• Business

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 27, 2023

This App Helped A Black Freelancer Go From Living Paycheck To Paycheck To Living The Dream

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In this economy, most people are looking to make some extra cash. The beauty of living in a digital world is money is available by simply using your phone.

Just ask Alexander Samuel, who proves your bank account can expand if you put yourself out there. Like many others, Samuel told Business Insider he was living paycheck to paycheck in 2020 but was looking for a change. He stumbled across an app named TaskRabbit, an online platform that matches freelance workers with people who need help with everyday tasks. Samuel cashed in heavily by signing up with people looking for moving assistance. Soon, he noticed he was becoming more “financially stable.” “I was making enough — and more — to pay my bills and save over $10,000,” Samuel said. “I had never ever seen that type of money ever, nor could I believe it was really happening.”

In just two years, the 33-year-old has made over $100,000, all while only working 10 to 30 hours a week.

With corporations making headlines with significant layoffs, people are looking for the next best thing. Forbes reported 30 ways people are gaining financial freedom with side gigs over their regular 9-to-5s. Rita Ting-Hopper is a lawyer who founded Festi, a startup that helps people monetize their talents. The ideas have helped users earn more than $30,000. “We’ve learned that following your passion can lead to self-employment instead of unemployment,” Ting-Hopper says.

The freelance market is on fire right now. Results from an Upwork survey claim freelancing went up to 39% from 36% in 2021. Forty-six percent of millennials and 43% of Gen Z say they have freelanced.

The Bronx-based freelancer admits that freelancing with Taskrabbit can be physically taxing, but the reward is worth it. He gives one piece of advice: customer service comes first. “Always go above and beyond for a client,” Samuel said. “It separates you from the rest.” Some other popular forms of income include becoming a virtual assistant, taking surveys, doing online tutoring, and more.

• Business

by Stacy Jackson

February 27, 2023

Black Entrepreneur Awarded $25K at Canada’s Black Business Summit

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Black leaders continue to empower their communities to build generational wealth.

Althea Therapy CEO and founder Micheline Khan is reaching new financial milestones for her company after winning the nationwide Black Pitch Contest. According to The Canadian Press, Khan was one of the five Black finalists from Canada seeking the $25,000 funding. After submitting an outline of her ideas, she won Canada’s Black Business Summit.

“Althea Therapy helps people across the country get access to culturally-responsive mental health and wellness professionals, to reduce racial mental health disparities and destigmatize therapy for communities of colour,” according to the company website.

 

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The Black Pitch Contest grand prize was funded by the non-profit Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses of Canada Society.

According to the BEBC Society, the contest was created as an initiative to support Black entrepreneurs who may encounter being excluded from receiving loans, grants, or other business funding as a result of systemic barriers.

Contestants were not required to present a full business plan to support their pitch submissions. Candidates had to self-identify as Black, and submit a brief outline of their ideas via video format.

“I am incredibly grateful to the BEBC, the judges, and my fellow pitchers,” Khan said in a news release. “Opportunities like this don’t come along very often and I’m thankful to have access to the funds to grow and scale Althea Therapy to provide more culturally responsive resources to the community.”

“We are leaving the Black Business Summit inspired and equipped to change the game for Black business in Canada,” BEBC founder Jackee Kasandy said in congratulating Khan.

“We’re taking steps toward our goal: empowering the Black community to build generational wealth, aim higher, and dream bigger,” Kasandy added.

Khan was up against more than 100 other entrants.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 27, 2023

Dwyane Wade Credits Zaya Wade in Impassioned NAACP Award Speech on LGBTQ+ Rights: ‘She’s Taught Us How to Lead’

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Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union-Wade stole the show at the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards Saturday with their impassioned speech advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.

The couple took the stage to accept the President’s Award for their humanitarian and advocacy work for the LGBTQIA community. The award came one day after Wade’s daughter was legally granted the right to change her gender and name to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade, Variety reported.

Wade thanked his daughter for her continued bravery in living her truth and helping raise awareness for the transgender community.

“As your father, all I’ve wanted to do was get it right,” he said. “I’ve sat back and watch how gracefully you’ve taken on a public public scrutiny.”

“And even though it’s not easy, I watched you walk out of that house every morning. As yourself. I admire how you’ve handled the ignorance in our world. I admire that you face every day. To say that your village is proud of you is an understatement.”

The NBA champion continued praising his daughter for helping to open his eyes and serve as the catalyst for his philanthropic work for LGBTQ+ rights.

“As your father, my job isn’t to create a version of myself or direct your future,” he added. “My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes, your wishes and your dreams.”

“Zaya, you’ve made me a better human just simply by being who you were born to be—a baby girl, Zaya Wade.

“So, baby, thank you for showing the world what courage looks like,” he said. “I’m proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father and thank you so much NAACP for this incredible honor.”

It's the Black love for me! 😍 Round of applause to @DwyaneWade and @itsgabrielleu on taking home President's Award! ✨ pic.twitter.com/qIxbFerodr

— BET (@BET) February 26, 2023

Union-Wade went viral for her portion of the speech where she first thanked the NAACP for continuing to be “an organization that has led us through over a century of relentless challenge, pain, triumph, and change. And now stands with us again, at the foot of a very new era of activism, a new era that demands our collective answer to one simple question.”

The question served as the transition to the actress’s call for more support from the Black community toward the Black trans and LGBTQ+ community.

“Will we fight for some, or will we fight for all of our people?” Union-Wade asked.

“Let’s just name a couple hard truths,” she continued. “First, the intersection of Black rights and the rights of the LGBTQIA trans and gender non-conforming people continues to be rough—that’s a huge understatement. Even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs, we’ve consistently failed to extend our advocacy to protect some of our most vulnerable among us.”

The Being Mary Jane star made sure to touch on the grim realities for the Black trans community that is too often overlooked and ignored by mainstream media and the Black community.

“Black trans people are being targeted, terrorized and hunted in this country,” she said. “Every day everywhere. And there’s rarely a whisper about it.”

Union-Wade said her and Wayne’s advocacy work isn’t so much about being “activists” or “leaders,” but more about being “parents who love our children and will do whatever the hell we can to keep them seen and secure and safe.”

“This is a conversation worth having in ways that can actually build bridges,” she explained. “That don’t fan the flames of hatred or division. That don’t enable lawmakers or justice systems to look the other way when Black trans people are under attack. That don’t drive more young people to hate themselves or harm themselves. That don’t cost people their lives.”

In conclusion, Union-Wade said she remains “hopeful that we may witness a real shift in the fight for justice, the moment the movement makes room for everyone. Everyone.”

She has stewarded well in her position supporting Black landowners.

Jewel Bronaugh, the first Black women to be appointed as deputy secretary for the Department of Agriculture, is leaving the department on Tuesday, following a two-year tenure leading diversity efforts at the agency.

According to CNN, Bronaugh made the announcement leave last month. She said she wanted to leave to spend more time with family.

“I understood as a Black woman, coming into the role as deputy secretary, the weight that went with that,” Bronaugh told CNN. “The responsibility that went with that. The people who for years have not been able to get resources from USDA. The history that that has had on farmers and landowners and people who live in rural communities, I knew that I had a responsibility.”

During Bronaugh’s time at the department, she worked to provide relief for farmers and ranchers of color. She co-chaired an independent commission that examined the USDA policies and programs, led international agricultural trade missions in the United Kingdom and countries in East Africa, and helped create a chief diversity and inclusion office within the Office of the Secretary.

“When you look at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and you look at all of the actions we have suffered as Black people trying to get the programs that should have been available to everyone, to access them and feel that they were being implemented fairly–to actually have someone in the second position…really helping to oversee that and have a voice in places we don’t normally get a chance to be in, just to me, meant a lot,” said Shirley Sherrod, a member of the Equity Commission.

Bronaugh said getting the Equity Commission to go with a set of interim recommendations will provide the opportunity to examine discretion, authority, and address historical issues at the USDA.

Bronaugh was raised in Petersburg, Virginia, and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from James Madison University, before completing her master’s degree and doctorate in vocational education from Virginia Tech. She has also served as the first Black woman commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Under secretary for rural development Xochitl Torres Small has been nominated to succeed Bronaugh, whom the USDA appointed as deputy secretary in May 2021.

• Celebrity News

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 27, 2023

Make Em Say Uhh! Master P Responds To Jess Hilarious’ Claims of Owing Her Money

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The drama continues between Master P and comedian Jess Hilarious.

After Hilarious accused P of owing her money for her work in the 2019 film I Got The Hook-Up 2, the No Limit mogul finally responded, claiming the comedian is making jokes.

“I love @jesshilarious_official and I know she was just cracking jokes because she signed her contract and got paid what she was owed for I Got The Hook Up 2,” P wrote on a now-deleted Instagram post. “But if she tryna squeeze me for another 10k she got that.”

The 52-year-old music and cereal impresario also said he has “receipts” that dispute the comedian’s claim. “For the cowards hiding behind their computers and forcing fake news, I do have Jess Hilarious contract from five years ago for I Got The Hook-Up 2 and the check that was cashed and paid,” P continued. “She was joking about a second check that was never in her contract. That’s the narrative they ran with for clickbait and fake headlines. Thank God for receipts.”

 

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Hilarious feels his name doesn’t pull the weight he may think. “You think out of everybody out there right now, I’mma come after you for clickbait and fake headlines?,” the 31-year-old questioned. “I don’t have to do that, sir!”

P, whose real name is Percy Miller, blamed the media for its coverage of the incident. “It’s sad how the media glorifies negativity and don’t even research these stories. But all we do for the kids in the community barely get a mention,” Miller said, according to Vibe.com. “Y’all go ahead and keep promoting us against us. I’m just gonna keep pushing legit products, keep doing what’s right, and educating our people because all my blessings come from God anyway.”

• Arts and Culture

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 27, 2023

Angela Bassett, Ryan Coogler Win Big At NAACP Image Awards

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Angela Bassett did the thing and won big at the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards. Her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler also took home big awards.

Bassett took home the biggest award of the night at the televised ceremony on Saturday, winning Entertainer of the Year, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.

“I guess Angela Bassett did the thing!” the actress said while accepting her award.

https://twitter.com/travisfromdabk_/status/1629678842276200450?s=20

The comment served as a sarcastic nod to Ariana DeBose’s mention of the 9-1-1 star during her now-viral live performance at the BAFTA awards one week before.

https://twitter.com/theronfilm/status/1627404919165837312?s=20

Bassett also took home best actress in a drama series for her role in 9-1-1 and won best supporting actress in a motion picture for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at the non-televised ceremony on Friday.

The Ryan Coogler-directed sequel won best motion picture during the Saturday night ceremony and an additional seven other awards. The Marvel film took home eight of the 12 awards it was nominated for.

While accepting the award, Coogler celebrated the late Chadwick Boseman saying despite his death in 2020, “we gained an ancestor,” Variety reported.

“He’s with us every day, motivating us, and I can’t think of anyone who done more to advance our image.”

Other winners included Niecy Nash-Betts win for best actress in a TV movie, limited series, or dramatic special for her role in Ryan Murphy’s Dahmer—Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Quinta Brunson won outstanding actress in a television series for Abbott Elementary.

Brunson’s show took home six NAACP awards, including the best comedy series.

“We’re happy that we get to make this show that is accessible to everyone but for and by us,” Brunson said while accepting the award.

Other winners included Will Smith for best actor in a motion picture for Emancipation and Viola Davis for The Woman King. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump won the Social Justice Impact Award while Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade accepted the President’s Award.

The full list of NAACP Image Award winners can be found here.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 27, 2023

Charles Barkley and Gayle King May Team Up for CNN Primetime Show

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Charles Barkley may be lending his talents to another cable network.

In an exclusive discussion with Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, Barkley said he is in talks to team up with Gayle King of CBS Mornings for a show on CNN.

“They are trying to pair Gayle King and me,” Barkley said. “We don’t have anything set in stone. I’m only considering it because of my respect for Gayle.”

Barkley recently was rumored to be possibly leaving TNT but then the news broke out that he instead signed a 10-year extension with the cable network, where he’s been a star for more than 20 years. The newly formed alliance, Warner Brothers Discovery,  the parent company of TNT and TBS ,rewarded the NBA hall of famer with a 10-year deal that is expected to be well over $100 million and could approach $200 million, according to the New York Post.

CNN is also owned by Warner Brothers Discovery.

“I just want to help the company because obviously, it is a s**t show right now,” Barkley said. “Anything I can do to help.”

If the deal is made and King is on board, it may debut later this year in the fall at the earliest.

The sports announcer is currently getting ready to call the men’s NCAA college basketball tournament next month and then he will resume covering his NBA duties. The playoffs will start after March Madness ends in March.

Barkley said he would love to work with King if everything works out. The two personalities have been friends for many years after the former basketball player was a guest on Oprah Winfrey‘s successful daily talk show. Winfrey and King, of course, have been close friends for years.

“It would be an honor and a privilege to work with Gayle,” Barkley said.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 27, 2023

Simone Biles Shares Photos of ‘Bride and Boujee’ Bachelorette Weekend in Belize

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Simone Biles was on Instagram giving fans and followers an inside look at her “bride and boujee” bachelorette weekend in Belize.

The Olympic gold gymnast is on the countdown to becoming Mrs. Owens following Jonathan Owens’ proposal last February. Biles flew out to Belize where the decorated gymnast celebrated her bachelorette weekend with friends, E! News reported.

Biles’ interior designer friend, Kayla Simone, was also celebrating her bachelorette, which Biles highlighted in a photo of the two she captioned, “double the Bach, double the fun.” Friends of the two sported shirts reading “Bach and Boujee,” while Biles and Kayla wore “Bride and Boujee” shirts.

 

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Biles shared a photo posing alongside a bed of gifts she received from her friends and balloons that spelled out “BRIDE” and “FUTURE MRS OWENS.”

“the one where I’m the bride🎉🥂💍,” she captioned the post.

 

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A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)

Another photo showed the white Chanel purse her husband-to-be gifted her.

“The sweetest surprise from my future husband,” Biles captioned the post.

Biles and Kayla sported white pajamas for the pajama party the group threw for the two brides-to-be. The fun-filled weekend came one year after Biles gave Owens “the easiest yes” when she accepted his proposal.

“I can’t wait to spend forever & ever with you, you’re everything I dreamed of and more! let’s get married FIANCÉ 💍🥺🥲🤎 @jowens_3,” Biles captioned the engagement announcement.

 

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Biles sported a black mini dress and Owens a gray tailored suit as the happy couple posed under the gazebo the Houston Texans player proposed under.

“Woke up this morning with a fiancée 💍❤️,” he captioned his post.

“Appreciate my dawg @don_julio314 for helping me set everything up, she really had no clue what was coming 😂 @zofrost you went crazy on this one bro really made the night special,” he added.

 

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Biles and Owens have been going strong since going public with their relationship in August 2020, People reported. She has gushed about how supportive Owens is of her mental health after the gymnast withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics after battling the “twisties” during the competition.

“He’s always, always so helpful and making sure I stay on top of my therapy and all of that,” Biles said.

“He’s the best because he also goes through it [as an athlete], so he knows exactly how it is in the process. It’s been amazing to have him.”

OneTen, a coalition of leading executives and organizations committed to skills-first hiring of one million Black individuals over the next 10 years into jobs with family-sustaining wages and opportunities for advancement, today announced that Maurice Jones has decided to step down as its CEO in order to pursue his next challenge.

The Executive Committee has appointed Debbie Dyson, OneTen’s President and COO as his successor. Dyson will assume the CEO role effective March 1.

“Maurice’s accomplishments as the inaugural CEO of OneTen will have an impact on the organization, our constituent companies and the people we exist to serve that extends well beyond his tenure,” said Ken Frazier, co-chair of OneTen.

“It has truly been an honor to help lead the formation of One Ten. With a strong and stable organization, a talented staff and a capable successor in place, I believe the time is right for me to seek new opportunities,” said Maurice Jones.

Under Jones’s leadership, the coalition has grown to more than 70 companies and partners with links to more than 100 talent development organizations. The efforts of One Ten and its member companies have led to more than 65,000 people being hired into fulfilling careers with another 19,000 having been promoted into such positions.

“We are grateful for Maurice’s valuable contributions to OneTen, and we are confident that Debbie Dyson will build on the firm foundation Maurice is leaving behind,” said Ginni Rometty, OneTen co-chair. “I thank Maurice for all he’s done and look forward to working with my OneTen colleagues to achieve our mission of hiring, promoting and advancing the careers of deserving people by taking a ‘skills-first approach’ that will provide our members with skilled and productive talent while helping to close the opportunity gap,” said Debbie Dyson.

Prior to joining OneTen, Dyson held multiple senior executive leadership positions, most recently as President of ADP’s National Account Services. Under her leadership, this multi-billion-dollar organization evolved to implement rich technology solutions and flourish with operational process improvements, year-over-year client retention, and commitment to enterprise service excellence. She brings a depth of experience spanning many disciplines, including client success delivery, business process optimization and global enterprise solutions.

About OneTen

Founded in 2020, OneTen is a coalition of leading chief executives and their companies who are coming together to upskill, hire and promote one million Black individuals who do not yet have a four-year degree into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement over ten years. OneTen connects employers with talent developers and other skill-credentialing organizations, leading nonprofits and community-based partners who support the development of diverse talent. By creating more equitable and inclusive workforces, we believe we can reach our full potential as a nation of united citizens. Join us at OneTen.org.

SOURCE OneTen

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 27, 2023

A Side of Racism With Those Waffle Fries? Chick-fil-A Customer Receives Order Receipt With Misspelled Racial Slur

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One Chick-fil-A restaurant in North Carolina is in hot water after a customer allegedly saw a racial slur on a receipt earlier this month.

According to WSOC-TV, Nyiashia Jackson was in line to pick up her food at a Charlotte-based chain. When she received the receipt, a racial slur was printed on it instead of her name. “She told her her name was Nyiashia, and the worker put on her ticket N****,” her mother, April Jackson, said.

Nyiashia said an employee of the popular fast food chain gave her a warning when she was handed her food. “He was like, ‘You might want to look what they put your name as,’” Jackson said. “I was just in shock. I literally parked right there. I couldn’t eat the food, I was just in shock.

The 19-year-old’s mother April is calling for the employee who took the order to be fired.

“I was really, really upset and sad,” April said.

Since Chick-fil-A, known for their “outstanding” customer service, many caught wind of the incident.

“The Operator/Owner of Chick-fil-A Mountain Island has thoroughly investigated and tried to connect with the customer to better understand her experience and apologize for the situation,” the statement said, according to the New York Post.

“It’s the company’s expectation that guests at all Chick-fil-A restaurants are treated with honor, dignity, and respect.”

Also, according to the statement, the operator of the franchise has started additional training to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Jackson, however, feels that’s a cop out. “You shouldn’t have to be trained to not call someone a n—,” Jackson said. “I’m just being as honest as I can be; I want the employee fired.”

Although the restaurant has attempted to speak with Jackson, the family is pursuing legal action so has no intentions on speaking with the restaurant at this time.