Black Homeowners Used “Whitewashing” Method To Sell House, Received $92K More Than Original Appraisal
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2023

Black Homeowners Used “Whitewashing” Method To Sell House, Received $92K More Than Original Appraisal

A Black family from Ohio was looking to get the best value for their home during an appraisal process. CNN reports when their original appraisal came back $60,000 short, the Parkers knew something was off.

Erica Parker and her husband took a different approach to get the desired value of their house. “Whitewashing” is defined as “altering something in a way that favors, features, or caters to white people.” So they removed all items from the home that could result as they identifying as Black, like artwork and family photos, and replaced them with photos and memorabilia borrowed from a White neighbor.

“It was a weird feeling but we felt vindicated,” Parker said. “We were like, ‘Oh my God, we really were discriminated against.’” Clearly, they stood corrected in their efforts, receiving an appraisal for close to $92,000 more than the first.

While this family came out victorious, unfortunately, this approach is normal for Black homeowners nationwide. Laster year a couple from Baltimore experienced similar discrimination. Their home appraisal went from $472,000 to $750,000 after they allowed a white male colleague to stand in for them as a second appraisal was conducted.

Data from the Brookings Institute show that homes in Black neighborhoods are valued 23% less than homes located in non-Black neighborhoods, regardless of any differences in quality and amenities. Many advocates claim this problem is a wealth gap issue but others profess it’s more than that.

“Our concern is that there aren’t enough Black appraisers in the business,” president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Lydia Pope, said. “We just want to make a stand that we have to change the culture of appraising.”

Pope has called whitewashing “appalling,” but this issue has received national attention from President Joe Biden himself.

In March, the Biden administration launched the Action Plan to Advance Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity, or PAVE, to promote equity in the home appraisal process. Their efforts are set to assist Federal Housing Administration borrowers in understanding the right way to request a “Reconsideration of Value” if they suspect bias in their appraisal.

UCLA Quarterback Chase Griffin Uses His NIL Deal To Donate To Charity
by Booker Jones

April 17, 2023

UCLA Quarterback Chase Griffin Uses His NIL Deal To Donate To Charity

UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin has inked a NIL deal with Linkedin, the star quarterback said during an interview with AfroTech, now that student-athletes can shape their stories and change the narrative. 

“There are athletes everywhere, whether it be speaking out about initiatives that are near and dear to them or portraying their personality in ways that are authentic to them, in ways that aren’t really shaped or guided by the administration or coaches,” Griffin said to AfroTech. 

One of the ways Griffin is speaking out and shaping his story is with the launch of his organization, NIL For Good. With every NIL deal Griffin secures, he gives a percentage to his organization. 

“So, when you look at NIL — I think the overarching effect of it is one that promotes equity and inclusion,” Griffin said. “The athletes who are taking full advantage of this, not only are we able to earn some money and build brand relationships, but for the first time, are able to freely convey ourselves to the public and realize our own value while we are still in college.”

According to a post on his Instagram account, Griffin has already donated $22,000 to the likes of  LA Regional Food Bank, Move United, and Hutto Education Foundation, according to AfroTech.

 

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A post shared by Chase Griffin (@chaseqb11)

“As a Christian, I feel compelled by my faith to give and to be in a position where I’m on scholarship and earning money,” Griffin stated. “I consider it a blessing to be able to be generous and to give a piece of all of my NIL deals to various initiatives. My main partner is the LA Food Bank. I grew up with friends with some growing up with food insecurity, and to be able to help children in the LA area who deal with some of those same issues that some of the people around me dealt with growing up, it’s a huge blessing.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2023

Former NBA Player Offers $7B to Purchase the Washington Commanders

Now hold up!

Don’t sign that check just yet, Magic Johnson and Josh Harris. According to WUSA, that record-breaking $6.05 billion purchase may not be enough to become owners of the Washington Commanders. A last-minute offer has been put on the table to purchase the NFL club.

Someone is willing to pay $1 billion more for the team owners Dan and Tanya Snyder are selling. The owners of the Washington Commanders have an agreement to sell the NFL franchise once known as the Washington Redskins. If the league approves the sale, the new owners will be the group headed by Harris, including NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

WUSA reported that Bank of America, which is handling sale offers for the Snyders, was talking with at least one of the other bidders as recently as last Thursday, the day it was leaked that the sale was basically a done deal.

Yet, a local native of D.C., Brian Davis, has given the team an offer to purchase the franchise for $7 billion in cash. Documents that the media outlet obtained confirm the details of the bid made by Davis last month on March 21. The documents reveal that Davis is offering to pay the first $1 billion to Dan Snyder within 24 hours and $6 billion within seven days.

The D.C. native is also willing to indemnify Snyder for any legal liability related to the Commanders’ owner amid the ongoing investigations into the team.

Davis is a former Duke University basketball player who played in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1993-1994. He owns Urban Echo Energy L.L.C., a LEED-certified developer of renewable energy assets. He attended Bladensburg High School and was previously a minority owner of DC United.

Davis raised the capital he’d need to make this offer by selling his intellectual property. He had a $50 billion valuation for his assets and intellectual property and private investors gave Urban Echo Energy the capital in a lump sum. He was cited as the first LEED green developer in the country.

In his bid to purchase the team, Davis wrote, “With the Washington D.C. metropolitan area having a significant minority population … Urban Echo believes that African American ownership in the Company will be a vital component to enhancing the social infrastructure in the local community. There is a significant opportunity to enhance the existing fanbase.”

Money Moves: NBA Player Terance Mann Invest In Slate Milk’s $10.5M Series A Round
by Iman Milner

April 17, 2023

Money Moves: NBA Player Terance Mann Invest In Slate Milk’s $10.5M Series A Round

The days of professional athletes squandering the millions they earn seem to be a thing of the past. Today’s players have emerged as consummate businessmen who use their money in various ways, ensuring they’ll continue to earn top dollar long after their playing days. 

Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Terance Mann is making quite a name for himself in the world of investments. In an interview with “Black Tech Green Money’, hosted by Will Lucas, Mann opened up about what guides his interests outside of basketball and what he’s learned from other players. “When you’re walking around, moving around with agents, or within facilities, you can hear people talking about what [players] are doing off the court,” Mann said. “People are investing in different things, [and] people, you know, take life in through their social media.”

Recently, Mann joined the list of investors who’ve gotten behind the rapidly growing Slate Milk, an all-natural and lactose-free milk substitute that is planet-friendly. Earlier this year, he announced he joined the brand’s $10.5 million Series A fundraising round alongside former NBA player Duncan Robinson and W3 Sports founder Julian Aiken. Aiken has been particularly tapped into getting athletes involved with the metaverse; he and Mann are also partners at W3.

“Growing up, playing video games as much as I did, [the metaverse] really gave me that that type of feel, that almost Grand Theft Auto feel where people are creating their own stuff, having their own type of vibe on there, playing different sorts of games, winning tokens,” said Mann in an interview. “Exchanging real, you know, crypto money on there. Just the whole vibe really attracted me just from me being a gamer growing up.”

Mann is not alone in bridging the gap between reality and meta in the sports world, as players like Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, and Tiger Woods have all started leveraging their expertise to tap into the Web3 market.

Get Paid, Young Man!: Jalen Hurts Signs $255M Contract Extension, Becomes Highest-Paid NFL Player
by Iman Milner

April 17, 2023

Get Paid, Young Man!: Jalen Hurts Signs $255M Contract Extension, Becomes Highest-Paid NFL Player

The Philadelphia Eagles just dropped major money to keep their star quarterback Jalen Hurts.

After leading his team to the Super Bowl last year, where the Kansas City Chiefs bested them, Hurts became one of the most coveted and celebrated NFL quarterbacks. Now, his team has made it clear they recognize his worth by giving him a $255M five-year contract extension, of which $179.3 million will be guaranteed.

Get paid!

With an average salary of $51 million, Hurts is now the highest-paid NFL player…ever. He also enters uncharted territory for the Eagles, as his deal marks the first time the team has had a no-trade clause with a player. This offseason was the first time the Texas native had the opportunity to sign an extension since the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in 2020 as the No.53 pick in the NFL draft. It’s hard to believe that Hurts, who has become a bonafide superstar in the league, was seen as a passing liability as recently as the start of the 2022 season. After Eagles GM traded for wide receiver A.J. Brown to join the offensive line with DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, Hurts shined just as expected, passing for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns with a 66.5 completion percentage.

And what’s more? Hurts is one of the few athletes in all of sports whose deals are done by a Black woman. Nicole Lynn, the president of Football Operations at Klutch Sports Group, made history last year when she became the first Black sports agent to represent a quarterback in the Super Bowl. Lynn’s now infamous tale of sliding into the DMs of Hurts to inquire about being his rep has been well-documented, and this latest move will, no doubt, result in her being one of the most sought-after agents in the game. “History everywhere. I feel like regardless of the perception of what it may seem to be with an African-American woman agent, I really saw something in her, and I feel like she’s a grinder — she’s going to go get it,” Hurts told Boardroom back in February from Super Bowl LVII’s official Opening Night event.

Well, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go with a Black woman.

Universal Music Group Is Requesting Streaming Services To Block Access To AI Companies
by Iman Milner

April 17, 2023

Universal Music Group Is Requesting Streaming Services To Block Access To AI Companies

Honestly, it was bound to happen.

Universal Music Group, one of the three largest music companies in the world, is calling in favors from streaming services to block access to AI companies as social media explodes with songs that emulate known artists. The request would cover all copyrighted content as concerns grow around the possibility of bots being trained to make music.

“We have a moral and commercial responsibility to our artists to work to prevent the unauthorized use of their music and to stop platforms from ingesting content that violates the rights of artists and other creators,” a UMG spokesperson shared in a statement, per Financial Times. “We expect our platform partners will want to prevent their services from being used in ways that harm artists.”

AI-generated content has been heavily criticized as many creatives see their work duplicated without compensation and feel that the future implications could be far-reaching. Artists have started to make noise on their own behalf; most notably, Grammy-winner Drake shared his opinion after an AI-generated cover of Bronx newcomer Ice Spice’s “Munch” mimicked the Toronto-bred rapper’s cadence in an IG story saying, “This is the final straw AI.” Drake covers have been particularly popular on the social sharing app TikTok where his voice has been used on everything from the controversial Meg Thee Stallion and Cardi B track “WAP” to “OMG” by K-Pop band New Jeans, which has racked up 2.4 million views.

Alexander Ross, a veteran attorney and copyright lawyer, has spoken out about the legality of the songs. In a statement to Insider, Ross said, “You’ve stolen part of the recording and you’ve distributed it, communicated it with the public. There are all sorts of grounds for infringement proceedings there.” Conversations around public figures having their likeness duplicated in the form of “duping” was in the news last year as the internet saw AI-generated versions of their favorite celebrities being used to push everything from political ideologies to illicit behavior.

It seems that the battle between AI and the rest of us has only just begun.

New Study Shows Black People Live Longer in Counties with Black Physicians
by Stacy Jackson

April 17, 2023

New Study Shows Black People Live Longer in Counties with Black Physicians

Black representation in the medical field is significant to the Black population.

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that counties with a higher prevalence of Black doctors are linked to a longer life expectancy of Black people in those areas. Black people who resided in counties with more Black physicians had lower mortality from all causes and lower disparities in mortality rates compared to their white counterparts.

Primary care physician Monica Peek, also a health equity researcher at UChicago Medicine, wrote an editorial to go along with the findings from the new study. “That a single Black physician in a county can have an impact on an entire population’s mortality, it’s stunningly overwhelming,” Peek said. “It validates what people in health equity have been saying about all the ways Black physicians are important, but to see the impact at the population level is astonishing.”

Researchers from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the AAMC conducted the study by analyzing over 3,000 counties during 2009, 2014, and 2019. The team examined the representation of Black primary care physicians throughout the country, excluding those where no Black physicians were found. Researchers found a higher life expectancy in the 1,618 counties with at least one Black primary care physician within one of the three years.

“This is adding to the case for a more diverse physician workforce,” said Michael Dill, one of the co-authors of the new study.

The study found that the life expectancy in such counties increased by nearly one month for every 10% increase in Black primary care physicians. Additionally, every 10% increase in Black primary care physicians is linked to a 1.2% lower disparity rate between Black and white individuals in all mortality causes.

“These findings should serve as a wake-up call for healthcare leaders and policymakers,” Lisa Cooper, primary care physician and director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, told Stat News.

Rachel Upton, a social science analyst and one of the report’s lead authors, said the findings were unexpected. “It shows having Black physicians is not only helpful across the board, but it’s particularly useful with counties with high poverty,” she said.

Decorated Athlete and Honor Student Revealed As One of the Victims In Tragic Sweet 16 Shooting
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2023

Decorated Athlete and Honor Student Revealed As One of the Victims In Tragic Sweet 16 Shooting

As tragedy struck over the weekend, new details about the victims of the “Sweet 16” shooting in Alabama are revealed.

AL.com reveals one of the victims was Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, a Dadeville football player who recently committed to playing wide receiver for the Jacksonville State University football program. Dowdell was the brother of the birthday girl. Ben Hayes, the team chaplain of Dadeville High School and chaplain of the Dadeville Police Department, said there were approximately 250 people outside an Alabama hospital early Sunday morning to receive word on loved ones injured or killed.

“It was a very sad, sad scene,” Hayes said. “A very rough night.”

NPR reported four people were killed and 28 others were injured after the shooting broke out around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. Ivy Creek Healthcare Marketing Director Heidi Smith said at least 15 people were being treated for gunshot wounds. Annette Allen, the victim’s grandmother, is thankful for the support her family has been shown during this trying time. “This is a small community and they just wanted to enjoy the birthday party,” Allen said. “We had to be standing and waiting for bodies to [be] brought out.”

Dowdell was a decorated athlete and scholar, described as one of the best football players in the state, an honor student, and a track star. Jacksonville State and Dadeville High School coaches made statements about the shocking news.” It’s a small town. We don’t have too many crimes like this, at all. So it’s shocking, very shocking. Very shocking,” said Michael Taylor, assistant coach in football, basketball, and track.

Dadeville is located about an hour outside of Montgomery. Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is urging community members to come forward with information they may have regarding the case.

 

Rapper E-40 Ejected From Kings-Warriors Playoff Game, Kings Launch Investigation Claiming ‘Racial Bias’
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2023

Rapper E-40 Ejected From Kings-Warriors Playoff Game, Kings Launch Investigation Claiming ‘Racial Bias’

During game one of the Sacramento Kings-Golden State Warrior playoff series on Saturday, things got heated on the sidelines.

ABC News reports West Coast legend E-40 was kicked out of his seat and ejected from the game, and now the Kings organization has launched an investigation following claims of “racial bias.” “The Sacramento Kings take these claims seriously and are investigating the facts and circumstances regarding the situation, as we do anytime an accusation like this is made,” the team said in a statement.

According to E-40, whose real name is Earl Stevens, he was heckled and decided to address the person. However, he says it was “in an assertive but polite manner.” One thing led to another, and security guards were called over, and he was ordered to leave Golden 1 Center. The incident was caught on camera and made its way to social media, where fans were surprised since E-40 is a loyal Warriors fan, seen at many games.

Andre Iguodala, a small forward for the Warriors, was visibly upset by the incident. A video seen on Twitter shows security having to hold the NBA champ back from getting into it with fans.

Warrior guard Klay Thompson was also upset about how E-40 was treated, saying, “It’s unfortunate.

The rapper released a statement reminding people that fame and money don’t erase racial bias from happening. “Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that — despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias remains prevalent,” he said. “Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault.”

According to Fox News, the Kings were victorious, beating the Warriors 126-123. Let’s hope no drama occurs during game two, set for Monday night.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2023

Lil Durk Launches the Durk Banks Scholarship Fund at Howard University

Chicago-bred recording artist Lil Durk is giving back to two Chicago students in a partnership with his charitable organization, Amazon, and Howard University.

According to Billboard, the Chicago rapper and his non-profit organization, Neighborhood Heroes Foundation, announced that he has launched the Durk Banks Scholarship Fund in conjunction with Amazon Music’s Rotation. Lil Durk also placed the news on his Instagram account over the weekend.

“I’m the voice; this the part they don’t show, I appreciate all the kids who struggling to finish school and needed this blessing ……. #almosthealed @amazonmusic @howard1867 @billboard @rotation”

 

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Two students from Chicago will benefit from the scholarship fund as the rapper will give them $50,000, which will be used toward their freshman tuition when they enroll at Howard University.

The popular rapper spoke to Billboard about the financial blessing he is presenting to the lucky students.

“Change the narrative,” Lil Durk said. “It’s stuff we never got a chance to do or somebody never did for us. A lot of people don’t do it as far as the music era that we’re in. In my age range, it’s more toward, ‘Let’s go feed them turkeys, let’s go feed them meals.’ My team came together where we turned it up a notch. I wanted to come up with something that was different and impactful.”

Lil Durk isn’t just stopping at the $50,000 apiece. He also donated $250,000 to help Chicago students eligible for Howard’s Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence (GRACE) Grant. A program that helps keep students on course to graduation by offering financial assistance.

“For me to boost them up and get them to the next level, it was like a no-brainer,” he stated. “And this scholarship was a super-no-brainer for me. For me and my team, having my own scholarship is like a Grammy.”

In addition to the financial windfall he is providing to Chicgao students, Durk spent $100,000 on a trip for 20 high school students when they visited Howard University last week. This past weekend, the Chicago rapper performed as the headliner for Howard University’s Springfest 2023.

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