• News

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

May 17, 2023

Massachusetts US Attorney Accused of Election Meddling and Lying

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Rachael Rollins, the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts, improperly used her U.S. Justice Department position to meddle in a local district attorney election by leaking to newspapers dirt about a political rival – one of many ethics violations cited in two reports by government investigators on Wednesday.

The reports by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz and the independent U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) were released a day after Rollins, appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden as the first Black woman to serve as U.S. attorney in Massachusetts, announced she would resign by Friday.

The scathing 161-page inspector general’s report described a host of ethics lapses, from Rollins improperly attending a Democratic fundraising event with U.S. first lady Jill Biden in her capacity as a prosecutor to accusations that she “knowingly and willfully made a false statement” during her interview with Horowitz’s office.

Horowitz referred the false statement allegation to the Justice Department in December for possible criminal prosecution, though the report said officials declined to do so.

The OSC report said Rollins “willfully violated” the Hatch Act – a law that limits the political activities of federal employees. It characterized the case as “one of the most egregious Hatch Act violations” OSC had ever investigated.

Rollins is a prominent figure in the “progressive prosecutor” movement that supports policies designed to eliminate racial disparities in the justice system. The investigations were launched at the urging of Republican U.S. Senator Tom Cotton.

The reports described her interactions with Ricardo Arroyo, a progressive-leaning Democrat who in 2022 ran in the party’s primary election for the Suffolk County district attorney job vacated by Rollins when she became U.S. attorney. Arroyo’s rival, moderate Democrat Kevin Hayden, won and now serves as the county DA.

Justice Department and OSC investigators unearthed numerous text messages showing that Rollins was working behind the scenes to help Arroyo win the election.

“No mercy. Finish him,” Rollins wrote in one July 2022 text.

The investigators said Rollins planted negative information about Hayden in Boston Globe articles about his handling of a police misconduct probe and then used those stories to try to help spur a Justice Department investigation.

Rollins later leaked to the Boston Herald a sensitive Justice Department memo saying she would be recused from any Hayden-related investigation.

“By leaking non-public DOJ (Department of Justice) information for the purpose of damaging Mr. Hayden’s campaign, Ms. Rollins violated the Hatch Act prohibition against using her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the results of an election,” the OSC found.

When Rollins was interviewed about the leaks, the inspector general said she “lacked candor” and “falsely testified under oath” by initially denying she was the source of them.

Horowitz’s report also said Rollins violated Justice Department policy andethics rules by soliciting free Boston Celtics NBA tickets, using her personal cellphone for official business, accepting payments from outside groups to attend events and accepting political contributions to her Suffolk district attorney campaign account after becoming a U.S. attorney.

Her attorney Michael Bromwich said the inspector general’s allegations “amount to minor process fouls.”

“Though Ms. Rollins could have raised many facts and arguments in connection with these issues, she had no interest in litigating them any further. She believed the better course was to step down,” Bromwich said in a statement.

In a letter in the OSC report, Bromwich said Rollins received Justice Department approval to attend the fundraising event.

Rollins “was there for the sole purpose of a brief meet-and-greet with the First Lady. Ms. Rollins pledged no money, encouraged no one else to pledge money or make cash contributions, stayed for no speeches, and left immediately after she shook hands with the First Lady,” Bromwich wrote.

Rollins, narrowly confirmed by the Senate in December 2021, is one of the 93 U.S. attorneys appointed by the president as the lead federal prosecutors in various regions around the country.

by Derek Major

May 17, 2023

Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, Former Mayor Willie Brown Support Class Action Suit Against Wells Fargo

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Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown held a press conference Wednesday to announce their support of a class-action lawsuit against Wells Fargo Bank.

According to the class-action suit, Wells Fargo denied loans to minority applicants at an “unprecedented rate” during the COVID-19 pandemic, when interest rates dropped to historic lows.

“More specifically, non-white applicants for home loans from the defendants in this case—Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo & Co., and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage—had their applications intentionally and disproportionately denied, faced unjustified delays in processing their applications, and/or were given less favorable terms than similarly qualified white Americans. This was the result of Wells Fargo systematically engaging in a new form of redlining that harmed Plaintiffs and the Class based on their race and ethnicity,” the complaint states.

Brown and Crump held the press conference at the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco. Crump added that housing discrimination against Black Americans had kept generations of Black men and women from building wealth.

“Homeownership is the heart of the American dream and Wells Fargo has pushed that dream out of reach for thousands of Black and Brown Americans with their blatant discriminatory loan practices,” Crump said during the conference. “Just as we have cried out against policing practices that have killed Black people and Brown people, so do we denounce Wells Fargo’s racially motivated banking practices that kill Black and Brown opportunities.”

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the homeowner rate for white Americans was 72.7% in 2021. However, for Black Americans, the homeowner rate is 44% and has increased just 0.4% over the last decade.

The press conference, which included testimonials from Black Wells Fargo customers who attempted to refinance their loans, came a day after Wells Fargo agreed to a $1 billion settlement of a 2016 class-action lawsuit filed by its shareholders alleging the bank made misleading statements concerning its compliance with federal regulators.

In recent years, the bank has donated to several Black causes and organizations, including 100 Black Men of America Inc., the NAACP, and Black entrepreneurs. However, the bank also had some controversies concerning Black Americans.

The New York Times reported the bank discontinued a hiring policy requiring recruiters to interview a diverse pool of candidates after the bank held fake job interviews. Forbes also reported last year that Wells Fargo denied 53% of mortgage applications filed by Black applicants. New York City Mayor Eric Adams also announced the city government would no longer work with the bank due to its discriminatory practices.

In a statement emailed to Black Enterprise, Wells Fargo responded to the lawsuit:

“We are confident that we follow relevant government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) guidelines in our decision-making and that our underwriting practices are consistently applied regardless of a customer’s race or ethnicity. These allegations against Wells Fargo stand in stark contrast to the company’s significant and long-term commitment to closing the minority homeownership gap.”

A new rule from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to raise mortgage fees for those with higher credit at the benefit of those with lower credit was recently rescinded following backlash from over 26 states.

After the rule was proposed in January, many borrowers pushed back, criticizing the decision as unfair and encouragement for others to maintain their credit scores irresponsibly. In response to criticism, FHFA Director Sandra Thompson said, “Some updated fees are higher and some are lower, in differing amounts. They do not represent pure decreases for high-risk borrowers or pure increases for low-risk borrowers. Many borrowers with high credit scores or large down payments will see their fees decrease or remain flat.”

Still, this did not dissuade angered buyers and, in a plea to President Biden, 27 states wrote a joint letter claiming that this rule would make aspiring homeowners with good credit struggle with their purchase.

“In other words, the policy will take money away from the people who played by the rules and did things right — including millions of hardworking, middle-class Americans who built a good credit score and saved enough to make a strong down payment,” the letter said.

However, the controversial rule was short-lived as, on May 10, it was officially rescinded. Thompson released a second statement saying, “I appreciate the feedback FHFA has received from the mortgage industry and other market participants about the challenges of implementing the DTI ratio-based fee. To continue this valuable dialogue, FHFA will provide additional transparency on the process for setting the Enterprises’ single-family guarantee fees and will request public input on this issue.”

Following the strong opposition to the bill and subsequent voidance, many have expressed the importance of public involvement regarding such drastic changes.

President of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Kenny Parcell had this to say:

“Likewise, the FHFA’s decision to release a request for information on the other changes is a great example of good governance. NAR has worked with the FHFA to shape the LLPAs since their inception in 2008. We look forward to a thoughtful and deliberate process for the public, industry, and the regulators to clarify misconceptions and to arrive at the best policy for home buyers and the market. NAR previously wrote the FHFA urging it to require factors such as higher credit scores or larger down payments to offset this risk in lieu of higher fees that would only raise the borrower’s risk of default. The FHFA also announced that it will conduct a request for information on other new fees, such as those imposed on borrowers with higher credit scores and moderate down payments.”

RELATED CONTENT: Entrepreneurs Living In NYC Public Housing Awarded $20,000 Small Business Grants

• Health and Wellness

by Stacy Jackson

May 17, 2023

Black Mortality Rates Reflect 1.6M Excess Deaths Over Span of 22 Years

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A new study has revealed high statistics for the Black community concerning its death rate.

Published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a study found the mortality rate for Black Americans spanning over two decades equated to 1.63 million excess deaths compared to white people. From 1999 to 2020, the Black community was cut short of over 80 million years of life, considering the number of Black people who died at younger ages.

According to NBC News, the study’s authors believe the results amplify the necessity to improve the health of Black Americans, who often die at higher rates from heart disease, cancer, and infant mortality.

Herman Taylor, an author of the study and director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, believes the study is significant for every life lost in the Black American community.

“Real lives are being lost. Real families are missing parents and grandparents,” Taylor said. “Babies and their mothers are dying. We have been screaming this message for decades.”

Clyde Yancy, another author of the study, is the chief of cardiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Yancy linked the excess death rates to the country’s long history of discrimination against Blacks in areas including education, housing, and employment.

“It’s very clear that we have an uneven distribution of health,” Yancy said regarding the redlined Black neighborhoods that experienced higher rates of poverty and poor health, such as the COVID-19 virus. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that Black Americans suffered numerous deaths from the COVID virus.

A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health revealed that non-Hispanic Black newborns were 2½ times as likely to die before their first birthdays as non-Hispanic whites. According to The American Journal of Managed Care, non-Hispanic Black mothers saw higher death rates related to pregnancy than non-Hispanic whites.

• Career

by Atiya Jordan

May 17, 2023

6 Ways to Make Your Mark in the Luxury Real Estate Market, According to Jeremy Norman

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With a buying power projected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2024, the Black community is reclaiming their narrative, normalizing their wealth, and rewriting their stories into a vision that depicts prosperity and wellness.

In light of National Real Estate Day, there is no better time than now to achieve your luxury real estate goals and to prepare for what’s ahead.

Count on Jeremy Norman, luxury Realtor and owner of one of the largest minority-owned real estate firms in the southeast, Norman & Associates Real Estate Solutions. With over 200 agents in Metro Atlanta and dozens of agents at the Metro Birmingham office, the history-making CEO is changing the landscape of real estate and taking everyone with him to the top.

“Luxury real estate is an experience and service that is provided by a Realtor from the first call to closing the deal,” Norman tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It’s the manner in which listings are presented. It’s not enough to send a link to a client and ask if they want to view the property. It’s the full set up—accentuating the surrounding area, preferred terrain, proximity to quality schools’ grocery stores, and workout centers. It’s all about value.”

Norman is proud to have built his firm from the ground up. It is now serving as a pipeline, bringing in more Black Realtors into the luxury market. In doing so, Norman shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE six ways budding real estate agents can make a mark within the luxury real estate industry.

 

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A post shared by Jeremy Norman, CCIM (@jeremy_realtor)

Ways to get into the luxury real estate market

Norman’s real estate journey consists of a long list of accolades, including being named the youngest African American to be inducted into the Commercial Club in 2011 and later into the prestigious Institute of Luxury Home Marketing. He recently received the coveted acknowledgments of being named “Minority Entrepreneur of the Year” and a “Top 40 Under 40” in his home state.

A Birmingham native, Norman’s humble beginnings in finance is what led him to pursue real estate full-time. For several years, Norman worked at a top firm and realized an underserved market creating world class experiences for Black and Brown home buyers.

Here are Norman’s tips for taking that step into the industry.

1. Attend high-end networking events within your local community. You must go to the venues and areas of your desired clientele.
2. Take a luxury real estate training course. The course will arm you with the necessary tools to be successful within luxury real estate as it relates to rules and regulation, the art of negotiation, and what luxury clientele is looking for in a new home.

Ways to become a luxury real estate agent

Today, about 6 percent of real estate agents and brokers in the United States are Black, though 14 percent of Americans are Black. Only 4 percent of real estate agents operate within the luxury market.

Before creating his own agency, Norman found his niche in the luxury residential and commercial real estate sectors, where he netted millions of dollars. But he also realized the number of upper-level minority agents was disproportionate and that larger opportunities weren’t distributed equally. He recommends aligning with valuable connections in order to secure a position as an agent.

1. Join a brokerage that specializes in luxury real estate. There are several across the country, but the key is to find the right match and best fit for your career. It would be best to search for brokerages that offer continued training, have access to leads within affluent demographics, and offer robust mentorship to new Realtors.
2. Connect with a luxury real estate agent that can mentor you in luxury. We’re out here, and always looking for opportunities to give back and pour into the next generation of Realtors.

What to know about investing in luxury real estate

According to a 2022 “The Trend Report,” released by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, 80 percent of U.S.-based high-net worth consumers agree that real estate is a safe investment choice. In fact, over one-third agree that it is the safest investment when compared to stocks, bonds, cryptocurrency, and pensions.

To further expand your expertise, follow these tips to get you started in the investment phase of your luxurious journey.

1. Know your product. You must understand what you’re selling. What are all the golden touches that elevate a home? What brings ease to clients’ families within homes—and takes it from a house to a home and oasis? It’s important for aspiring luxury realtors to know those important attributes.
2. Choose the right real estate agent that specializes in luxury. Luxury in every sense of the word. The right real estate agent that specializes in luxury can walk you through all the necessary steps to close the deal, but also leave a striking impression so that the client will share their positive experience.

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

May 17, 2023

Super CJ Animated Series Launches Contest to Raise Awareness for Children’s Mental Health

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Super CJ, the strongest boy in the world, is launching a new drawing contest sponsored by the Epic Foundation with one $500 prize for each school level (elementary, junior high, and high school) to help raise awareness for children’s mental health.

The contest invites participants to watch the trailer for the upcoming Super CJ animated series @JustLikeMeTV on YouTube or https://www.justlikemeworld.com/justlikemetv, then draw the Super CJ character sharing a message of support for children who may be struggling with mental health issues.

Entries must be posted on social media by tagging @JustLikeMeWorld and @EpicSouthFlorida with #SuperCJ.

The contest is open to all students from grades 3-12. The entries must include grade level, first name of the student, city and state.

“We are excited to use our animated series to help raise awareness for children’s mental health. Our books about Super CJ and Princess Briana have already helped thousands of children across the world with mental health issues,” said Yaba Baker, the creator and executive producer of the Super CJ animated series. “We want to remind children that they are not alone and that there is help available.”

Each winner’s drawing will be featured on all the @JustLikeMeWorld social media pages and will receive a personalized message from the show’s creator. Additionally, the winner will receive a Super CJ merchandise package, a Super CJ book, blanket, and pillowcase.

The Super CJ drawing contest is the latest initiative from the show’s creators to promote mental health awareness and engage with fans. The series aims to be highly entertaining for the entire family with a special commitment to bringing awareness to children’s mental health.

The contest also supports mental health organizations working to improve access to mental health services for children. A portion of the proceeds from our book and merchandise sales will be donated to these organizations.

“Children’s mental health is an important issue, and we are proud to support organizations that are working to make a difference,” said Nathan Aferi, co-producer of the Super CJ animated series.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 17, 2023

Report Show Black Crime Victims and Families Often Denied Compensation In Several States

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In numerous states nationwide, Black crime victims and their families are often denied compensation for numerous reasons rooted in racial biases, Associated Press reports. Experts found New York, Delaware, Georgia, Nebraska, and more were just some of the states where African American applicants are twice as likely to be denied over white applicants. Between 2018 and 2021, thousands of Black families were denied millions of dollars worth of aid.

Every state has a program to reimburse crime victims and families for lost wages, medical bills, funerals, and other expenses. However, the rules vary, as well as other factors like program leaders and employees. Those responsible for application review base decisions on information provided by police reports and follow-up questionnaires—known to provide biased descriptions of the incidents—and some look for the case officers’ opinions of the victim’s behavior.

Data also found that Black applicants are three times more likely to be denied for behavior-based reasons, including contributory misconduct, than other races. An example: when a Chicago woman who was shot in the back was rejected due to failure to cooperate because she couldn’t identify the shooter. To stop this practice, several states changed eligibility rules to focus less on victims’ behavior. In Pennsylvania, laws were adjusted so applicants can no longer be denied financial help with funerals or counseling services because of behavior.

Elizabeth Ruebman, a victims-compensation advocate and former adviser to New Jersey’s attorney general, says the system has been fixed on bias practices for years. “We have this long history in victims services in this country of fixating on whether people are bad or good,” Ruebman said. “As a result, Black and brown applicants tend to face more scrutiny because of implicit biases.”

Tennessee is another state found to deny Black victims compensation disproportionately. The Tennessean reports victims and family members can file a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, a fund described as a “fund of last resort,” meaning victims aren’t eligible for compensation on expenses covered by other sources, like insurance. There are certain eligibility requirements to file, such as if the crime was reported to the police within 48 hours and if the victim didn’t contribute to the crime.

Delaware officials admit that systemic bias is heavily apparent when it comes to compensation. Black applicants accounted for less than half of the requests between 2018 and 2021 but more than 63% of denials.

• News

by Black Enterprise

May 17, 2023

Footage Released Of Black Transgender Activist Slain In Walgreens

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A Black transgender organizer was killed by a Walgreens security guard on April 27 in San Francisco. Banko Brown, 24, was recently denied a housing opportunity he’d long been pursuing. Turned away from numerous homeless shelters, he eventually resigned to sleeping on the metro. Brown eventually ventured into a downtown Walgreens hoping to feed himself, and was confronted by a security guard accusing him of theft. A scuffle ensued, and minutes later, Brown was dead—he had been fatally shot.

The San Francisco community reacted in anger and shock at the subsequent handling of Brown’s death and the conditions that contributed to the organizer’s circumstances.

After the public insistence on answers, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who has declined to pursue charges against the security guard, released footage of Brown’s death on May 15.

In the video, Brown is shown attempting to exit the convenience store with a bag of items when he is stopped by the guard, Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony. After Brown pushes Anthony’s shoulder and Anthony pushes him back, the two become involved in a brief struggle. The pair eventually fall to the ground, where Anthony is seen engaging Brown in a chokehold-like manner while on the victim’s back. During this altercation, Brown allegedly threatened to stab the security guard multiple times, and after Anthony allowed Brown to stand, he once again attempted to flee with the items. Then, Anthony draws his weapon while aiming it at the ground. After Brown makes a lunging motion, Anthony shoots him in his chest. Soon after, Brown dies from a single gunshot wound.

In a press conference on May 15, District Attorney Jenkins said, “We do not believe there is sufficient evidence to overcome what we would expect his defense of self-defense to be,” Jenkins said. “[Anthony] has specifically articulated to the police, more than once, the facts surrounding the incident and explained that he believed he was in imminent danger, and at this time we don’t believe there is anything to overcome those statements.”

However, the video is not all of Brown’s story. Brown’s families and friends spoke to the Guardian, describing Brown’s desperate cries for help. “It hurts me that another trans person of color is gone without being seen,” said Juju Pikes Prince, a close friend of the victim and a transgender woman who has previously struggled with being unhoused herself.

Brown’s death also comes on the tail-end of San Francisco’s rising homelessness crisis and targeted attacks on the unhoused, despite the city’s efforts to improve housing for the transgender community. Just two weeks ago, news broke that San Francisco’s former fire commissioner Don Carmignani had been linked to several attacks on the homeless using bear spray. Throughout the country and in the wake of the murder of Jordan Neely, many unhoused people have been faced with dire circumstances, and Brown exemplifies the country’s failure.

RELATED CONTENT: A Florida Legislator Apologized For Calling Transgender People’ Demons’ And ‘Mutants’

Three South Carolina-based HBCUs will be getting some much-needed TLC, thanks to a generous grant.

The National Park Services is gifting Allen University, Benedict College, and South Carolina State University grants worth $3 million to be split to help with some on-campus preservation and restoration projects, WLTX reports.

Supported by U.S. Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC), the money was sponsored by Congress in 2022 through NPS’ Historic Preservation Fund.

“I am pleased to see another round of essential funding coming to South Carolina’s HBCUs,” Clyburn said. “I applaud the National Park Service for supporting these preservation and rehabilitation projects. This continued support will help future generations remember the legacy of HBCUs.”

Clyburn advocated passing this important piece of legislation in 2003 and 2019.

Allen, Benedict, and SC State are just a few of the schools awarded grants through the program. A total of $9.7 million were permitted to fund 14 projects in 10 states, according to ABC News 4. Thirty percent of the funding went to South Carolina, the only state to get funding for numerous projects.

Each school is using the money to renovate and preserve different campus staples. Benedict, in Columbia, will use $750,000 for phase three of the Morgan Hall Preservation extension project. Built in 1895, Morgan Hall is the oldest building on campus and was used as the home of five Benedict College presidents. Antisdel Chapel, built in 1932, will also receive some renovations.

South Carolina State will work on a full rehabilitation of Wilkinson Hall Pathway. The 16,000-square-foot building was constructed in 1938 and is a landmark on the Orangeburg campus.

Lastly, Allen, also in Columbia, received $750,000 for the Coppin Hall Preservation Project, named after Bishop Levi Jenkins Coppin. Accordig to documents obtained by WLTX, the foundation of Coppin Hall was laid in 1906 and the building was completed in 1907, for only $22,000.

RELATED CONTENT: The Home Depot Announces Grants for 36 HBCUs at 2023 Retool Your School Awards

Leona Serao, 23, is preparing for a historic flight across the globe.

The young pilot will become the first Black woman to fly solo around the world after she completes a three-month flight to 33 countries across four continents. Serao will start the journey in early August, taking off from New York City.

“The fact that I’m going to be the first one, means I’m going to be able to inspire other Black and other African people who want to join the aviation field,” she told Yahoo News.

Serao was born in the U.S. and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa’s second-largest country where only three women out of nearly 100 million inhabitants hold pilot licenses, according to her Fly Nona website.

“It is a challenge because it’s a male-dominated field and women didn’t really get the opportunity to be pilots before,” she said. “We couldn’t even drive before [the 20th century]. And in the aviation industry, it stayed like that.”

The flight is her opportunity to address diversity and inclusion in aviation. “With my flight, I want to pave the way for future generations, and especially women and Black women, to pursue their dreams without fear of failure and show them that anything is possible,” she wrote.

Fate on a Folded Wing reported that Earthrounders showed a total of 142 solo flights around the world that have been completed. Only 11 pilots have been women; none have been Black. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that out of over 158,000 licensed pilots in the U.S., around 4,100 are Black and about 150 are Black women.

Serao trained at a Florida flight school and studied aviation business administration with a focus on supply chain management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She became a licensed pilot at the end of 2020. 

When Serao returns home from her round-the-world journey, she will hold five historic titles: the first African Woman to fly solo around the world; the youngest African to fly solo around the world; the first Congolese to fly solo around the world; the first pilot to fly solo with the Ground Data Black Box Tempeus around the world; and the first woman to fly solo with the Ground Data Black Box Tempeus around the world.

An online campaign has been set up to cover food, fuel, and lodging costs during Serao’s trip around the world.