibility, they are instructed to call a police department representative.  

911 administrator Robert Uribe spoke at a May 8 meeting of the council’s Public Safety Committee about the need for DORS. Uribe told the committee that between, 2019 and 2022, 19 percent of calls where an officer was dispatched could have been handled through the online reporting system. 

“Despite our best efforts, our DORS use and phone report usage remains low,” he said. “So far in 2023, we’ve diverted 6 percent of all calls that are eligible. Of course, we would prefer to divert 100 percent of those calls.”

Uribe also shared that there was a 7.6 percent increase in priority one phone calls in 2022, which are considered the most urgent. Priority two phone calls increased by about 3 percent. “These calls require multiple officers to go to the scene, and this can also increase the workloads of teams across our department,” he said.

These phone calls are also increasing police response times. Priority one response times have been increasing by 6.21 percent since 2022 while priority two response times have increased by 42 percent. Priority three calls have increased by 53 percent and priority four by more than 30 percent.

The police department’s new system is also caused by low officer staffing. “We took a look at our staffing levels compared to priority one calls since 2011,” Uribe said. “What we saw was that since 2011, our priority one calls have increased over 70 percent, while our sworn staffing level has decreased by 10 percent.”

The DPD commissioned KPMG to analyze its staffing and phone calls. The KPMG report suggested working with other agencies to divert certain types of calls. For example, parking violations would now be settled through the city’s transportation department. 

Other changes include a new towing program, which will allow officers to respond to other calls. Kiosks with tablets will also be installed at all department substations and storefronts that would allow people to use DORS. 

Uribe assured the committee that this new reporting system will not interfere with how reports are typically investigated. “Everyone should understand that it does not change the investigative process,” he said. “The same follow-up units are notified, and they complete their investigation as is standard through any police report that’s filed.”

Other incidents that would move to this new system include car and coin-operated machine burglary, debit or credit card abuse, harassing phone calls, identity theft, interference with child custody, and some types of theft. For a full list of included incidents, visit www.dallascityhall.com.

RELATED CONTENT: Ohio Senate Passes Bill That Lowers Minimum Age To Hire Police Officers To 18

Shalisa Davis and her daughter, Mishay, who are from Detroit, Michigan, shared a very special moment when they recently graduated together from the Hondros College of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio.

Shalisa, who has been a practical nurse for over 20 years, said she wanted to do more in the medical field and so she made plans to go back to college. Mishay was then inspired by her mother and so they decided to go on this journey of earning their degrees together. The mother-daughter duo said being together in class allowed them to support and help each other along the way.

“[I would] stay on top of her, like ‘did you study this, did you get your homework done’, versus her yelling at me to get your homework done,” Mishay told WTOL.

Their graduation day was indeed a momentous day for the two as Shalisa walked across the stage first and Mishay literally followed her mother’s footsteps. Shalisa said she felt overwhelmed with emotions at that moment.

“As a mother when you watch your children graduate from college, you feel kind of complete,” Shalisa said. “You feel as a parent, even though we made mistakes, we did something right.”

Moreover, the two said they are grateful for the help of their family while they simultaneously achieve their goals. Shalisa’s son and Mishay’s brother Justin Davis, whom they also celebrate having graduated from his college this year, was a great support for them.

“The days where we both had to be at school or clinicals, he kept my daughter and granddaughter, so he was an intricate part in the program for us,” Shalisa said.

Moving forward, Shalisa said she wants to open her own clinic that could help underserved communities with fewer healthcare resources. Mishay, who passed her boards, plans to pursue further education and become a family practitioner.

This article was first published on blacknews.com

Numerous celebrities took time out of their busy schedules to participate in commencement ceremonies at HBCUs across the country.

On May 21, Grammy Award-winning artist Anthony Hamilton provided the keynote address for Johnson C. Smith University graduates in Charlotte, North Carolina, the HBCU Advocate reports. The Charlotte native also received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree during the ceremony. Hamilton, 52, posted the touching moment to his Instagram page with audio from his hit debut single, “Comin’ From Where I’m From.”

 

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The soul singer has already documented his love for the fine arts before receiving the distinguished honor, releasing a book titled Cornbread, Fish n’ Collard Greens with some of his favorite recipes. He’s also dabbling in the entrepreneurial space with Hamilton Corner Store. Partnering with Chef April Robinson, the e-commerce store is a “one-stop shop for all things southern cooking,” according to the website, offering products from quick grits to branded cast iron skillets.

 

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He partnered with Frances Grey Hats for a signature hat line following his signature look.

 

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Hamilton joins a list of other music artists and Black celebrities to receive honorary degrees this graduation season. West Coast rapper E-40 received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Grambling State University, and Erika Alexander walked away with a Doctor of Music degree from Bennett College. Usher also received high praise as the keynote speaker at the Berklee College of Music and was presented with an honorary doctorate for his contributions to music and philanthropy.

Hamilton has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. He recently announced tour dates for shows featuring The Ton3s.

When Black women team up, it can be a sight to witness. Genel Ambrose and Tina Knowles Lawson have curated a special avenue for Black femme-identifying visual artists in Los Angeles.

The WITNESS exhibition began on April 1 and invites viewers to see the world through the eyes of 14 Black woman artists for eight weeks. Knowles Lawson, curator, and Ambrose, artist and curator, bridge the gap between other people and Black women. Exhibition attendees become privy to honest reflections about how the 14 artists view society, their communities, and even themselves through workshops and talks.

Visitors can record their own narratives through the TRUTH installation. The interactive platform aims to address how Black women and girls are largely portrayed due to algorithmic bias.

Ambrose shared, “I am a mom of three girls, an artist, curator, and writer. As an artist, I create experiences that interrogate memory and the role that technology plays in preserving and sharing the narratives of Black women and girls.

“As a curator, I believe that art is a tool for social impact and collective transformation. I enjoy creating spaces that build community and celebrate Black women’s creative and intellectual brilliance.”

Ambrose brings her GOOD MIRRORS cultural institution as co-presenter of the visual art experience. Like WITNESS, GOOD MIRRORS is committed to Black women and works to reflect Black women “as whole and dignified beings.” Knowles Lawson and Ambrose also partnered with Black Women Photographers.

The artist and curator said, “WACO Theater, Black Women Photographers and I were eager to bring together Black women and non-binary visual artists who project their visions of society, community and themselves through art.”

“We asked ourselves these questions: What do we witness when we see through the eyes of Black women? What do Black women call our attention to? What possibilities are made visible when looking alongside Black women? WITNESS is our response.”

“Exploring themes of identity, girlhood, womanhood, family, community care, adornment, future-making, and dreaming, WITNESS invites viewers to look alongside and through the eyes of these artists and bear witness to what they might not otherwise see on their own,” Ambrose added.

She also shared that, “WITNESS is a call for us all to be witnesses and stewards of our stories (visual and written). As Black women and nonbinary people, stewarding our stories is a critical act of self care that will allow us to continue to thrive throughout generations.”

Artists featured in the exhibit include Alexis Hunley, Amber J. Phillips, Amber Evangelista, Sophia Nahli Allison, and Stephanie Mei-Ling. Where Art Can Occur (WACO) Theater Center in North Hollywood will house the art exhibition through May 27.

BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with Ambrose to talk about the exhibit, partnering with WACO Theater Center, the importance of authentically showcasing Black art and much more.

What is the aim of GOOD MIRRORS?

Genel Ambrose: Our name is inspired by Audre Lorde’s poem, “GOOD MIRRORS ARE NOT CHEAP.” The poem describes how the status quo creates gross misperceptions of historically marginalized people. At GOOD MIRRORS, we believe it is up to us to create our own heroes and our own mirrors.

How did you choose which visual artists to feature in the exhibit and how do their works complement your overall vision?

We wanted the exhibition to feel immersive and interactive. We selected artists whose work spans installation, portraiture, digital collage, and film. What connects each artist is their use of art to tell expanded and nuanced stories about Black people, community, society, and the world as they see it.

Why do you believe it is so important that Black women photographers capture art from their perspective?

It is important for Black women photographers and artists to share their stories and perspectives through art so that we can bear witness to the fullness of who we are. Our stories are often told for us. By capturing our own imagery and creating our own art, we are able to tell our own stories, create our own mirrors, and see ourselves on our terms—as whole human beings.

The emergence of artificial intelligence has been the talk lately although it’s been in our lives for years. With the news of music producers utilizing A.I. to recreate the voices of artists like Drake and The Notorious B.I.G., the controversy surrounding the creative rights of artists is gaining more attention. BIG3 owner Ice Cube is the latest recording artist unhappy with the recent emergence of this modern technology.

Last week, the “Straight Outta Compton” lyricist expressed his disdain for the technology and said if anyone broached the subject of using his voice using the technology, he will pursue legal action, according to Complex.

Ice Cube appeared on an episode of the Full Send podcast and when the topic of producers using A.I. to recreate the voices of artists without their permission was brought up, Cube used the example of someone who used Drake’s voice over an Ice Spice song “Munch (Feelin’ U).

“I don’t wanna hear an AI Drake song,” the former N.W.A. member stated. “Yeah, I don’t wanna hear that bullsh*t. He should sue whoever made it.”

Cube also said if anyone attempts to use an A.I. generated voice of him, he will make sure he sues them, even calling the technology “demonic.”

“And I’mma sue the m**af**ka who made it and the people and the platform who play it. It’s like a sample, you know what I mean? Somebody can’t take your original voice and manipulate it without having to pay. I think A.I. is demonic [and] I think A.I. is going to get a backlash from organic people.”

Producer Timbaland recently shared an A.I. collaboration with the Notorious B.I.G. and was ecstatic about it. Until social media and music producer, Young Guru criticized him for it. Young Guru said it was corny and labeled it “dangerous” when he called Timbaland out on his Instagram post.

With a patriotic salute and special celebration, Princess Cruises today welcomed one of the few surviving Tuskegee Airmen onboard Discovery Princess in Seattle as he arrived for his celebratory cruise to Alaska, marking an early commemoration for his 100^th birthday. Lieutenant Colonel James H. Harvey III, retired United States Army Air Corps and Air Force officer (USAF), shattered racial barriers in the military as a part of a group of African American pilots who served their country with legendary distinction during World War II.

To honor Harvey, the McChord Field Honor Guard welcomed him and his family aboard Discovery Princess with a USAF traditional display of presenting colors. Topping out the festivities, the Discovery Princess crew presented Lt Col Harvey with a birthday cake while hundreds of the ship’s company joined in wishing him a happy birthday.

“It’s our sincere honor to celebrate the 100^th birthday of Lieutenant Colonel Harvey III, a trailblazer, hero, and real ‘Top Gun,'” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “His life and legacy should remind everyone the power of courage, determination, resilience and the American spirit. From all of us at Princess Cruises, we salute Lt. Col. Harvey and wish him a very happy 100^th birthday!”

RELATED CONTENT: Celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen Legacy – #Soaringtogreaterheights

Born in Montclair, New Jersey on July 13, 1923, Harvey is a former fighter pilot with the 332^nd Fighter Groups 99^th Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, “Red Tails,” one of 1,007 documented pilots trained for aerial combat during World War II. He is best known as the first African American USAF jet fighter combat pilot to fight in the Korean War and flew 140 missions from 1949 to 1950. Harvey, along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen, received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006.

In addition, Harvey won the USAF’s very first “Top Gun” competition in 1949, when he and his team lead a grueling 10-day event comprised on aerial gunnery at 20,000 and 12,000 feet, dive bombing, skip bombing, rocketing firing and panel strafing.

After serving a combined 22 years (1943-1965) in the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force, Harvey retired and joined Oscar Mayer as a corporate salesman and settled his family of four girls in Denver, where he still resides.

During the voyage Harvey will share insights from his storied service and remarkable life experiences with other guests as part of a scheduled onboard discussion. Discovery Princess is currently sailing on weeklong, roundtrip cruises from Seattle to Alaska, departing every Sunday through September.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.