“May the best man win” is the narrative media mogul Byron Allen says the media is pushing, but he claims it’s the complete opposite.

Black Enterprise reported that Allen and fellow billionaire Tyler Perry have bid to purchase BET Media Group if Paramount Global decides to sell, prompting reports that the men are at war. During TheGrio’s Washington D.C. gala last Saturday, Allen says there is no bad blood between them. “I love Tyler,” he told Page Six. “The press is trying to put us against each other. If he gets it, it’s great. If I get it, it’s great.”

Since Madea’s creator already has the content on lock at BET, many gala attendees are betting on Perry to take over. In 2019, he signed a TV and film deal with BET and has since developed fan-favorite shows such as All the Queen’s Men, Sistas, and Oval. However, that has not stopped the Weather Channel owner from bidding for a seat at the table. “BET is a great American brand and if it becomes available, we’re very interested and we will pursue it vigorously,” Allen told an outlet last month.

BET is not the last stop in his pursuit to purchase other networks, saying his company is very acquisitive and Allen Media Group is “going to buy whatever we can that makes sense.” “We plan to buy more local TV stations, we really like that,” Allen said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re going to buy more cable networks. I will say we are truly aggressive when it comes to acquisitions. If it’s for sale — if it’s a lemonade stand — we want to buy it.”

Allen and Perry aren’t the only ones with their eyes on BET. It’s been reported that Group Black is in talks to purchase the network. The Miami-based media company is working with CVC Capital Partners, a private-equity firm based in Luxembourg with more than $100 billion under management. Bad Boy Records’ Sean “Diddy” Combs has also expressed some interest.

Fans of the Jada Pinkett Smith‘s Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk were devastated upon hearing that the Emmy Award-winning show was finished after five seasons.

Early last week, Meta announced that it would end all of its original programming. Pinkett Smith, who hosted alongside her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and daughter, Willow, is determined to find a new home. Upon news of Red Table Talk’s cancellation, Nick Cannon spoke about how “the toxic table,” led to an intense year for Will Smith.

“If there was no Red Table Talk, then he wouldn’t have slapped the s— out of Chris Rock,” he said on his radio show, The Daily Cannon. “Too much honesty can get your ass slapped in the face.”

The father of 12 said that the look at the Smith’s personal life was dented the couple’s lofty position in the Black community.  “That was royalty, Will and Jada. Then they brought it to the table. I don’t want to know all this s— about y’all,” he said.

When Will Smith joined his wife at “the red table” what followed was a transparent conversation about the couple’s “bad marriage” and details on what led to a brief separation. The pair disclosed that they define their union as a “life partnership.”

During the 12-minute episode, Pinkett Smith and Smith spoke candidly about her “entanglement” with singer August Alsina, leading to a barrage of comments, discussions, and memes.

The conversation made its way back into discussion after the 94th Academy Awards in 2021, when Smith confronted host Chris Rock over comments made about Pinkett Smith. Rock also blamed the Smiths’ willingness to put their private life on public display in his Netflix special Selective Outrage.

“I have no idea why two talented people would do something that low down,” Rock said. “We all been cheated on. None of us have ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us on television.”

• Money

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 2, 2023

No Money, Mo’ Problems? Treasury Secretary Warns U.S. Could Run Out of Money By June 1

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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is warning that the United States may not be able to pay its bills if it raises or suspends the debt limit.

CBS News reports the U.S. government won’t be able to pay their bills as early as June 1, if they don’t come to a decision and make a move.

Republican lawmakers and the Biden administration don’t seem to be anywhere near making a deal on debt resolution, something they’ve been sparring about since the beginning of the year. However, Yellen’s warning should hopefully push some buttons.

“After reviewing recent federal tax receipts, our best estimate is that we will be unable to continue to satisfy all of the government’s obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1,…” Yellen wrote in a letter.

According to the New York Times, House Republicans passed legislation in April that would raise the debt limit in exchange for spending cuts and rolling back on recent climate legislation passed by Democrats.

Biden wasn’t too happy about it, claiming the bill would hurt more American families, especially those in the oil and gas industry. “For over 200 years, America has never, ever, ever failed to pay its debt. To put in the capital—in colloquial terms, America is not a deadbeat nation. We have never, ever failed to meet the debt,” Biden said.

The Congressional Budget Office has also said the Treasury Department is at “a significantly greater risk” of running out of money since tax receipts were lower than anticipated in February. Some Republican leaders responded to Yellen’s letter blaming Biden. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa said times like these are “scary” and “President Biden needs to step it up and get to the table. Kevin McCarthy and the folks in the House, they did their part,” Ernst said.

Others are looking forward to the challenge and are optimistic about what good teamwork can do. “Washington’s at its best when it has a deadline to respond to,” North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis commented.

U.S. consumers are increasingly turning to installment loans by way of buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps to help pay for everyday items like groceries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of groceries has risen by 8.4% this year, following the trend of what experts are calling the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that many Americans are relying on BNPL providers such as Afterpay, Klarna, and PayPal to help bridge the gap between their paydays. Almost half of Americans have used installment loan apps, and of those, about 1 in 5 rely on them to buy groceries, according to Bloomberg.

The boom of BNPL apps occurred during the pandemic, when consumers did the bulk of their shopping online. In fact, five of the main lenders in the U.S. opened up loans worth $24.2 billion in 2021 – $22 billion more than those reported in 2019, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The buy now, pay later model allows for shoppers to spread out the payments for their purchases into even installments without accruing interest. The popular checkout options also serve as a substitute for high-interest credit cards. However, the convenience and accessibility of the loans can cause problems for consumers who may fall behind on payments, affecting their credit scores.

The risks are even higher for Black and Hispanic users.

According to Bloomberg, users in those demographics are more likely to already be in financial distress from other sources. A whopping 70% of Black or Hispanic BNPL users have credit card debt, and on average they have about $12,000 less in savings than those who didn’t need to seek out help from the apps in the past year. Though the risks and statistics are staggering, the industry still posits itself as the more flexible and consumer-friendly alternative to traditional credit cards. “Regardless of what the purchase is, BNPL is a healthier and more sustainable option compared to high-cost credit cards that encourage minimum payments, keeping people in debt longer with extortionate interest,” a spokesperson for Klarna told Bloomberg.  

With the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimating that an average family of four must spend a minimum of $1,000 on groceries per month in order to have a nutritious diet; it seems that even the most cautious spenders will have to make adjustments.

• News

by Stacy Jackson

May 2, 2023

Al Sharpton Addresses McDonald’s Racial Discrimination Claims, Demands Immediate Change

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McDonald’s allegedly hasn’t settled its beef with the Black community.

Civil rights and social justice activist Al Sharpton has issued a warning through his activism group, The National Action Network (NAN), that it will “mobilize” against McDonald’s if the company fails to address alleged racial discrimination.

According to the New York Post, Sharpton directed a letter to McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski on Thursday, demanding the fast food chain address the racism accusations linked to employment, advertising, and franchising practices.

“We find it appalling and inexcusable that McDonald’s Corporation has not satisfied its differences with the Black community. There are lawsuits brought by Black franchises. Another brought by a Black former executive over racial discrimination from the highest levels,” Sharpton said. “And let’s not forget the $10 billion lawsuit brought by Byron Allen over the fact that Black-owned media did not get its fair share of McDonald’s supersized advertising budgets.”

NAN’s letter also covered the issue of the recent removal of Ariel Investments Co-CEO John W. Rogers Jr. from the McDonald’s Corporation board of directors.

“We are also outraged at the removal of John Rogers, a well-respected business leader for the Black community, from the Board of Directors. We unequivocally demand they immediately acknowledge and address these issues, or we will begin a national campaign around McDonald’s. You cannot sell Black folks Big Macs and give us little justice,” the minister continued in the letter.

McDonald’s Corporation announced the retirement of Rogers from the board of directors in March, following 20 years with the company. According to the press release, Rogers retired alongside Robert A. Eckert, who  joined the board with him in 2003.

“These retirements are consistent with the Board’s commitment to ongoing refreshment that maintains an appropriate balance of continuity and institutional knowledge with fresh perspectives among Directors,” McDonald’s explained in Rogers and Eckert’s retirement announcement.

Rogers spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE President and CEO Earl “Butch” Graves at BE‘s Wealth Building Summit two weeks ago in Atlanta, and dropped some gems regarding the key responsibilities of Black board members who represent Black communities. The corporate investor explained that African Americans in the board room should focus on purchasing, philanthropy, and people, as they fight for economic justice and make “good trouble,” to quote late civil rights activist John Lewis.

 

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• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 2, 2023

Power Play: Snoop Dogg Joins Neko Sparks’ Bid to Buy NHL’s Ottawa Senators

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Hip-hop recording artist Snoop Dogg, whose entrepreneurial efforts range from wine to cereal, has partnered with businessman Neko Sparks to buy an NHL team in a quest to become the first Black owners.

In an Instagram post over the weekend, the Long Beach native announced he is joining forces with Sparks and his ownership group to purchase the Ottawa Senators.

“Amazing what @neko_sparks is trying to do in Ottawa & I’m looking forward to being a part of that ownership team. I WANNA BRING HOCKEY TO OUR COMMUNITY.” 

 

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According to ESPN, the expected sale price of the Ottawa Senators could exceed a billion dollars.

The ownership group Sparks has gathered reportedly has several people of color involved. Sparks would be the first Black owner in NHL history if the group successfully purchases the sports team.

RELATED CONTENT: I’m Out: Snoop Dogg Resigns From Esports Company Faze Clan as Stake Plummets

According to Yardbarker, final bids for the Senators are due May 15. Rumor has it that as many as seven groups are in the mix.

According to Sportico, the Senators are valued at $655 million, making it the 27th-most valuable team in the league. The expected winning bid of $1 billion would set a National Hockey League record for purchasing a franchise.

Another top contender interested in purchasing the NHL team is Canadian-American actor and film producer Ryan Reynolds, a part of the Remington Group. The last time an NHL team was purchased was in 2011 when the Winnipeg Jets were sold.

If Snoop Dogg and Sparks were to buy the Senators, it could be the boost the NHL needs. For years, it has tried to court non-white fans to hockey.

RELATED CONTENT: Snoop Dogg is Dipping His Paws Into the Coffee Business

• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

May 2, 2023

It’s Spring Again: 7 Black-Owned Cleaning Products To Use For Spring Cleaning

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Spring is in the air!

As the natural world awakens, it is time to revisit our spring cleaning checklist for another round of decluttering and resetting our spaces. With commercial retailers closing down, it’s the perfect time to circulate the Black dollar, and invest in these seven Black-owned cleaning companies and brands who create for love of the culture and the love for the environment.

1.) Good Vibes

 

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This plant-based, multi-surface cleaning product brings the good vibes to your space. Ymani Efunyale, CEO and founder, makes it her business to help all beings be in harmony with themselves, with others, and the universe. She created a collection of all-purpose cleaners made of water, plant-based soap, cleaning salts, vinegar, and fragrance oils. With scents like Frankincense & Myrrh, Sandalwood and Nag Champa, you can clean your home and change the whole vibe.

Shop here.

2.) The Green Laundress

 

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Created by Erica Ahmed, The Green Laundress is an eco-friendly company offering cleaning products made with natural and non-toxic ingredients. All items, including the multi-purpose cleaner, tub scrub, and and laundry soap, is safe for sensitive skin, all while thoroughly cleaning clothes and surfaces. Get a cleaning kit today to start living a more clean and green life.

Shop here.

3.) LooHoo

 

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Cyndi Prince, founder and CEO of LooHoo, wanted to create a healthy home environment for her child when she came across wool dryer balls. Now she has helped thousands of households protect their family’s health by providing a natural alternative to toxic dryer sheets. These dryer balls are made in Maine with 100 percent wool and are sold in over 300 retail outlets nationwide.

Shop here.

4) Natural Hiyy

 

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Since the 1980s, Raymond King has been producing all-natural products. Natural Hiyy carries some of his best and most effective products, and sources from Black manufacturers specifically in the United States. Among its collection of body care needs, the brand’s only dish soap concentrate is a non-phosphorus, biodegradable, and environmentally safe product designed to clean and degrease dishes, pots, and pans.

Shop here.

5.) LauraKay Innovations

 

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With a heritage of love, LauraKay Innovations has been delivering results since opening in 1989. Well-versed in lab research and responsible cleaning development, the company offers a wide array of natural cleaning items such as virus- and germ-fighting hand sanitizers, biodegradable dish soaps, multi-surface and carpet cleaners.

Shop here.

6.) Powder Power

 

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The Black-owned Talc Free Powder Power is the brainchild of Kalimah Muhammad. She was just nine years old when her father encouraged her to start her own all-natural body powder business. After experimenting with ingredients like tapioca and arrowroot, she branched out with a combination of scents to help nourish the body and clean your surfaces. Whether it is vacuuming your carpets, cleaning your tubs, toilets, bathroom, and kitchen sinks, or even refreshing your mattresses and pillows, this company’s Clean and Pristine Bundle fulfills all those needs.

Shop here.

7.) Halcyon Grace Company

Tyesh Barnor, founder of Halcyon Grace Company, was a connoisseur of Glade plug-ins before she began handcrafting concoctions and air fresheners that could help her with anxiety. While working with her son’s cleaning company, her products were a success. Using natural ingredients and fresh scents, Halcyon Grace Company offers room sprays that help people spring clean and feel peaceful in their homes. You can purchase the brand’s All Natural Room Spray to deodorize your linens and spaces at Black-owned marketplace, BLK + GRN.

Shop here.

RELATED CONTENT: Start this Spring Fresh with Tips from Cleaning Icons Diane Amos and Vanesa Amaro

In a move that will allow more financing to help assist Black farmers, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has secured a $220,000 grant from retail giant Walmart.

• Business

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 2, 2023

Gabriella Morrison, 16, Named General Manager of Soul Food Restaurant

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If visitors ask a Charlotte, North Carolina, resident where the best soul food in the city is, more than likely Nana Morrison’s Soul Food will be their answer.

The popular restaurant has been a staple in the Queen City since 2011. Now, with more stores opening, a new generation of Morrisons is taking over. WCNC reports Gabriella Morrison has been named the general manager of Nana’s newest Charlotte location—at only 16 years old.

While many people may be surprised, Morrison said her parents were with her every step of the way and supported her endeavors as she’s decided to pause on going to college. ”

My dad was teaching me all of the steps it goes into it, like signing the lease, finding general contractors, subcontractors, buying equipment, buying materials to build,” the young entrepreneur said. “The last three months went by so fast, but I’ve learned so much that now if I wanted to go on my own and make more, I’d be able to do that by myself.”

Gabriella started working at the family business when she was just five years old, wiping down tables and stocking up silverware. Her parents have made sure that she was always paid for her services. As she got older, her responsibilities grew—telling another outlet she has helped with employee schedules, payroll, and collaborating on hiring decisions. With an annual salary of $100,000, she’s hoping to retire her parents sooner than later. “Now with my siblings, and I stepping up and taking on these companies, my parents get to essentially be retired,” Morrison said.

“It’s just up to us now to keep it going.”

Gabriella is the latest sibling to take on the family business. Her oldest brother, Shawn, manages the original location and her other brother, Hank, has been enlisted to take over a third location opening in Florida later this year.

Soul food lovers can visit both locations this week as part of Black Restaurant Week, ending on May 7.

Serena Jameka Williams was Gucci down at the Met Gala. The darling of tennis served in a black and bedazzled two-piece ensemble with white tulle that cascaded to the ground and into a train. On her head, she wore a blinged out headpiece by Lelet NY. Layers of Tiffany & Co. pearls dropped from her neckline. On her arm was her bearded hubby Alexis Ohanian. On her midsection, she donned a baby bump that indicated the tennis royalty is with child and expanding her brood with baby number two. Serena announced the pregnancy, subtly, in an Instagram post:

“Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala,” the caption read above a rundown of glam credits and below a slideshow of five images. 

A litany of congratulations erupted in the comments sections from a number of followers and celebrities, including actress and Instagram influencer Tabitha Brown, tech titan Bozoma St. John, Ciara, Michael B. Jordan, and Boris Kudjoe. Even Barbie by Mattel sent a “Glowing ✨ Congrats!”

 

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Many did not see this coming, particularly when Serena endured the horrors of being a Black woman navigating maternal health, and was one of the more vocal celebs that spoke up and advocated for Black women’s experience of medical neglect and postpartum depression. The three-time Olympic medalist was candid about almost losing her life after delivering her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. by C-section — and developing a pulmonary embolism. She penned an article for CNN detailing her ordeal in 2018. BLACK ENTERPRISE is wishing Serena a healthier birthing experience and an even healthier newborn.

Black women succumb to death related to childbirth at higher rates than white and Hispanic women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced a report in 2021 that revealed “the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black (subsequently, Black) women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White (subsequently, White) women.” 

Organizations such as National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC); Sista Midwife Productions and the Sista Midwife Directory and Black Mamas Matter Alliance are working to address racial disparity and foster healthier maternal outcomes from Black women. 

RELATED CONTENT: Moving On: Serena Williams Opens Up About What’s Next After Retiring From Tennis