Black Colorado Ranchers Arrested After Complaining of White Neighbors’ Trying to Force Them Out
The NAACP is investigating after a family of Black Colorado ranchers was arrested on felony charges following their years-long complaints of alleged harassment from their white neighbors.
Courtney and Nicole Mallery were arrested Monday on felony charges for alleged stalking, 9Newsreported. The arrest came after the Black farmers filed multiple restraining orders against El Paso County resident whom they said vandalized their property and attacked their livestock.
For two years, the Mallerys have accused their local community, Freedom Acres Ranch, of targeting their farm in repeated attempts to force them out. The married couple is also calling out an El Paso County deputy who said the couple instigated attacks against their land.
“Unfortunately, there are still corrupt police and racist people out there who are trying to block minority farmers from using their agricultural land because of their race,” the Mallerys’ statement said.
“In Colorado Springs, the Mallerys are the most recent victims of this blatant racism and vitriol.”
On Monday, an Instagram page under the name “Black Farmland Owners Matter” posted a video Nicole Mallery filmed of the Courtney Mallery’s arrest. Reports later confirmed both of their arrests.
Online civil court records show the Mallerys filed six restraining orders against people in their community. In December, a woman applied for a restraining order against Courtney Mallery with claims he was harassing and stalking her.
El Paso County sheriff Joe Roybal denied the racism accusations on behalf of the sheriff’s office, KRDO reported. The office also called for the Black and Latino Coalition to coordinate a meeting with the Mallerys to address their concerns.
Now, in wake of the Mallerys’ arrest, the Rocky Mountain NAACP has gotten involved in the investigation.
“I would really hope that the El Paso County Sheriff’s department and several others in rural areas understand that we’re taking this very seriously,” Portia Prescott, president of the Rocky Mountain NAACP, said.
“It needs to be taken a lot more seriously than they have taken it in the past.”
Diddy Denies Shading Burna Boy For Having One Grammy on Instagram Story
Apparently, it was Burna Boy and not Chris Brown that Sean “Diddy” Combs subtly shaded on Instagram during the 2023 Grammy Awards.
The hip-hop mogul had the streets talking after he took to his Instagram Story Sunday to call out an unnamed artist who has only one Grammy and “thought” they could win another without his help, TMZreported.
“I helped you win your first and only Grammy award which I did out kindness, and somehow you thought you could win another without my help ?? Oh okay..,” Diddy captioned the since-deleted post.
After online blog Onsite! caught wind of the shade and posted about it, Diddy denied he was talking badly about anyone.
“This is fake news,” Diddy wrote in a comment, captured by Hip Hop DX.
(Screenshot: Instagram)
Diddy served as co-executive producer on Burna Boy’s 2020 album, Twice as Tall, which received the 2021 Grammy for best global music album and also topped the Billboard US World Albums chart.
However, the Bad Boy CEO didn’t return to collaborate on Burna’s 2022 release, Love, Damini, which was nominated for best global music album but ended up losing to Japanese composer Masa Takumi’s “Sakura”.
Diddy attempted to deny what many suspected was shade aimed at Burna Boy. But after issuing the post and deleting it, many were convinced the rap mogul was in fact shading the Nigerian hitmaker and revealing how rigged the award show might actually be.
“The fact that Diddy is out there helping people win Grammies puts a lot of Grammy’s credibility into question. This is wild,” added someone else.
“This is why we said the award is rigged,” another user wrote. “This shows that not only can you win if you don’t merit the award, you can also be disqualified if some cabals involved in the decision-making decides not to give you the Grammy Award.”
Storm Reid Talks About Buying First House to Share With Mom: ‘She’s Made So Many Sacrifices for Me’
Actress Storm Reid is fresh off the heels of buying her first house to share with her mother and is dishing on how much of a “big deal” it is for her.
The Euphoria star appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show last week where the 19-year-old shared her pride for having purchased a home for her and her mother to share.
“I worked really hard, and to be able to share my blessings with my mom, she’s made so many sacrifices for me,” Reid said.
“To be able to come to L.A. and actually build a home is a really, really big deal,” she continued. “Even though I’m so grateful and I’m moving in a space of gratitude, sometimes you just gotta pat yourself on the back!”
The Last of Us star is dominating standout roles in Hollywood while studying acting and African American studies as a sophomore at the University of Southern California. Despite her busy career, Reid has no regrets about enrolling in school while appearing onscreen.
“It’s probably the best decision I ever made,” she said.
“I was feeling very fulfilled as a young person who works, but I just wanted to go to the football games and further my education and go to the parties and be a regular teenager,” she said.
The Missing star noted how “grateful” she is about working in a career she’s passionate about and toward a degree at the same time.
“I’m just so grateful that I’m blessed enough to do both,” she added. “It is challenging, but it is so fun.”
Having appeared in a number of popular television series and well-received films, it’s hard for Reid to attend class without someone recognizing her.
“When I first got to school it was a little awkward,” Storm revealed. “People were calling me [my Euphoria character] Gia, like ‘Oh, what’s happening on Euphoria?’ I’m like, ‘Babe, I’m going to class, I don’t know!’”
Good News: Ghanian Soccer Player Christian Atsu Found Alive In Rubble After Earthquake in Turkey
Following Monday’s tragic earthquake in Turkey, the count of missing people has gone up, but one person can be taken off that list.
BLACK ENTERPRISEreported yesterday that Ghanian soccer player Christian Atsu was missing, but CNN has reported that he has been found alive. Atsu’s agent Nana Sechere told CNN the 31-year-old is in “stable condition” and resting at a local hospital after being rescued from a large pile of rubble of a collapsed building.
Atsu was in Turkey for a game Sunday night. He scored a 97th- minute winner for Turkish top-flight side Hatayspor in a 1-0 victory over Kasımpasa. Hours later, news of a 7.8 magnitude quake that brought down whole apartment blocks in several Turkish and Syrian cities, made headlines.
Many outlets reported that Atsu was safe but that wasn’t initially the case. “There were lots of reports out of England and Ghana that Christian was safe, but the first official confirmation I had was on Tuesday morning,” Sechere told CNN.
Before the earthquake happened, CNN claimed Atsu was playing poker with friends until 3:30 a.m. local time on Monday and returned home around 4 a.m. Sechere said he received a call from Hatayspor club officials around 5 a.m. with news that the building Atsu was staying in was completely destroyed and that they couldn’t get hold of him.
“The last I’d heard from Christian was midnight,” the agent told CNN. “I was hoping he was awake and that the earthquake hadn’t happened while he was sleeping.”
Since news of his safe rescue, fans and his former soccer club have shown outpouring support. Everton Football Club made a Facebook post in celebration of his rescue:
“We are relieved to hear Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued and is recovering in hospital. Our thoughts continue to be with everyone affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. .”
Atsu is one of the lucky ones. CNN reports that more than 5,000 deaths have been confirmed in Turkey and Syria with another 21,000 injured.
The price of everything is going up so it’s no surprise that movie theaters are looking dig deeper into moviegoers’ pockets.
Forbesreported that AMC Theatres will now charging different prices for movie lovers based on their seat selection. This is an attempt to climb back financially as theaters have struggled due to COVID-19 lockdowns and the increasing popularity of streaming platforms.
There will be three different seat prices moving forward.
The first option will offer customers “value sightline” seats, at the lowest price, for those that want to sit in the front rows of the theaters. The “standard sightline” seats will remain the same cost as traditional movie tickets, but for those that prefer the middle of the auditorium, those tickets are considered “preferred sightline” whicih will be priced at a “slight premium.”
Varietyreported that if you are a AMC Stubs A-List members, the preferred sightline section will be available at no additional cost. Eliot Hamlisch, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at AMC Theatres, explained the change to Variety.
“Sightline at AMC more closely aligns AMC’s seat pricing approach to that of many other entertainment venues, offering experienced-based pricing and another way for moviegoers to find value at the movies,” he said. “While every seat at AMC delivers an amazing moviegoing experience, we know there are some moviegoers who prioritize their specific seat and others who prioritize value moviegoing.”
The good news is these prices will not affect AMC’s special pricing for Tuesday showings or matinee shows. According to Forbes, the new seating standards only apply for movies shown after 4 p.m.; movie fans can still see shows on Tuesdays for $5.
AMC is working on this pilot program at select AMC locations in New York, Chicago, and Kansas City with the goal to expand to all domestic theaters by the end of 2023.
Los Angeles Rams Rookie Ronnie Rivers Wins $500K at Las Vegas Casino
An NFL player made more money sitting at a table in Las Vegas than he did actually making a living in the professional football league this year.
According to Yahoo Sports, NFL running back, Ronnie Rivers who plays for the Los Angeles Rams took home more money at a Caesars Palace casino in one sitting than he made from his National Football League rookie salary.
Caesars Palace announced on its Twitter account that Rivers won over half a million dollars when he took home $514,837 playing 3-Card poker over the weekend.
“@CaesarsRewards guest and @RamsNFL player Ronnie Rivers hit the Mega Progressive Jackpot this weekend winning $514,837 on 3-card poker!”
.@CaesarsRewards guest and @RamsNFL player Ronnie Rivers hit the Mega Progressive Jackpot this weekend winning $514,837 on 3-card poker!
This took place at the Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas.
The running back won the money when he hit the “Mega Progressive Jackpot” while sitting at a three-card poker table on Saturday after pulling up a royal flush.
Rivers’ salary for the season that just ended was $705,000. After taxes, according to Spotrac, that amounts to an estimated take-home pay of $515,670. Without having to break a sweat, he almost matched that amount just by sitting down. Rivers is anticipating making $870,000 next season after signing another contract with the Rams.
After playing his collegiate career at Fresno State University, where he amassed 788 yards and scored seven touchdowns, he made it to the NFL without being drafted. He played the regular season with the Arizona Cardinals and the Rams. He recorded 21 yards on nine carries in several games with the Rams in October.
Fox 5 KVVU reported that Rivers stated he was at the casino this past weekend to celebrate his and his mother’s birthday. With the winning, he said he intends on purchasing a house with the $514,837.
He discovered an excellent way to celebrate his birth.
Elderly Woman Found Breathing at Funeral Home After She Was Pronounced Dead
Her body was next to take residency in the funeral, until the company realized there was a mistake.
An 82-year-old woman who was pronounced dead in Long Island, New York, turned out to be very much alive after she was transported to the local funeral home.
According to CNN, the woman was reported as dead on Saturday morning at 11:15 a.m. at the Water’s Edge Rehab and Nursing Center in Port Jefferson. Suffolk County police said the elder was found breathing at around 2:09 p.m. after she had already been transported at 1:30 p.m. to the O.B. Davis Funeral Home, a nearby location in Miller Place.
Reportedly, the woman, who remains unidentified as Suffolk County police and the New York State Department of Health are investigating the case, was transported to a hospital following the discovery.
“This is an awful situation that caused unnecessary trauma for the impacted resident and her loved ones,” the attorney general’s office wrote in an email. The statement included that the office was still in the process of assessing the incident.
“Out of respect for the privacy and confidentiality of the families we are honored to serve, we are not in a position to comment further on this matter,” the funeral home said in a statement addressing the matter.
CBSNews reported a similar incident where an unidentified resident at the Glen Oaks Alzheimer’s Special Care Center was mistakenly pronounced dead on Jan. 3, after a staff member said they couldn’t find a pulse.
After being transported to a funeral home and zipped up into a body bag, Ankeny Funeral Home and Crematory employees, was greeted with a body with a moving chest who let out a gasp of air when they unzipped the bag.
The resident was examined by Emergency Medical Services and later returned to the care facility, where she officially passed away early in the morning of Jan. 5.
Reportedly, the facility was hit with two state violations from the DIA, and a predicted $10,000 fine.
Women, BIPOC Professionals to Lead Top U.S. Colleges Come Fall 2023
Steps are gradually being taken to close the gender and racial gaps when it comes to university presidency.
Out of the 20 top-ranked colleges in the United States, eleven will reportedly be led by women or professionals from the BIPOC community in the fall 2023 semester.
According to Forbes, the new leadership marks a milestone for diversity amongst some of the nation’s most elite institutions.
Reportedly, the diverse change within the higher educational presidencies follows the numerous resignations, retirements, and replacements several institutions faced within the past 18 months.
Ivy Leagues ranked in Forbes’ top 20 will see six women leading its institutions out of the eight holding a ranking.
Reportedly, Harvard, Brown, The University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California, San Diego are the only schools in the ranking that have appointed such leadership that includes women or professionals from the BIPOC community just ten years ago.
Heading into fall 2023, colleges that will enter the semester led by a person of color include Harvard University, which named Claudine Gay as its university’s first Black president. Gay will be the second woman to hold the presidency at the institution.
Reginald DesRoches was hired in 2022 to lead Rice University. He will continue into the fall 2023 semester as the institution’s first Black man to be appointed to the presidency.
Indian-American Chancellor Pradeep Khosla will also continue his leadership at the University of California, San Diego, where he was appointed back in 2012.
The Women’s Power Gap at Elite Universities: Scaling the Ivory Tower, a 2022 report by the Eos Foundation in partnership with the American Association of University Women, found that the gap for women of color regarding university presidencies remained wide, as only 5% of the institutions appointed a woman of color in the leadership spot.
The statistics still remain low for women of color, even though one in every five people to obtain a PhD are women of color.
Black-Owned Thompson Hospitality is Using Aggressive Expansion to Surpass the $1B Landmark by 2024
With a projected annual growth rate of 15% to 20%, Thompson Hospitality aims to become an enterprise with revenue exceeding $1 billion within two years.
The Reston, VA-based business has annual sales of $800 million. But its President and Chairman, Warren Thompson, recently told BLACK ENTERPRISE he is confident another $200 million will be added to the company’s top line over the next two years. He anticipates the gain will primarily come from his company’s joint venture with Compass Group USA —the nation’s largest food and support services company— increased revenue from its retail restaurant operations, and potential acquisitions.
Founded in 1992, Thompson Hospitality has been ranked as the nation’s largest Black-owned food service business, and one of the country’s largest retail food and facilities management firms. It was ranked No. 7 on the most recent Top 100 roster, the industrial/service component of the BE 100s, BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s annual listing of the nation’s top Black-owned businesses.
Thompson Hospitality today has more than 6,000 employees. Its operations in 48 states and six countries include the pact with Compass and retail brands like Matchbox, Milk and Honey, Big Buns, Wise Guys Pizza, Velocity Wings, and Makers Union. It has contracts with 18 HBCUs, with offerings that include dining services, catering, and facilities management. The firm hopes to boost that number to 20 by late 2023.
Millions of people served at restaurants
Last April, Thompson Hospitality teamed with NBA Hall-of-Famer Ralph Sampson to open Ralph Sampson’s American Tap Room at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Sampson became a basketball legend there due to his phenomenal performance during his playing days in the 1980s. Thompson said his firm invested about $1.5 million to help open the business, which is projected to have sales of $3 million in 2023. Thompson and Sampson are both UVA alumni.
The opening is fitting, given most of the restaurants Thompson Hospitality owns operate in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and South Florida. The company has grown significantly since it launched in 1992 by acquiring 31 Bob’s Big Boy restaurants. Now, Thompson Hospitality restaurants serves an estimated 32 million guests annually. Moving forward, Thompson expects his firm to grow to 100 restaurants by late 2023, up from 60 at year-end 2022.
Reaching major peaks as a company and partner
Another game-changing event came in 1997 when Thompson Hospitality united with Compass Group USA as large companies were consolidating and outsourcing their contract food service business.
Last fall, Thompson Hospitality celebrated its 30th anniversary and the 25-year milestone of its transformative partnership with Compass.
But the journey was not always easy. Warren Thompson reflected on how the joint venture has been a game-changer for Thompson Hospitality. He said the venture allowed it to scale its enterprise. He noted that in the late 1990s, the industry was shifting, companies were contracting with larger entities that could do more under a single umbrella.
“Simply, we could not compete,” he said. “The joint venture was a strategic move that required the right partner. It has provided us with the ability to supply large clients who would not have awarded business of that magnitude to a smaller company. Additionally, it offered us the opportunity to expand our presence globally more quickly than we would have been able to otherwise.”
He added, “The partnership also ensured that we were able to diversify our portfolio beyond our retail business to include other sectors, including business & industry; healthcare; vending; facilities management; and K-12 and higher education. It has offered marketing and brand recognition for our restaurant concepts.”
Thompson said about $400 million, or 50% of his company’s revenue, comes from its alliance with Compass. The partnership has grown from scratch to roughly $1.5 billion in annual revenue and manages more than 150 accounts for clients. Thompson said that includes his company doing business with about 60 Fortune 100 companies across multiple industries, including financial, pharmaceutical, and transportation.
Providing diverse suppliers opportunities
Moreover, the partnership is helping the local Black community by purchasing goods and services from businesses there. Benita Thompson-Byas, senior vice president and vice board chair at Thompson Hospitality, said last fall all 150 of its accounts include diverse suppliers. She is Thompson’s sister and oversees all aspects of the company’s strategic partnership with Compass.
So, how are Black suppliers an integral part of the company’s success story?
She said the theme for Thompson Hospitality’s anniversary has been “Lighting the Path of Opportunity for Others.” Thompson-Byas added that they have achieved its impactful goal by sourcing and mentoring diverse suppliers in its communities. In fact, she noted that nearly 30% of all Thompson Hospitality’s purchases are made with certified diverse suppliers. “Our own experience has shown us the importance and power of supplier diversity, and we are committed to paying it forward.”
Lillie’s of Charleston, a Southern-style sauce and spice brand, is among its suppliers. In 2019, Lilie’s of Charleston’s co-founder and CEO Tracey Richardson said her business grew about 47% annually before working with Compass and Thompson Hospitality. As a result of working with the joint venture, Richardson said her average annual growth has risen 131% to an undisclosed dollar amount.
“The growth has allowed us to move into a larger warehouse, expand our product line and distribution, and open a local pop-up retail space.”
Rick Post, who served as chief operations officer at Compass Group USA for 26 years, said Compass has long been committed to supporting diverse suppliers. “This has meant we’ve been able to help our clients achieve their goals faster and do even more good for customers, associates, and diverse suppliers.”
Black entrepreneurs interested in working with Thompson Hospitality and Compass should be proactive. Thompson-Byas says that includes obtaining the relevant business certification and working with advocacy organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council and local development councils. Inquiries should be sent to vendors@thompsonhospitality.com. “We are always building new relationships with suppliers of various sizes and connecting them to the right partners.”
Giving back to the community is a top priority
Making sure to give back to the community has also been a significant focus. Over the last 30 years, Thompson Hospitality has given $21.1 million in capital investments and $32.6 million in scholarships and non-capital investments through its philanthropic efforts. The company added that its investments in, and donations to, HBCUs average about $4 million annually.
“While Thompson Hospitality has been successful as an enterprise, we are not driven solely by profits,” Thompson-Byas said. “As a family company, our purpose is built into the business model.”
She added that the company believes in building the next generation of leaders in hospitality. “Together, with our partner Compass Group, we support the Navigate program, which offers high schoolers in large metropolitan areas real-world experience and training in the industry.”
Positioned for future growth despite obstacles
And Thompson Hospitality’s growth has come as its sector – food service and hospitality – were among the hardest-hit industries by the pandemic, Warren Thompson explained. Yet, instead of retreating, he said, his company’s senior leadership team took pay cuts and invested in growing the business stronger for the future, advancing an aggressive acquisition plan.
“With this expansion, we are testing an approach that we believe will be the model of the future. Unlike a national chain with tens of thousands of restaurants across the country, we are betting that operating 25 brands in three to four states and deepening our presence and influence in a concentrated region will provide a strong competitive advantage.”
Tennessee State University Marching Band Makes History Winning First Grammy Award
HBCUs made their mark during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in a major way.
Vibe reports Tennessee State University made history as the first marching band to take home the Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album for their performance of “The Urban Hymnal” and being featured on J. Ivy’s “The Poet Who Sat By The Door,” which won Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.
Sir the Baptist, a songwriter and producer, and Assistant Band Director, Larry Jenkins, accepted the award on the band’s behalf. Jenkins said the win is needed for the culture. “You see the Grammy’s; You see the NAACP Image Award nominations, all of these amazing things that are expanding the culture, expanding the brand,” Jenkins said, according to Vibe. “This means a lot as well because it’s rooted in the culture. You have the highest award in music and in this culture that we’ve been able to tap into.”
While all members of the Aristocrat of Bands couldn’t attend, TSU posted a video on Twitter of a watch party hosted on campus for the band and fellow students to bask in their major accomplishments. As soon as the band won, students jumped to their feet, chanting, “AOB! AOB!”
Just call us Tennessee State University GRAMMY-Award Winning Aristocrat of Bands! We WON in the Best Gospel Roots Album category! TSU’s Aristocrat of Bands has made history as THE 1st COLLEGIATE MARCHING BAND to WIN A GRAMMY!#ExcellenceIsOurHabit! pic.twitter.com/K6RPmdrqKT
During his acceptance speech, Baptist shared what had to be done financially to make the win possible, stating how underfunded HBCUs are. “HBCUS are so grossly underfunded to where I had to put my last dime in order to get us across the line,” Baptist said. “We’re here with our pockets empty, but our hands aren’t.” Jenkins finished by thanking school officials, band staff, and the students for all their support. “Your hard work and dedication created the pen that allowed you to write your own page in the history books,” Jenkins said. “We all know we made history, but this is also February. We also made Black history.”
Tennessee State University follows in the footsteps of fellow Tennessee HBCU, Fisk University. In 2021, the Tennessean reports the historic Fisk Jubilee Singers won Best Roots Gospel Album for “Celebrating Fisk!” during the group’s 150th anniversary.
