Brittney Griner, return, WNBA, Basketball, court, Russia, captive, all star
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 21, 2023

Brittney Griner Re-Signs With The Phoenix Mercury For a 1-Year Deal

Things are getting back to normal for formerly imprisoned WNBA player Brittney Griner.

On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury announced that Griner, who missed last season, has officially signed a one-year deal with the team.

She will be making a return to the WNBA after spending 10 months in a Russian penal colony after being convicted of possessing vape canisters with cannabis oil. She was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport last year in February as Russia began its war with Ukraine.

In a written statement, Mercury General Manager Jim Pitman said: “It’s a great day for all of us to announce that Brittney Griner has officially signed to play for the Mercury in 2023. We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed. We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor, and we are thrilled for her that she gets to return to basketball, which she loves so dearly. This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us.”

Before becoming a political prisoner, Griner was one of the top players in the league still making noise on the basketball court.

In the last full season she played, she led the league in efficiency rating (26.0), while coming in second place in the scoring category by averaging 20.5 points per game. She was No. 1in blocks with an average of 1.9 per game. Second in field-goal percentage (57.5), while she averaged a franchise-record and career-high 9.5 rebounds, which was good enough for sixth place during the 2021 season. She also had a single-season franchise-record 16 double-doubles, which increased her franchise-record 57 career double-doubles.

The Phoenix Mercury, who have won the WNBA championship three times, will make a return to Footprint Center this summer. The upcoming season will start on Sunday, May 21 against the Chicago Sky in the Fry’s Food Stores Welcome Home Opener.

Heinz Wants to Buy Boat for Man Who Survived a Month at Sea with Just Ketchup and Seasonings
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 21, 2023

Heinz Wants to Buy Boat for Man Who Survived a Month at Sea with Just Ketchup and Seasonings

The Heinz ketchup company is searching for a man who survived nearly one month at sea with nothing but ketchup, seasonings, and rainwater.

Elvis Francois, 47, of Dominica was rescued by the Colombian Navy last month after spending 24 days lost in the Caribbean sea, Insider reported. Authorities were able to locate him after officials on a plane saw a “help” message written on his boat.

In December, Francois was making repairs on his boat near St. Martin and drifted off to sea due to the propelling currents, according to The Associated Press. He had no food on his boat and worked tirelessly to keep the vessel from sinking.

“It’s just a bottle of ketchup that was on the boat. Garlic powder, and Maggi,” Francois said in a video. “So, I mixed it up with some water.”

He reportedly collected rainwater on a cloth to drink.

Now in the wake of his captivating survival story, Heinz is asking the public for help in locating “the ketchup boat guy” to gift him with a brand new boat.

“To whoever finds this message, We need your help tracking down an amazing man with an amazing story,” they captioned the post.

 

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“You may remember Elvis Francois as the brave sailor who survived on nothing but ketchup and spices while adrift at sea for 24 days,” they continued.

“Well, Heinz wants to celebrate his safe return home and help him buy a new boat…but we can’t seem to find him.”

Heinz said they reached out to the government of Dominica as well as the Colombian Navy to try and find the man, but haven’t been able to get in contact with him.

They’re hoping to gift Francois with a “new state-of-the-art boat,” that will be “equipped with full navigational technology to avoid another disaster in the future,” they told CBS News.

by Stacy Jackson

February 21, 2023

Black Girl Magic Pop-Up Museum Opening in Dallas

This Black woman is sprinkling some Black Girl magic throughout North Texas.

Dallas is preparing to make room for The Black Girl Magic Museum, a new pop-up museum dedicated to celebrating Black women and their contributions to society.

According to CBS News, Black Girl Magic Museum Founder and Creator Dominique Hamilton, wants to bring more representation to the area, creating the space to spotlight the impact Black women have made.

“Black women have so much impact, so much history and culture,” Hamilton said.

“I wanted to be the change I wanted to see, so my goal was to dismantle the negative stereotypes that society had when it comes to Black women and girls,” Hamilton said.

The 21 interactive exhibits throughout the museum will feature notable Black women from the past and present who have made significant contributions to the world and their communities.

“[It’s] a journey from Madam CJ Walker to Loula Williams,” Hamilton said.

Other exhibits will showcase Black art, dance, STEM and entrepreneurship, in addition to mental health exercises for visitors throughout the museum.

 

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“I saw in Dallas, Texas there wasn’t a lot of representation and I saw our girls looking for something of their own,” Hamilton said. “So I wanted to create that, so that we know that we belong and we’re important and powerful.”

Hamilton’s pop-up museum is placed inside Dallas’ Southwest Center Mall, which she believes is the perfect location for Black girls to witness the many possibilities they have in life.

“We wanted to be a part of the revitalization of the Redbird area, to be able to have people be able to come, get their culture, their history,” Hamilton said. “And also have 21 plus photo installations, to be able to take pictures and be able to see themselves in a lot of the exhibits.”

The Black Girl Magic Museum will open its Dallas exhibits during the first weekend in March, and the museum will run for three years, featuring new exhibits periodically.

Don Lemon|
by Sharelle B. McNair

February 21, 2023

Don Lemon Set to Return to CNN After Receiving Backlash for Sexist and Ageist Comments

Don Lemon‘s career at CNN was in question after he made ageist and sexist remarks towards presidential hopeful, Nikki Haley. Now, after being off the air since, the network announced Lemon will return on Wednesday and receive “formal training.”

CNN CEO, Chris Licht, emailed employees on Feb. 20 addressing the incident.

“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,” Licht wrote. “He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with…fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.”

Last week, Lemon apologized for his comments, calling them “inartful.”

During a segment on CNN This Morning, Lemon suggested that Haley was not fit to run for president since the 51-year-old was “no longer in her prime.” The comment was met with backlash from co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, as well as Haley herself. The former South Carolina governor emailed CNN directly. “Liberals can’t stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job,” Haley wrote. “By the way, it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist.”

Licht claimed he was under pressure to address Lemon after receiving commentary from several employees. The Huffington Post reported Licht “chastised” Lemon during an editorial call last week, saying the comment was a “huge distraction.”

Lemon has been criticized for comments in the past but has taken accountability each time. “When I make a mistake, I own it,” Lemon said. “And I own this one as well.”

Ohio Pizzeria Goes Viral for Sign, ‘Now Hiring: Non-Stupid People’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 21, 2023

Ohio Pizzeria Goes Viral for Sign, ‘Now Hiring: Non-Stupid People’

An Ohio pizza shop turned into an internet sensation after putting up two signs that read, “Now Hiring Non-Stupid People.”

Santino’s Pizzeria in southwest Columbus found an eccentric way to attract talent amid staffing shortages sweeping the nation. A few months ago the restaurant placed comical signs outside its location to announce they were hiring, WBNS reports.

But it wasn’t until someone recently snapped a photo of the signs and shared it on social media, that Santino’s garnered more attention than they were initially seeking.

“It was all supposed to be a joke,” store manager Heather Stockton said.

“Nothing serious, it was just more of the fact, we kept having an applicant, we’d train them and they’d just walk out.”

Stockton said the sarcastic signs were only put up after hiring a number of people who either stopped coming to work or didn’t take the job seriously.

“I had a high school student who thought it was okay to bring a nerf gun in with another employee here,” Stockton said.

The owner’s daughter, Jayden Dunigan also defended the sign.

“A lot of the people we’ve hired just don’t want to work,” Dunigan told WSYX. “There is no work ethic behind them, so that’s the meaning behind the ‘non stupid’.”

Now, after placing the signs, the pizza shop’s phone has been blowing up with calls from locals who support the funny signage or those calling to prank the eatery.

Stockton says the pizzeria is seeking workers that are “just reliable, on time, just, don’t come to work in, like, sandals.”

Local residents have been passing by the pizza shop to place an order and get a look at the unique signage.

“I thought it was funny, I didn’t think it was offensive at all, and so, that made me really curious about this pizza place, so that made me decide to come in and check it out,” resident Paul Robbins said.

For those offended by the signs, Stockton made a proposition.

“Instead of judging our signs, why don’t you come judge our pizzas? Our pizzas are really good,” she quipped.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 21, 2023

Judge Mathis Announces Return to Television ‘With A Black Studio’, Signs on with Allen Media Group

Just days after Warner Bros. announced the cancellation of Judge Mathis after 24 seasons and People’s Court, the judge is announcing his comeback on a network that’s for us and by us.

Judge Greg Mathis took to Instagram on Monday, to tease his return to television in the wake of being axed by the media giant Warner Bros.

“JUDGE MATHIS FINISHED?? STAY TUNED!” he captioned the video post.

In the video, Judge Mathis wears his signature robe while calling out Warner Bros. for “getting out of the judge show business.” But the minor setback appears to have only set the famed TV judge up for an even bigger comeback.

 

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“But the good news is, the other studios aren’t getting out of the judge business,” he said. “As you can see with this robe still on, something might be happening real soon.”

According to Judge Mathis, his current focus is on returning to television, but with a network that is about diversity and inclusion and not pushing out their Black staff and shows.

“It’s going to be, and it will, with a Black studio this time,” Mathis said.

“I want to be able to empower Black businessmen and Black studios so that they can hire more Black people and put more Black shows on the air.”

Mathis went on to explain his gripes with some of the major studios in charge of running most of the television content we consume.

“Because the commitments we receive from corporate America and Hollywood have been rescinded for the most part,”  he said. “One of the studios dismissed all the people of color and hired white males to take their place reportedly. Others are dropping shows as you see, when there’s this push for African American images.”

But all is not lost. Judge Mathis teased the likely possibility of his return as a judge or even as a talk show host.

“You’re still going to have me around,” he said. “Perhaps for a judge show. Perhaps for a judge show and a talk show on political issues. Or perhaps just a talk show.”

On Tuesday, it was announced that Judge Mathis will now be making a move to Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group for his new show Mathis Court with Judge Mathis”, Variety reported.

“Byron and I are both from Detroit and it’s exciting to see him build the Motown of court programming by bringing together all of my fellow judges from his 8 court shows – who are the best of the best,” Mathis said.

Attorneys for Texas Death Row Inmate Who Gouged His Own Eyes are Looking for Clemency for Client
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 21, 2023

Attorneys for Texas Death Row Inmate Who Gouged His Own Eyes are Looking for Clemency for Client

Attorneys for a man who is currently on death row and who had gouged his own eyes out are asking for clemency.

According to The Associated Press, the lawyers for Andre Thomas, a mentally ill man who is scheduled to be executed on April 5, are seeking clemency . His attorneys stated that Thomas will never be competent for his scheduled execution.

Last week, Thomas’ attorneys, as well as over 100 faith leaders and dozens of mental health professionals, had requested that Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles commute the sentence of Thomas to  life in prison, or grant a reprieve so the courts can decide whether he is competent for execution.

“Gov. Abbott has the power to stop the spectacle of prison guards leading a blind, mentally incompetent, delusional man to the death chamber,” said attorney Maurie Levin.

Thomas has a history of mental illness since the age of 9 when he started hearing voices. When he was 10, he tried, unsuccessfully, to commit suicide. His mental illness continued as he got older.

His attorneys stated that in March 2004, when he was 21, Thomas’ mental illness turned into violence when he killed his family in his hometown of Sherman, TX. He stabbed his estranged wife Laura Christine Boren, who was 20 at the time, their 4-year-old son Andre Lee, and her 13-month-old daughter Leyha Marie Hughes to death. He also cut out the hearts of the two children.

He told police officers that God had instructed him to commit the murders, as he believed that all three of them were demons.

Thomas was given a death sentence after the jury did not accept his insanity defense. Prosecutors stated that he was aware that his conduct was wrong and worsened his mental condition when he used drugs. For the past 15 years, he has been held at a unit south of Houston for the state’s most mentally ill prisoners .

Two times since he has been imprisoned, the 39-year-old has taken his eyes out. One time eating one of them to make sure that the government could not hear his thoughts, his attorneys said.

“A jury has spoken about what justice should be in this case. We are not going to ignore that,” said J. Kerye Ashmore, who is with the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case.

Recent prison records revealed that as recently as December, Thomas “still hallucinate(s) constantly,” including hearing “voices ‘from a spiritual prison’ and seeking ‘angels.’”

Levin stated, “He is one of the most mentally ill prisoners in Texas history.”

It Was All She Had: Black Woman Builds Popcorn Brand with $53
by Stacy Jackson

February 21, 2023

It Was All She Had: Black Woman Builds Popcorn Brand with $53

This Arizona woman said her product was born out of pain.

De Juana Lozada, founder of Soul Popped Gourmet Popcorn built a snack product brand with only $53 to her name, and now her popcorn is growing in demand.

According to KXAN Austin, Lozada started her brand seven years ago, currently running the business out of the Soul Made Collective, a shop in north Austin’s Arboretum shopping plaza.

Different soul foods, including fried chicken, smoked bbq, and chicken and waffles, inspire Soul Popped’s featured flavors. Lozada’s mission is for each unique flavor to represent African American culture.

“We all have grandmas, mamas, and aunties that when we go to their house, you can taste the love in their food, right?” Lozada said. “I can pretty much make popcorn taste like whatever I want. It’s a superpower. Don’t ask me to explain that because I cannot. It’s just what I do.”

Lozada unexpectedly transitioned to making popcorn full-time after experiencing a painful incident that eventually became an expensive medical bill.

“In 2006, I just stood up and fell and hit the floor with a pain episode that I’ve never experienced before,” Lozada said. “That started me on a journey that lasted almost nine years of debilitating, un-diagnosable pain. That kept me in and out of the hospital every month for eight and a half years.”

She had been diagnosed with a rare uterine condition called adenomyosis, which left her with $2 million in medical debt.

“In my late 40s, I found myself starting over from scratch,” Lozada said.

Using the only funds she had at the time, which amounted to $53, Lozada bought what she needed to start her product and began working out of her SUV.

“I took half of it, and I bought popcorn seed and coconut oil,” Lozada said. “I knew that that was something that I could make quickly. And I could turn and make a profit with it quickly… it was just a God-given message, ‘Go get up and go make your popcorn.’”

Lozada refers to her loyal customers as “Soul Poppers.”

“When you think popcorn, I want it to be synonymous with Soul Popped,” she said, adding that she wants her company to be a nationally-recognized brand.

Lozada is fundraising to move her growing brand to a larger space.

Traveling, Black women, Vacation
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 21, 2023

A Mother and Daughter Breaks ‘Spirit’ of Airline Employees By Fighting Them Over Luggage Fees

Those Spirit Airline flights can be interesting at times. A mother and daughter recently found out that the employees at the affordable airline have a lot of “spirit” themselves!

According to the Daily Mail, a fight between Spirit Airlines employees and two women was caught on mobile phone footage in a brawl at the Philadelphia International Airport l on Jan. 30.

The altercation between the two parties occurred when employees told the mother-and-daughter pair that they were being charged extra fees for their carry-on luggage.

They were heading to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The fight allegedly started when the daughter, 17, pulled on the dreadlocks of one of the agents. After the initial contact, other Spirit workers joined in and attacked the young girl.

The footage only shows the brawl in progress, not how it started. The mother is seen without footwear and a shirt as she scrambles to fight other airline employees while her daughter is restrained. A little boy, believed to be with the duo, is heard screaming and even strikes one of the employees in defense of the women.

There is no mention that the passengers were allowed on the flight, but it was delayed for about an hour and continued to Florida without further incident.

After describing the incident as an allegation of “simple assault,” a statement was released by the Philadelphia Police department:

“On Monday, January 30th, 2023, at approximately 7:29 P.M. police received information that several passengers were pulling apart a 24-year-old female complainant and a 17-year-old female along with her 39-year-old mother during an argument over additional baggage fees.

“At this time, the 17 year old female attempted to access Jetway and was halted by the 24-year-old complainant when she was punched/hair pulled by the 17-year-old female being assisted by her 39-year-old mother.

“The 24-year-old female sustained a minor eyelid laceration. All participants were advised by police in reference to private criminal complaint documentation.”

by Atiya Jordan

February 21, 2023

Nasdaq Convenes Slutty Vegan, Mielle Organics, and More Black Founders To Celebrate Success in Historic Bell Ringing

Last Friday, a passionate group of Black and Brown changemakers opened the stock market at Nasdaq headquarters in New York City with a historic bell-ringing ceremony.

In support of growth-stage businesses, Nasdaq extended an invitation to be seen and celebrated in this part of the financial ecosystem. Among those invited included a trailblazing group of founders and investors who continue to break barriers in a challenging funding climate while building thriving enterprises. Let’s say the occasion was a means to show up and show out.

The gathering, convened by Nasdaq Chief Digital Officer Sehr Thadhani alongside The New Voices Foundation and Essence Ventures, companies founded by entrepreneur, investor, and social commerce innovator Richelieu Dennis, was groundbreaking.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 17: <> attends the NASDAQ Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony – Our Wealth: Moving Black Business Forward at NASDAQ on February 17, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence Ventures at NASDAQ)

As part of his landmark sale of Sundial Brand, Dennis created the $100M New Voices Fund for women of color. He provided mentorship and investment in Black women founders experiencing extraordinary challenges, such as access to capital and resources, relationships with retailers, and more. These include the masterminds behind The Honey Pot, Mented Cosmetics, The Lip Bar, and McBride Sister’s Wine Co.

During a live broadcast, Dennis stood proudly alongside two members of the entrepreneurial cohort, Monique Rodriguez, founder of Mielle Organics, and Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, as they sounded the bell. The trio was backed by a dignified community striving to show that real sustainable joy and change are possible in Black and Brown communities.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 17: <> attends the NASDAQ Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony – Our Wealth: Moving Black Business Forward at NASDAQ on February 17, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence Ventures at NASDAQ)

“Seeing is the manifestation of what our ancestors could not do. What they were not empowered to do, what they were not able to do, or more accurately, what they were deprived of doing,” Richelieu Dennis told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“And so we’re all here getting the opportunity to do that. And so, for me, the future should look like hundreds of thousands and millions of businesses, like the ones that are in this room, driving real change in their communities.”

Last month, it was announced that P&G acquired Mielle Organics, further proving the benefits of the ecosystem that Dennis has architected, where Black businesses collectively work and experience success.

“Everything that we are doing here is about purpose. Our model is full pace, and that is purpose, access, capital, and expertise. And we bring that into every single thing that we do on this journey,” Dennis said.

“Seeing our businesses execute against their purpose on a consistent basis for me is the future because that’s how it’ll change our communities. That’s how we’ll be able to determine; we’ll be able to choose what schools we send our kids to. We’ll be able to choose what healthcare we want. We’ll be able to choose what politicians we want to elect.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 17: (L-R) Caroline Wanga, Pinky Cole, Richelieu Dennis and Monique Rodriguez attend the NASDAQ Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony – Our Wealth: Moving Black Business Forward at NASDAQ on February 17, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence Ventures at NASDAQ)

After experiencing many challenges, Mielle Organics joined the New Voices Fund in March 2020, making it one of its first investments.

“I feel very grateful, and humbled, and proud to show Black and Brown boys and girls the possibilities of just having a dream. What, for me, started nine years ago has led me to ring the bell on Wall Street. That’s nobody but God. So super excited,” Rodriguez told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“So for us to even do the next couple of transactions that we did after partnering with New Voices, it was because of their guidance and helping us through the process and introducing us to bankers, investment bankers, and just guiding us and educating us on the process.”

For Cole, ringing the bell represented a new day with opportunities to succeed to the next level. She not only credits Dennis’ investment but also his belief in her visions and ideas.

“When I was invited to do it, I’m like, ‘Well, why would they want me out of all people?’ Why not me?” Cole told BLACK ENTERPRISE of her joining the New Voices Fund in January thanks to the support and mentorship of Dennis. “Because we’re visionaries, we’re colorful, we’re abstract, we think outside of the box, and we think at a high level. And it just feels good to be affiliated with people who are doing the work in the community to help take businesses to the next level.”

“And not only was it a good opportunity to be able to scale financially, the level of resource that I have in Rich alone, forget everybody else, but in Rich alone is unmatched.”

Caroline Wanga, president and CEO of Essence Ventures, opened up during the ceremony about her journey: leaving the C-suite of a Fortune 50 company to working in a more entrepreneurial environment. Wanga said she made it through by enlisting a “five fails a day” mantra and realizing that “nobody needs to weigh in on your purpose; it just is.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 17: Caroline Wanga (L) speaks onstage during the NASDAQ Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony – Our Wealth: Moving Black Business Forward at NASDAQ on February 17, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence Ventures at NASDAQ)

“The more important piece was having the unmitigated gall to believe in a future other people couldn’t see. I stopped asking people for their opinion on what I was born to do. I stopped checking in on if I was doing it well, and I reduced the amount of time I spent on things I don’t do well to 10% of my time. And I never tried to make them good; I just mitigated the risk,” she said.

 

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