• Fashion & Beauty

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 10, 2023

Harlem’s Fashion Row Announces Partnership With Nike For 5th Annual Designer’s Retreat

---

Nike is going Uptown!

Announced on Twitter, Harlem’s Fashion Row, an agency created to support up-and-coming Black and Latinx designers, revealed the Day 1 agenda for its 5th Annual Designer’s Retreat, which will be held at Nike’s NYC headquarters.

Exciting news! The HFR x Nike 5th Annual Designer Retreat is finally here, and we’re thrilled to reveal the Day 1 agenda. Join us at @Nike’s NYC Offices for thought-provoking discussions on design, branding, and more from our incredible lineup of speakers! pic.twitter.com/0sIVFPAOzQ

— Harlem’s Fashion Row (@HFRmovement) May 9, 2023

The retreat allows designers to meet and greet heavy-hitter industry executives and visit other executives for brands like Louis Vuitton, JP Morgan, Macy’s, and Saks.

Fashion Network reports 75 BIPOC designers from across the country will attend the three-day event until May 11, where they will learn game-changing strategies for their business such as attracting investors, scaling a business, shifting from DTC to Wholesale, and more. Industry veterans such as Amira Rasool and April Walker are on the agenda to share their experiences and provide insights into the inner workings of the fashion industry.

HFR’s Founder and CEO, Brandice Daniels, says she is grateful for this groundbreaking partnership. “We are grateful for Nike’s continued partnership with this annual retreat,” Daniels said. “From day one, our mission has been to level the playing field in the fashion industry for underrepresented designers.”

The highly anticipated event is on schedule to be an unforgettable learning experience for those who are already underrepresented in the industry. “In three days, they will learn things that only experience could teach them and access networking opportunities with individuals and businesses that would usually be out of their reach,” Daniels said.

HFR has already made amazing strides for Black and Latinx designers, and adding Nike is the icing on the cake. In 2022, the agency created “HFR&Co,” an official online directory to facilitate consumers’ search for Black- and Latinx-owned brands. Sponsored by Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Shopbop, the directory allows fans to shop from a selection of Black and Latinx designers with collections for men, women, and children.

Three–time NAACP Image Award winner and Founder and CEO of Yoba Development, Dr. Malik Yoba, is a true champion for the youth, driven by his way of thinking. 

From volunteering at New York’s CityKids Foundation in the ’80s, the real estate entrepreneur and actor is now taking his passions to host a first-of-its-kind, immersive two–day generational wealth-building activation. Titled, From the Ground Up: Flipping the Hood, the community-focused initiative takes place on May 12 and 13 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard at 399 Sands St., according to a press release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Born and raised between the South Bronx and Harlem, Yoba is no stranger to the gritty heart of New York City. From bike messaging to perfecting his salesman pitch, it was instilled in a young hustler’s mind that his father’s job was to teach him how to think.

“What I believe separates us from the successes we want is how we think about them,” Yoba told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We talk about people whose legacies have endured from slavery, oppression, [and] Jim Crow because they thought a certain way. If I could pass on that one bit of generational wealth, it’s the knowledge. It’s really the information gap that allows us to close the wealth gap.”

In partnership with Yoba Development, the upcoming activation will promote generational wealth building while “inspiring and empowering this next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs to take action, learn, work and invest together for the sake of ownership and agency in their own communities” as per the release.

“That’s why this is called an activation. It’s about activating something in the moment that will sustain itself beyond the moment. From a moment to A movement. That’s what this work is.”

Thanks to the contributions of The Brooklyn STEAM Center and Pratt students, the planning and execution of this activation are designed with a particular focus on the youth. 

“Having them at the center of it is imperative,” said Yoba, adding how much he loves working with youth. He said he is proud to have found a way to actively combine his love for teaching, filmmaking, acting, and real estate.

However, the Bronx native doesn’t take credit for From the Ground Up: Flipping the Hood. He told BLACK ENTERPRISE that he is simply manifesting the idea with a group of like-minded individuals with intentionality and time. 

With education and opportunity in mind, Yoba Development brings together professionals and entrepreneurs of color in various fields, including mental health, real estate development, entertainment, finance, art, culture, and more. They will provide students and young people of color access to information and career pathways where minority representation is woefully low.

What’s more? Participants will gain access to mentorship, scholarships, internships, job opportunities, crowdfunding real estate investments, government contracting, investment strategies, partnerships, and joint ventures.

In addition, a portion of the proceeds will help fund Yoba Development’s recently launched “I Build NY,” NYC’s first real estate development curriculum for public high school students. “I Build NY” was developed in partnership with Pratt Institute Undergraduate School of Architecture and will be offered to students citywide through an immersive summer program that will continue in the fall semester.

“I didn’t know what a real estate developer was in high school. I knew that I wanted to be involved in it. The minute I got a seat at the table as a developer or to learn about developing, that was in 2007,  I kept saying I need to teach people this,” Yoba recounted.

“We grew up in these communities that were redlined and they were purposely disinvested in. How does it make you feel emotionally? How does it make you feel psychologically? Why do certain areas look the way they do? Largely on purpose.”

With the help of creative joint venture partnerships, Yoba ensures that more activations are yet to come.

To purchase tickets and view the speaker list and program, visit here.

RELATED CONTENT: Malik Yoba Partners with Black-Owned Digital Platform Designed to Securely Store Important Documents for Wealth Transfer

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 10, 2023

Florida Democrats Looking At Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill to Run Against Sen. Rick Scott in 2024

---

Florida Democrats are hoping to get former NBA players Dwyane Wade or Grant Hill to run against Sen. Rick Scott in the 2024 election.

Sources confirm Democratic donors have made separate efforts to persuade Wade and Hill to consider a run for state politics, NBC News reports. Party leaders and donors believe it’ll take a strong candidate (with possibly a little bit of star power) to reverse the dominance Republicans tend to have in Florida.

But considering Wade’s recent revelation on why he decided to move his family out of Florida due to the swift passing of strict anti-LGBTQ laws. Democrats know it’s a long shot before they convince the Miami Heat legend to come back and run for office.

“Grant Hill has great name ID. He would raise a boatload of money and is one of the smartest guys you will ever meet,” John Morgan, an Orlando-based trial attorney and national Democratic donor said.

“Grant Hill would beat the s— out of Rick Scott.”

Morgan has spoken directly with Hill about his desire for him to run and has insight on how unlikely it is for the NBA hall of famer to enter into politics. He brought up the idea of Hill’s running for the Senate over dinner Sunday night with a few Democrat powerhouses due to concern of there being only a few Florida Democrats who could challenge Scott and help the party regain its footing.

“That’s what Larry (Grisolano) and I talked about—Grant Hill,” Morgan said. “I’m not sure it’s his time, but he would be great.”

“He’s competitive. I think he sees LeBron James as a billionaire and Magic Johnson almost a billionaire, and it gets his competitive juices flowing. I am not sure he is done with business.”

The considerations come one week after Wade explained why he and his wife, Gabrielle Union, decided to relocate from Florida to California due to concerns for the safety of their 15-year-old daughter Zaya Wade, who is transgender.

“The last couple of years, the laws, the politics, you know, has really become this big conversation, right? It’s unsafe conversation, and it’s unsafe for my daughter, it’s unsafe for the young kids and the youth and adults, the elder in the trans community,” Wade told Variety at the 2023 Met Gala.

“And so for us, as much as I love that city, as much as I’m always going to be a part of it, for the safety of my family, that’s what it was. I couldn’t move back.”

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 10, 2023

Pras Michel Denies Being CIA Informant, ‘This Is Not a Tekashi 6ix9ine Situation’

---

Pras Michel is speaking out in the wake of being hit with 10 felony counts of acting as an unregistered foreign agent of China, the Fugees rapper is shutting down claims of being an informant.

“Look, I was never in the past, present, or future an FBI or a CIA informant,” Pras told TMZ.

“Never ever. If people want to check it out, look at the testimonies—they could see that all within the records, and all the DC courts.”

Subtly referencing claims made by fellow rapper 50 Cent, who labeled the “Ghetto Superstar” rapper as a “rat,” Pras shunned any comparisons to rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, who saw a drastic fall from grace after taking a plea deal and cooperating with authorities in the trial against the Nine Trey gangsters.

“This is not a Tekashi 6ix9ine situation, respectfully,” Pras said. “Because he admitted he was an informant, basically. So I was never. I never said I was. I am not now and never will be an FBI or a CIA informant.”

During his trial, Pras admitted to speaking with the FBI about his relationship with Malaysian financier Jho Low. His latest comments come after his legal team further reiterated his stance on not being an FBI informant.

“Simply stated, if Pras had been an informant for the government, he wouldn’t be on trial right now. The government does not prosecute and threaten its informants with more than two decades of jail time,” Pras’ rep told Complex.

“Pras never was an ‘informant’ for the FBI… Michel also told the jury he was simply a connector, helping Low find counsel for civil charges brought by the US government and letting government officials, including FBI agents, know that China wanted Guo extradited.

The rep continued, “To be clear, an informant cuts a deal with the government, so why would he be on trial if he were an informant. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the reckless suggestion that he was an informant carries life-threatening implications in hip-hop circles.”

Last month, Pras was convicted on 10 felony counts and charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent of China, conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering, NBC News reported. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

RELATED CONTENT: Breaking: Fugees Rapper Convicted in US Over Lobbying Campaigns with Malaysian Financier

• News

by Iman Milner

May 9, 2023

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

---

“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere,” New Yorkers often say.  New York City aka The Big Apple is a birthplace of dreams for some and a sobering wake-up call for others. However, for nine small business owners, the city’s bright lights are shining just fine.

NYC Boss Up has announced its inaugural list of grantees who will receive $20,000 to support their entrepreneurial endeavors and free business development classes. All winners are also current inhabitants of New York City Housing Authority residences, which provides affordable living to those needing assistance. Selected from a pool of 279 applicants, each applicant was required to pitch their business proposals and plans for growth in a Shark Tank-style competition to a panel of judges at the Brooklyn Museum. To guarantee fairness, the panel employed the help of a standardized rubric to select the strongest submissions. 

The Boss Up Program was founded by the Ron and Kerry Moelis Family Foundation, which has donated $1 million to further the mission of fostering positive and enduring change in the tri-state area and helping individuals and families build generational wealth. “Even if you have a great idea, getting a successful business off the ground is incredibly challenging, and this program is designed to provide some of our city’s budding entrepreneurs with a boost by helping them financially and strategically,” Moelis said in a statement. 

Winners in this initial round of funding include Sarah Adams of West Indian Foods, Tamika Walker of Blac Beuty No9, Jaquay Wilder off ATBPartySupplies, Michael Watson of Fable Jones Studios, and Michelle Covington of Liyah Michelle Collections. All winners were awarded $5000 upon winning the competition and an additional $15,000 upon completion of business development classes aimed at helping the entrepreneurs grow and maintain their business’s success. 

Jonathan Majors saw no luck in his domestic violence case after appearing in court via Zoom on May 9, and his attorney thinks racism is at play.

The “Creed III” star appeared in a lower Manhattan court on Tuesday morning via Zoom regarding the status of his ongoing assault case stemming from his March 24 arrest, Variety reports. However, no resolution was found and the actor was ordered to appear in court again on June 13 where a decision is expected to be made regarding a motion filed by his legal team.

If Majors doesn’t appear in court, a warrant can be issued for his arrest within 48 hours.

“I obviously don’t want that to happen, so just stay in touch with your attorney,” Judge Rachel S. Pauley told Majors.

But after the court appearance that produced no results in Majors’ favor, his attorney Priya Chaudhry is more convinced that District Attornies are working in favor of the alleged victim, who is white, TMZ reports. Chaudry notes the “irrefutable evidence” that would exonerate Majors was handed over to the DA who reportedly showed no interest.

“We have provided the District Attorney with irrefutable evidence that the woman is lying, including video proof showing nothing happened, especially not where she claimed,” Chaudry wrote.

“We did this with the explicit promise from the DA that they would not ‘fix’ their case and change it as we proved the woman is lying.”

In a statement, Chaudry described Majors as a “Black man weighing 200 lbs,” who’s current criminal case highlights the “racial bias that permeates the criminal justice system.”

She also called out the alleged victim who she claims is not being consistent with her account of the incident.

“Now, we have obtained even more video evidence of his innocence, but we are hesitant to share it, for fear the DA will tip the woman off to change her story again,” she added.

Chaudhry insists Majors “is provably the victim of an altercation with a woman he knows” and suggests the alleged victim was having “an emotional crisis.”

Majors’ legal team remains adamant about having evidence that proves the alleged victim is lying about the night in question and Majors is being falsely accused. According to Chaudry, DAs are altering their approach to the case to match with the alleged victim’s constantly changing version of events.

She now believes the “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” star is the target of a “witch-hunt” that is “saturated with explicit and implicit bias.”

“When Mr. Majors showed a white police officer the injuries the woman caused him, the white officer got in Mr. Majors’ face and taunted him, saying that if the officer were to slap Mr. Majors, the officer wouldn’t break his finger,” Chaudry claims.

“None of the white officers present investigated the assault of Mr. Majors. Worse, the District Attorney has not indicated any intention to pursue charges against the woman, or even investigate the truth.”

Majors was arrested on March 25 in Manhattan following a domestic dispute with a 30-year-old woman. The unidentified victim told officers Majors assaulted her and she was taken to the hospital with “minor injuries to her head and neck.”

Days after the incident, Majors was charged with several counts of assault in the third degree including three counts of attempted assault in the third degree, one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree, and one count of harassment in the second degree.

His legal team has since provided text messages showing the alleged victim proving Major’s innocence. However, on April 27 the victim was granted a restraining order and Majors charges remain active.

RELATED CONTENT: Jonathan Majors’ Former Girlfriend Granted Full Temporary Order of Protection

Brian McKnight is speaking out amid a new wave of online critics bringing attention to his alleged estranged relationship with his four older children.

The “Back At One” singer is happily married to his second wife Leilani McKnight and proudly boasts their family moments with her two children and the one they recently welcomed on social media.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brian McKnight (@brianmcknight23)

But McKnight has been trending on social media among critics who accuse the award-winning singer of abandoning his four older children—Brian Jr., Briana, Niko, and Clyde.

“That last line lets me know that Brian McKnight needs heavy therapy,” one critic tweeted last month along with a screenshot of McKnight’s Instagram post where he called his step-daughter Jules “the perfect daughter I always wanted.”

That last line lets me know that Brian McKnight needs heavy therapy. pic.twitter.com/6Pi2p8b0Pj

— THEE KSH Pttman (@MizzPittman) April 30, 2023

Others accused McKnight of “gaslighting his estranged children” who previously accused their famous father of abandoning them and being a deadbeat, via Madame Noire.

https://twitter.com/monaliza_kc/status/1652513999244652545?s=20

Just last week, Radar Online revealed the settlement that was reached between McKnight and his daughter Briana on a 2020 lawsuit she filed accusing her father of “maliciously” defaming her on social media by labeling her “promiscuous” and claiming she had an incestuous relationship with her cousin.

“She had some years earlier, and while a minor, engaged in sexual relations with an older cousin,” McKnight wrote in a since-deleted post.

Now, amid all the speculation surrounding his estranged children, McKnight took to Instagram to deny the “false narrative” about his blended family.

“Not sure how these posts that have been sitting here this whole time were left out of the false narrative that is trending,” McKnight captioned a throwback family photo.

“Abandonment? There’s always more to every story. Stay tuned.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brian McKnight (@brianmcknight23)

It’s the first time the “Anytime” singer has spoken out in the wake of the settlement with his daughter and amid the backlash he’s facing on social media. But considering how old the photo is McKnight chose to repost, and the silence from his estranged children, it’ll likely take a lot more to convince the general public that all is well between McKnight and his older children.

RELATED CONTENT: Brian McKnight and Estranged Daughter Settle Differences Before Court Battle

• Technology

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 9, 2023

Mixtape Platform Spinrilla Forced to Shut Down And Pay $50M for Copyright Infringement

---

The popular mixtape platform Spinrilla has been ordered to shut down and agreed to pay $50 million in piracy damages to RIAA-backed music labels.

Ahead of what looked like was turning into a trial, Spinrilla accepted a settlement and voluntarily submitted an “offer of judgment” to the court after the popular website and app were found liable of copyright infringement, Torrent Freak reports.

Last week a clerk signed off on the proposed judgment at a US District Court in Georgia that ends the six-year-long legal battle between Spinrilla and music companies. Spinrilla caught a break with the $50 million settlement considering the $600 million in damages the company could’ve been liable for if the case went to trial and a jury found its 4,082 copyrights were willful.

The settlement comes over two years after US District Court Judge Amy Totenberg ruled in December 2022 that Spinrilla was indeed liable for direct copyright infringement of 4,082 copyrighted sound recordings that were streamed at least once through Sprinrilla’s website or app.

“Judgment shall be entered in favor of Plaintiffs and against Defendants jointly and severally in the amount of $50,000,000, inclusive of any recoverable costs and attorneys’ fees,” the judgment reads.

In addition to the hefty payout, Spinrilla will have to shut down its website and apps across iOS and Android. The company and its founder Dylan Copeland are also prevented from offering the service and must shut down all operations within five days.

“[Defendants are restrained from] operating the Spinrilla Service or any other website, platform, system, or application that Defendants (or either of them) own or control, directly or indirectly, that is substantively similar to the Spinrilla Service,” the judgment reads.

“Defendants shall have five (5) days from notice of entry by the Court of this Offer of Judgment to come into compliance with the terms set forth in the preceding paragraph without being in violation of said judgment.”

As for the Spinrilla domain name, that will get handed over to the music companies who will be receiving the $50 million settlement.

RELATED CONTENT: Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Hit With Lawsuit For Allegedly Stealing Beats

• News

by Iman Milner

May 9, 2023

Houston Therapist Creates Safe Space For Black Men To Seek Out Therapy

---

Conversations around mental health and therapy have become more commonplace; however, the question of access remains for many.

One Houston-based therapist has decided to use his knowledge and experience in the field to help more Black men get the help they need. Femi Olukoya is a licensed psychotherapist who also served in the Navy during the war in Iraq. “The day of boot camp was when 9/11 hit,” said Olukoya, according to Fox26 News. “I was on an aircraft carrier, and a lot of my shipmates couldn’t handle being out to sea that long. There were a lot of suicidal attempts. People would jump off the flight deck, and we would have to do battle stations to recover them. After I got out [of the Navy], I was intrigued by how the mind works.”

His piqued interest led him to pursue his current profession. His dedication to eradicating the stigma that still accompanies Black men reaching out for help led him to partner with local nonprofit organizations like 82 Purple and the Black Man Project. In collaboration with these organizations, Olukoya provides free group therapy sessions to Black men in the Houston area. Their latest session, “No Retreat,” also included free food, massage therapy, and a yoga class, according to Fox26 News. “We’re trying to break the stigma to a community that looks just like me,” says Olukoya. “So people can go out their way to say, “Maybe I do need a therapist…maybe I do need to work on my mental health.”

Though therapy is less taboo than it once was, the disparities in Black men prioritizing their mental health compared to other groups are still staggering. According to the American Counseling Association, out of the Black male population dealing with anxiety and depression, only 26% seek therapy. For those who decide to find help for their needs, finding a therapist they can relate to may also create challenges, as only 4% of current therapy professionals are Black. These hurdles sometimes create a false need to toughen up and/or hide for Black men. “In our society, vulnerability is a weakness,” Olukoya says. “You have to be hard instead of communicating your emotions. I tell my clients that it’s OK to be vulnerable. Even in the military, showing vulnerability is a liability. We don’t always have to be the strong Black man.”

It’s OK not to be OK.