• Sisters Inc

by Stacy Jackson

March 16, 2023

Management Firm CEO Ebonie Ward Is Her Own Goals for Change

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Ebonie Ward is not just pulling up a seat to the table, she’s bringing the whole table as chairwoman and CEO of 11th & Co.

According to Billboard, Ward heads 11th & Co, the first management company led by Black women. The firm is based in Atlanta, and Ward plans to expand it to Los Angeles. Her executive team of seven consists of Black women leaders with a diverse set of experiences. Ward shared, “The one thing I love about the women on my team is that they’ve done a multitude of different things: from working in politics, finance, entertainment law, and marketing to fashion, DJing, touring, and restaurant ownership.”

 

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A post shared by Ebonie Ward (@ebsdaboss)

11th & Co’s notable celebrity clients include Future, Gunna, Flo Milli, and James Harden. Ward said, “I want to do something that is very unorthodox, not one-dimensional. In addition to our music clients, we’ve just added James Harden of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.”

Ward sprung into action after #MeToo and #TheShowMustBePaused picked up speed while she worked as a partner and manager at Emagen Entertainment Group. Ward spoke to Billboard about what drove her to start her firm, “There have been all these indications of putting women of color into leadership positions.” She added, “I’ve seen a lot of Black women, especially in hip-hop and R&B, who are the backbones at many companies. I’ve also seen a lot of women who are actually running these companies, but they’re still not the face.”

 

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A post shared by Ebonie Ward (@ebsdaboss)

The 2023 Women in Music Honoree told Billboard that Black women face challenges like being “received and respected.” Ward said, “Even working with my previous partner [Emagen founder/CEO Anthony Saleh], I’ve walked into rooms and not been addressed, let alone been respected, for knowing this business inside and out.” The businesswoman also holds Black women accountable for the small number of Black women managers and executives in the music industry. She shared, “Aside from holding other people accountable, we need to hold ourselves accountable. As soon as everything came back after the show was paused, a lot of those efforts stopped. Going back into our offices, we need to still have that same hunger and that same fight to hold the industry accountable for what they said they were championing.”

• Business

by Stacy Jackson

March 16, 2023

A 4-Day Workweek: California Bill Looks to Cut Work Hours, Lengthen Weekends

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If you’ve dreamed of a four-day workweek, it might become a reality after one California Congressman proposed his 32-hour Workweek Act to Congress.

According to CNBC, Rep. Mark Takano is calling for a shorter workweek for non-exempt workers in industries including leisure and hospitality, construction, retail, and more. “The serious conversations about the reduced workweek are happening for white-collar professions,” Rep. Takano said. “What my bill will do is spur conversation about how we democratize this norm to other sectors of the workforce so everybody benefits.”

Rep. Takano believes that cutting down on the 40-hour workweek will positively impact people. He shared, “a significant change which will increase the happiness of humankind. That’s a very big statement. But it was a big deal 100 years ago when we gave people the weekend by passing the Fair Labor Standards Act.”

“These are all part of the social justice discourse,” he said.

Less time at work during the week could result in more competition in the workplace. While employees might benefit from being able to negotiate higher pay from increased competition, not everyone is on board with Rep. Takano’s proposal. CNBC reported that critics think a 32-hour workweek is a “one-size fits all approach” that could complicate things for businesses that are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics worry that increased labor costs and shortages of staff could hit these businesses and HR professionals hard. Supporters of Rep. Takano’s proposal say businesses would be forced to hire more employees if the workweek is shortened.

Sixty-one businesses participated in a pilot program by 4 Day Week Global and reported improvements for roughly 3,000 UK employees. Rep. Takano said the next step is to “get more and more people understanding the arguments for it, to bring in the business executives and the employees who’ve experienced positive effects of a shorter workweek and begin to reduce the anxieties around change.”

There’s a new documentary coming next month that digs into the life and groundbreaking music career of the late, great Little Richard.

The documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything, from Lisa Cortés, gives an in-depth look into the music icon’s pioneering role in rock n’ roll and his dominance in the American pop music scene, despite the racism and segregation that plagued the nation.

The film made its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and will release in theaters for one night only on April 11, and digitally on April 21, Deadline reported. The Magnolia Pictures documentary tells the story of Black queer origins in Rock n’ Roll and the significance of Little Richard (born Richard Penniman) in the movement.

Little Richard closed out the 1998 film, Why Do Fools Fall In Love demanding his credit as one of the Kings of R&B. While music legends like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones never had to beg for their music to be respected, icons like Little Richard were often overlooked, despite serving as inspiration for the aforementioned.

Hits like Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille,” and “Long Tall Sally” are regarded as a blueprint for many in rock and roll. The documentary shows archive and performance footage, along with interviews with family, musicians, and Black and queer scholars who tell the story of Richard’s life and music career and the contradictions that came with it.

While Little Richard served as a pioneer of self-expression, the music legend struggled to live in his own truth behind the scenes.

“[What] our film shows, though, is that Richard oftentimes had to proclaim that in what he felt was a void that didn’t recognize his contributions,” Cortes explained.

“And what I love is that in the mid-1950s he was saying he was a king. He was claiming a space for him that was denied for most Black people. It’s a time of Emmett Till’s murder. And Little Richard shows up at the same time declaring himself in a world that can be oftentimes dangerous for non-normative people.”

Throughout the month of March, a special limited-edition brew honoring the late Ray Charles will be available at a Los Angeles-based restaurant owned by NBA legend Kevin Johnson.

Johnson’s Fixins Soul Kitchen at LA Live and Peoples Beer teamed up with Oak Park Brewing Co. and The Ray Charles Foundation to release the Free of Alcohol brew celebrating the legendary musician, LA Downtown News reports. Released as part of Peoples Beer “Icon Line”

“We decided to do this collaboration to honor his legacy and what he did and the impact he had on Black culture,” Fixins beverage program manager Kim Dym said.

“That’s what Fixins is. We’re here to set a high standard and create Black excellence. Ray Charles was Black excellence.”

The new limited-edition brew is available at a Fixins pop-up that launched on Charles’ birthday on Feb. 23 and will be available through March 31. The pop-up features artwork inspired by the famed musician and a playlist curated by The Ray Charles Foundation.

“To be affiliated in any way with Ray Charles is an honor, but to have our restaurant and brewery collaborate on a unique beer depicting Mr. Charles’ images on can labels is truly special,” Johnson said. “February 23rd will be a day to remember.”

“For Kevin, Peoples Beer and Fixins is about craft, heritage and commerce. This combination ensures success,” Valerie Ervin, president of The Ray Charles Foundation said.

“For Ray Charles, this was at the core of his belief system.”

Peoples Beer “Icon Line” launched in 2021 to honor African American legends of the past, present, and future. The beer cans are made to feature artwork and information about the icon’s life and historic achievements.

Past honorees include Sammy Davis Jr., James Baldwin, Ella Baker, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Booker T. Washington, Bessie Coleman, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Fred Hampton Jr.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 16, 2023

Black Couple Left Traumatized After Five Children Taken From Them During Traffic Stop in Tennessee

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A couple from Georgia is fighting to get custody of their kids back.

Last month, Bianca Clayborne’s and Deonte Williams’ lives changed after a traffic stop in Tennessee. That’s when their five children were taken away from them, according to Tennessee Lookout. On their way back from a funeral, a highway patrol officer pulled them over for dark tint and traveling in the left lane without passing. After a search, Williams was arrested for possession of marijuana – a misdemeanor in the state.

While Clayborne was waiting for Williams’ release, the children, two, three, five, seven and a four-month old, were forcibly taken from her while an officer restrained her as her baby was crying. A petition was sent to the Department of Children Services, unknown by Clayborne, that the kids were neglected and there wasn’t an alternative to taking the children from their parents.

Seems like the Tennessee Department of Children Services doesn’t have an alternative for anything. Reports from News Channel 5 Nashville show leaked internal emails, revealing assaults, unsafe sleeping conditions, and limited toilet paper so children don’t intentionally clog toilets. Caseworkers have been required to sign up for multiple shifts every month to watch children in offices, even overnights and weekends.

Attorney Jamaal Boykin, who is representing the couple, is calling DCS’s actions “extreme,” “abnormal,” and a violation of the parents’ rights. They also claim race is to be looked at in this case. “It’s just so shocking to the conscience that in 2023 this is happening,” Boykin said. “I just have to believe if my clients looked different or had a different background, they would have just been given a citation and told you just keep this stuff away from the kids while you’re in this state and they’d be on their way.”

The trauma from the incident has had a major negative impact on the kids’ parents. Clayborne is allowed visits but can’t take hearing her children cry and grabbing on to her when her visits end. She told Tennessee Lookout she has lost weight and doesn’t feel she’s producing enough milk. Williams is furious and his trucking company is on the verge of bankruptcy, due to the ongoing legal battle and numerous trips to Tennessee to visit his children.

Damar Hamlin surprised The Masked Singer audience after stepping out to support his brother on the Sesame Street edition of the show.

On Wednesday, the popular singing competition show paid homage to Sesame Street by having iconic characters from the legendary children’s program grace the stage, E! News reported. The episode kicked off with Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and other furry friends performing their rendition of BTS’ “Dynamite.”

During the actual competition, a contestant performing as a Squirrel returned following a victory on the March 8 episode. After having a wedding dress revealed as Squirrel’s new clue, she performed her version of “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers.

That’s when Hamlin came out with his little brother Damir to unveil another clue, a football with panelist Ken Jeong’s face on it.

Hamlin has been praised after falling into cardiac arrest during the Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2. When it came to Hamlin’s guest appearance on the music competition show, the NFL player was there to support his brother’s love for Sesame Street.

“Mainly because of my brother,” Damar told host Nick Cannon. “That’s my world.”

“I put family first. He loves Sesame Street more than most things, so we had to make it tonight.”

“I’m just so glad you’re here, but more importantly I’m just so glad you’re healthy,” Ken Jeong told Hamlin. “The whole world loves you.”

Hamlin filmed the episode not long after he collapsed on the field, People reported. He received CPR for 10 minutes before being taken away in an ambulance.

The collapse came after Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter of the game. Hamlin initially appeared to be okay, when he sprung back up quickly after the tackle, before suddenly falling onto the ground.

“His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment,” the Bills said in a statement at the time.

Hamlin was initially listed in “critical condition” before making a full recovery. He was released from the hospital on Jan. 11.

• Celebrity News

by Stacy Jackson

March 16, 2023

Whoopi Goldberg Offends People – Again! Issues Apology for Using Romani Slur on ‘The View’

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The apology tour continues.

Whoopi Goldberg found herself in the hot seat with the public once again after using the word “gypped” during a recent episode of The View.

According to Entertainment Tonight, Goldberg was discussing the 2020 election, giving her opinion on Trump supporters, saying some were “people who still believe that he got, you know, gypped somehow in the election.” Viewers were not happy with her choice of words, as the word “gypped” is derived from the word “gypsy” and is considered a racist and derogatory slur toward Romani people.

Goldberg hopped in front of the camera to record an apology that The View posted to their Twitter account.

“You know, when you’re a certain age, you use words that are from, you know, when you’re a kid or you remember saying,” Goldberg said in her apology. “And that’s what I did today, and I shouldn’t have.”

“I should have thought about it a little longer before I said it, but I didn’t. I should have said ‘cheated,’ and I used another word, and I’m really, really sorry,” she added.

A message from Whoopi Goldberg regarding today's episode of #TheView. pic.twitter.com/PIvwYRWMsy

— The View (@TheView) March 15, 2023

Goldberg was previously in hot water following two separate occasions of using insensitive words.

“The Holocaust isn’t about race. It’s about man’s inhumanity to man,” she said during an episode in February. “These are two white groups of people.”

Her opinions resulted in a two-week suspension from The View table. “Yesterday on our show, I misspoke,” she said at the time. “[The Holocaust] is indeed about race,” she continued, “because Hitler and the Nazis considered the Jews to be an inferior race. Now, words matter, and mine are no exception. I regret my comments and I stand corrected. I also stand with the Jewish people, as they know and y’all know, because I’ve always done that.”

The heat resurfaced in December when viewers accused Goldberg of doubling down on her February remarks.

“Remember who they were killing first,” she told The Times about her perspective that the Holocaust “wasn’t originally” about race. “They were not killing racial; they were killing physical. They were killing people they considered to be mentally defective. And then they made this decision.”

An Olympic medalist from the United States has been suspended from competing for 18 months.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Raven Saunders, a track and field competitor from Tuscaloosa, AL, has accepted an 18-month suspension after she committed three Whereabouts Failures within 12 months.

On the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency website, it explained what Whereabouts are:

“An important part of USADA’s testing program is the ability to test athletes without any advance notice in an out-of-competition setting. To maximize testing resources and minimize the burden on athletes, USADA has created a Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and a Clean Athlete Program (CAP). Athletes in the RTP and CAP are subject to different Whereabouts requirements and compliance criteria.”

At the time of the Whereabouts Failures, the 26-year-old Saunders was a member of the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP). This is a select group of elite athletes who are subjected to particular Whereabouts requirements in order to be located for out-of-competition testing. Saunders had accrued three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.

The first one was recorded on January 8, 2022, the second later that year on May 26, 2022, and the third one fell on August 15, 2022.

The rules stipulate that obtaining three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period is a rule violation under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. All of those organizations have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code.

Her 18-month ban is retroactive to August 15, 2022, which is the third time she got her third Whereabouts Failure. Any achievements from that date until the present time count as disqualifications. This means any victories, medals, points, and prizes won during that period will also be forfeited.

Sanders acknowledged her ban with a Twitter post.

“As a veteran I definitely should’ve done better and I take full responsibility for my actions. I didn’t fail a test for any substance and was tested again after each of my missed test. I’ve always been an advocate of clean sport. I’ll be back to claim the throne Feb 15th 2024!”

As a veteran I definitely should’ve done better and I take full responsibility for my actions. I didn’t fail a test for any substance and was tested again after each of my missed test. I’ve always been an advocate of clean sport. I’ll be back to claim the throne Feb 15th 2024!

— Raven HULK Saunders (@GiveMe1Shot) March 16, 2023

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 16, 2023

NYC Couple Suing Korean Restaurant After Finding a Dead Rat in Food Delivery Order

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According to NewsBreak, a couple placed a delivery order from a Korean restaurant in New York City, and there was allegedly a dead rat in the soup that they ordered.

Eunice Lucero-Lee and her husband, Jason Lee, posted on their Instagram account the details of what transpired.

“We ordered from a well-known restaurant called Gammeeok in K-Town and found the most disgusting thing in our food.”

In the post, there is a video of the dead rodent sitting comfortably in the food order. This took place over the weekend.

“We ordered sogogi gukbap, which is a kind of hearty Korean beef soup,” Lucero-Lee said to NewsBreak.

The couple filed a lawsuit, which they stated in the Instagram post. In the last slide of the post, they left an additional message explaining that they are regular customers of the restaurant.

“We have been going to this restaurant for a decade and are otherwise proud supporters of Asian cuisine and culture. This incident is in no way to fuel race-based hate or prejudice, and I will have an issue with anyone who uses these posts to fit that narrative.”

 

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A post shared by Eunice L Lee (@eunichiban)

TMZ reported that the owners of Gammeeok responded on their Instagram account disputing the possibility that a rat could make it into the soup, based on the process they use to prepare it. They posted a video of the process to show that the claims of the Lees are not true.

“This is Gammaeok. It is understandable but regrettable that public opinion has deteriorated.

“Once, the person ordered food with ubereats. If a ‘rat’ came out, it could be argued as evidence saying ‘Look at this’ when they came to our store, but we didn’t see any real thing. Also, if you look at the other party’s yelp account, there is a review in the past saying that flies came out of that person’s house because they “take out” in the same way as we did at another restaurant in k-town. It’s a once in a lifetime thing for most people.”

amNY reported that the couple plan on suing. Their attorney, Dennis Carrion of Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys said, “My clients support small business owners but feel they must take action to do their part to help protect all New Yorkers.”

Tennis legend Venus Williams is hoping to preserve a piece of history.

The New York Post reported Williams is working with the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, raising money to keep late blues singer Nina Simone’s childhood home. Fundraising efforts will include an online auction, conducted by Sotheby’s, of “exceptional works donated by internationally renowned contemporary artists” as well as a gala at the Pace Gallery on May 20 in New York City.

For the gala, the Grand Slam winner collaborated with artist Adam Pendleton and said each item is unique in itself. “Each of the artists Adam and I have selected for the auction has a unique, powerful voice, and we’ve been moved by their generosity and enthusiasm for this important cause,” Williams said, according to The Black Wall Street Times. The conceptual artist also spoke about why he decided to get involved with this initiative. “Nina Simone is one of the most important musical artists of the 20th century,” Pendleton said. “I’m inspired to be able to protect her legacy by preserving her childhood home. Her music, her vision, cannot be forgotten.”

Pendleton and other artists purchased Simone’s childhood home back in 2017, looking to restore and preserve it. The full exhibition will be on display from May 12 through May 20.

The three-room clapboard house is located in Tryon, NC, where Simone grew up poor. She was raised by her mother, a Methodist preacher, who took notice of her daughter’s natural talent and put her in piano lessons. Years later, she fled to New York City to enroll in the esteemed Julliard. Born Eunice Waymon, she soon changed her name to Nina Simone and began performing in Atlantic City. Outside of her music, she is known for her civil rights activism, which she embedded into her music. One of her most popular songs is “Young, Gifted and Black,” a 1979 ode to Black people urging them to love their Black skin.