Report: Memphis Police Chief Was Fired From Atlanta Police Department Over Sex Crime Probe
As the police bodycam footage of Tyre Nichols’ brutal beating at the hands of Memphis police officers dominates the national headlines, disturbing information about the woman in charge of the five officers responsible, police chief Cerelyn Davis, is coming to light that calls into question her professional and ethical judgment.
In 2021, Davis was named Memphis’s first female police chief. Prior to that, she worked for the Atlanta police department, starting a patrol officer in 1986, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported. Her advancement in the department was swift, and she was ultimately named deputy chief.
According to AJC, Davis was fired from the Atlanta police department in 2008 for her involvement in a sex crimes investigation into the husband of an Atlanta police sergeant. Two detectives accused Davis of telling them not to investigate T.C. Crane, who later pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography after being indicted by a federal grand jury.
“Then-Chief Richard Pennington first demoted Davis from major to lieutenant before firing her,” AJC reported. “She challenged her firing before the city’s Civil Service Board and was ultimately reinstated.”
A second police employee was also fired and Tonya Crane resigned before the department could act against her.
Once in Memphis, Davis formed the elite SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods) unit, of which the five officers now charged with the murder of Nichols were a part.
“The unit was such a key part of the city’s crime-fighting strategy that Mayor Jim Strickland touted it in his State of the City address a year ago, at a time when the city was tallying record homicide numbers,” according to The New York Times.
On Saturday, the Memphis Police Department announced that the SCORPION unit was shut down, after the unit’s members met with Davis “to discuss the path forward.”
“In the process of listening intently to the family of Tyre Nichols, community leaders, and the uninvolved officers who have done quality work in their assignments, it is in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate the SCORPION unit,” the department said in a statement released on Twitter.
“The current officers currently assigned to the unit agree unreservedly with this next step,” Memphis PD continued. “While the heinous actions of a few casts a cloud of dishonor on the title, SCORPION, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department, take proactive steps in the healing process for all impacted.”
‘Jesus Loves You’, Kenny Lattimore Serenades Newborn Daughter With A Song
Kenny Lattimore is a proud “girl dad” who couldn’t wait to serenade his newborn daughter with a sweet song.
The R&B singer took to Instagram on Monday to share an adorable moment with his newborn daughter, Skylar Leigh Lattimore, and touch on his transition into parenthood.
“The responsibility of bringing new life into a world that can be so chaotic and cruel can feel overwhelming,” he captioned the post.
“But I sing this song to Skylar as I am reminded of the simplicity of the lyrics that express authentic love — at a time when we need more of it than ever before.”
Lattimore collaborated on the post with his TV judge wife, Faith Jenkins, and the pair received tons of praise and support from their friends and followers.
“I mean…she has a whole international superstar vocalist singing to her on demand! #blessed,” one friend said.
“Come on now Sunday school teacher!” Sherri Shepard wrote.
The post comes just days after the Lattimore family celebrated the “For You” singer landing in the No. 3 spot on Billboard’s R&B playlist with his single “Take A Dose.”
“I love to see it! @billboard #3 congrats @kennylattimore!!” she wrote before praising her husband’s work ethic.
“No one I know works harder & stays so grounded doing what they love more than Skylar’s dad ☺️❤️ We are so proud!!!”
The married couple welcomed their daughter Skylar Leigh earlier this month and announced it on social media last week. It’s the first child for Lattimore and Jenkins, who tied the knot in 2020 after one year of dating.
Lattimore and Jenkins met on a blind lunch date in 2019 after the Divorce Court judge asked mutual friend Aaron Lindsey for some assistance on recording Christmas music. Lindsey connected her with Lattimore, and the rest is history.
“The first time we met was for lunch and we talked for two hours,” Jenkins toldUs Weekly. “I don’t know that there was a real spark at first but it was a genuinely interesting conversation. Kenny actually thought I wasn’t that interested because I didn’t per se flirt with him. It was lunch! I was just looking for good conversation and to enjoy my turkey club. The flirting would come later! Which it did.”
Ariel Investments’ $1.45 Billion “Project Black” Fund Aimed To Help Minority Firms Become Fortune 500 Suppliers
Ariel Alternatives has closed its $1.45 billion Project Black fund, allowing it to help minority firms grow.
The private equity business of Ariel Investments, Ariel Alternatives will use its inaugural fund to acquire minority owned businesses and help them become diverse suppliers for Fortune 500 companies.
Ariel Investments, No. 1 on the BE Asset Managers list, launched Project Black in 2021. With assets under management of about $16.2 billion as late December, the Chicago-based Ariel Investments is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The new fund plans to invest in middle-market companies that are or may not currently be minority-owned, along with existing Black- or Latina-owned businesses with $100 million to $1 billion in annual revenue. Under the fund’s ownership, these companies are expected to be converted into certified minority business enterprises with the capacity to serve as Tier 1 suppliers to the Fortune 500.
Ariel Alternatives aims to forge partnerships between its network of the world’s largest corporations and its portfolio companies. That will provide minority firms both access to capital and customers.
According to a news release, Project Black will leverage the $1.45 billion in commitments from its limited partners and co-investors from the consumer retail, energy and infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, sovereign and private wealth, and technology sectors.
Each investor has committed $100-$200 million over the fund’s nominal seven-year investment period. Along with the Project Black $1.45 billion pledge, JPMorgan Chase & Co. intends to co-invest up to $200 million with the fund in future deals.
Moreover, the fund will reportedly be one of the largest private equity fund closings for a first-time manager globally.
Project Black’s investment strategy will focus mainly on pursuing companies in high-margin sectors that fulfill corporate procurement needs, including such areas as healthcare, transportation and logistics, technology, financial, and professional services.
The fresh fund’s limited partners and co-investors include the likes of AmerisourceBergen Corporation. Ballmer Group, Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, Lowe’s Companies, Inc., Synchrony Financial, and Walmart.
Leslie A. Brun, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Ariel Alternatives, said, “We chose to partner with large institutions that are seeking to drive widespread corporate vendor diversity. Our goal is to help close the racial wealth gap by creating minority-owned businesses of scale through access to both capital and customers.”
Mellody Hobson, co-founder of Ariel Alternatives and co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, added, “We are scaling change. In so doing, we will redefine what it means to be a minority-owned business in the United States. We are grateful to our investors who share our mission.”
Missy Elliott First Female Rapper Nominated For Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Two legendary hip-hop acts, Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest, were nominated for induction into this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class today.
Although A Tribe Called Quest (shich consists of group members, Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad,Jarobi White and Phife Dawg, who died in 2016) was previously nominated, this will be Elliott’s first time. If she does get in, she will be the very first female rapper to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Elliott acknowledged the recognition on her Twitter account on Wednesday and encouraged fans to help vote her in.
“I’ve cried my eyes out I’ve always dreamed big but to be nominated for this is bigger than I dreamed & I am so Humbly Grateful to@rockhall & to all my fans who helped me get here to please vote https://vote.rockhall.com/en/”
I’ve cried my eyes out😭 I’ve always dreamed big but to be nominated for this is bigger than I dreamed & I am so Humbly Grateful to @rockhall & to all my fans who helped me get here to please vote https://t.co/xmHt8iCIuUpic.twitter.com/jawsGKENhZ
She also posted the significance of being the first female rapper nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“This is so important for us women in Hiphop because there’s never been a female rapper nominated & hopefully this nomination will open the door”
.@rockhall#Rockhall2023 This is so important for us women in Hiphop because there’s never been a female rapper nominated & hopefully this nomination will open the door🙏🏾💜 pic.twitter.com/Dkqb4h4beg
Yale’s School of Public Health Honors Nine-Year-Old Lanternfly Catcher Who Was Reported to Police
From catching insects to catching the attention of professionals in science, this girl is on fire.
Bobbi Wilson, the 9-year-old who was reported to the police by her Republican neighbor while she was catching lanternflies, has been honored by The Yale School of Public Health.
According to Yale University officials, the institution held a ceremony January 20 highlighting Wilson’s research and efforts toward capturing the invasive species that was infesting Caldwell, New Jersey. The ceremony was also a moment for the university to show its gratitude to Wilson for donating her personal collection of the insects as an addition to the database at Yale’s Peabody Museum.
She is officially one of the museum’s donating scientists.
The Guardian reported that the child’s incident with her neighbor drew the attention of Ijeoma Opara, an assistant professor at the public health school, who organized the ceremony to honor Wilson for her brave and inspirational work.
“Yale doesn’t normally do anything like this,” Opara said, according to the university. “This is something unique to Bobbi.”
“We’re so grateful for all of the work you’ve done…in New Jersey, and your interest in conservation and checking out the lanternflies’ advance,” said Lawrence Gall, the museum’s entomology collection manager. “They are just starting to come up here…So we’re very happy to have these specimens.”
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Wilson’s 71-year-old neighbor, Gordon Lawshe, called the police on the child on October 22 while she was outside testing an environmentally-safe formula to catch the insects in her hometown. Wilson, her mother, and her older sister attended a town hall meeting in November to address the council and bring attention to the incident.
Since the town hall meeting, Wilson and her older sister have toured Yale University in an invitation to meet other Black women in science.
Wilson’s lanternfly collection is available for public view at Yale’s Peabody Museum.
Issa Rae Set to Hit the Stage Live at Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit
If you’re rooting for everybody BLACK like we are, then be in the room when Issa Rae hits the stage to headline BLACK ENTERPRISE’s 2023 Women of Power Summit, celebrating a sisterhood like no other.
Hosted by ADP, the three-day in-person experience kicks off on Thursday, March 9 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. With a full schedule doused in Black Girl Magic, the summit will carry on with celebratory events and a dynamic lineup of conversations for executives and leaders to be empowered.
With her own unique flare and infectious sense of humor, Issa Rae first received attention for her award-winning web series and the accompanying New York Times best-seller, “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.”
Among the star-studded roster of confirmed speakers, the actress, writer, entrepreneur and producer, Issa Rae, is renownedfor building her own table among old Hollywood gatekeepers. She not only brings her boss energy on set, but she encapsulates a woman of power who is intentional in fostering community and building businesses that thrive.
As a self-described builder, Rae takes pride in sharing the strategies that helped her grow Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, the Inglewood, California, coffee shop that she owns with co-founders Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan, as well as her hair care brand Sienna Naturals, her record label Raedio, and her production company Hoorae Media.
In addition to her mogul mastermind, Issa Rae is a passionate changemaker.
She envisions her lifetime breaking glass ceilings and opening doors for marginalized and underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry and beyond. She once shared that the fear of growing old and losing time ignites the champion in her to continue her work.
Whether she’s vocalizing the changes she’d like to see in Hollywood or supporting Black businesses through collaborative conversations and funding, or “rooting for everybody Black,” the Rap Sh*t creator is an empowered gatekeeper who shares her wisdom and provides a space for people to win.
“I think operating from that scared place is actually really helpful because it makes you impatient about waiting for sh*t to happen. And it makes you fearless about the things you normally might be afraid of, like rejection, embarrassment, or diminishment,” said Rae when she accepted her Equity in Entertainment Award at TheHollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala.
Rae also created and starred in the Peabody-award-winning HBO series Insecure which garnered her multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominations.
Rae has also made her mark on the big screen, starring in THE PHOTOGRAPH and THE LOVEBIRDS. In 2020 Rae formed HOORAE, a multi-faceted media company that develops content across mediums in an effort to continue to break boundaries in storytelling and representation.
HOORAE is comprised of HOORAE Media for film, tv and digital; Raedio, the music label, music supervision company, and “audio everywhere” company; and ColorCreative, its management division. Via HOORAE’s WarnerMedia deal, Issa has also expanded her Executive Producer slate with the Emmy-award nominated A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW, the fan-favorite docuseries SWEET LIFE, and the upcoming HBOMax series, RAP SH*T.
Rae’s commitment to South LA is evident in both her personal and professional pursuits. After planting roots near her childhood home, Issa decided to set up the HOORAE headquarters in the heart of South LA.
Additionally, as co-owner of the Black-owned and operated hair care line, Sienna Naturals, Rae intends to continue to reimagine Black wellness and beauty. Sienna Naturals is a performance-driven vegan hair care line rooted in sustainability and intentionality and was awarded Cosmopolitans “Holy Grail Beauty Award” in 2021.
Be In the Room to Celebrate Womanhood
In celebration of trailblazing women, BLACK ENTERPRISE is hosting its 17th Annual Legacy Awards Gala at the start of the summit to honor those who’ve defied the odds and changed the world for future generations. These include award-winning actress Loretta Devine, Vera Moore, President and CEO of the family-owned business, Vera Moore Cosmetics, Tracey T. Travis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies; and Business executive Lisa Wardell who currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Adtalem Global Education Inc.
Throughout her three-decade career, Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theater, TV, and film including “Lorrell,” one of the three original “Dreamgirls,” and has earned much praise and accolades for her work.
Moore not only broke color barriers onscreen, but as the first Black tenant for 25 years in the history of the prestigious Green Acres Mall in Long Island, NY and the first Black vendor in Walgreens’ select upscale “Look-boutique” stores for 10 years.
Davis boasts an impressive financial leadership background with Ralph Lauren Corporation, Limited Brands, Americas Group of American National Can, and more.
In her role, Wardell brings a successful five-year track record as Adtalem’s former CEO and leader of the higher education sector in implementing new standards in transparency and financial literacy.
During the summit, Black Enterprise will also bring back its second annual Luminary Awards and luncheon to “honor our sisters who are fighting the good fight, creating new paths, and lighting the way for us all.”
While exploring the theme “Our Time, Our Way, Our Power,” those who will receive their flowers include motivational speaker, author, producer Lauren Simmons, three-time New York Times bestselling author, multimedia entrepreneur speaker and podcast host Luvvie Ajayi Jones, and Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project Nikole Hannah-Jones.
(Image Credit: Instagram/lasimmons)
Luvvie Ajayi Jones(Photo Courtesy of Nikole Hannah-Jones)
Affectionately known as the ‘Wolfette of Wallstreet,’ Simmons reigns as the second African American female trader to work on the exchange in over 228 years. She advocates for financial wellness and for the financial sector to take steps to increase diversity and inclusion.
Jones has taken the stage at some of the world’s most innovative and disruptive brands to bring culture, media, and business to the forefront. Her newest venture and first picture book, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, is available May 2, 2023.
Hannah-Jones, also a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, has spent her career investigating racial inequality and injustice, co-founding the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting in 2016.
Confirmed speakers include: Multi-talented actress, producer, author, and business owner Tia Mowry who will grace the summit.
(Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Variety)
Popularly known for her classic role in 90’s sitcom “Sister, Sister,” the award-winning actress is also churning out inspiration in the food industry. From her second cookbook, The Quick Fix Kitchen and “Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix” on YouTube to her “Spice by Tia Mowry” cookware collection, and 4U by Tia, Mowry’s journey inspires millions across social media.
Other speakers to grace the stage are:
Jevonya Allen, Creator and Chief Visionary Officer of Twisted Networking, Carice Anderson, Author of Intelligence Isn’t Enough: A Black Professional’s Guide to Thriving in the Workplace; Jacqueline M. Baker, Principal Consultant and Founder of Scarlet; Karen Taylor Bass, Certified Corporate Wellness Expert; Maria Black, President and CEO of ADP; Lydia T. Blanco, Journalist and Media Consultant at Blanco & Co.; Traci Otey Blunt, Founder and Principal of Blunt Group Strategies; Cynthia H. Bowman, Chief Diversity, Inclusion & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Officer at Bank of America; Scarlett Cochran, Author of IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY: A Proven Path to Building Wealth and Living the Rich Life You Deserve;Richada Franklin, Director, Product Solutions of UKG; Dethra Giles, CEO of ExecuPrep; Laurie Robinson Haden, President & Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Counsel Women of Color; Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley; Dr. Kimberly Henderson, Wealth Management Client Health Advisor at Morgan Stanley; Keanna “KJ Rose” Henson, Author, Artist Development, Performance Director & Founder of The Rose Effect, LLC; Arlene Isaacs‐Lowe, Independent Director of Compass Group, Xenia Hotels and Resorts & Equitable Holdings; Dr. Sabrina Kizzie, Digital Media Consultant/Lecturer at Baruch College; Audria Pendergrass Lee, Vice President, Talent Acquisition & Chief Diversity Officer at FINRA; Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President and CEO of McKissack & McKissack; Monique McWilliams, VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UnitedHealth Group; Dr. Yasmene Mumby, Founder and Principal of The Ringgold; Watchen Nyanue, Founder and CEO of I Choose the Ladder; Crystal R. Oliver, VP, Memphis World Hub at FedEx; Angela J. Reddock-Wright, Employment Attorney & Mediator at Reddock Law Group; Monica Simmonds, MSPH, Director of Health Equity Program Implementation at Walmart; Olanda Sharp-Buckley, Vice President, Customer/Technical Training at Dell; Dr. Tammy Lewis Wilborn, Mental Health and Wellness Expert, Keynote Speaker, and Author; and Dr. Lauren Young, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Travelers.
Police Killing of Double-Amputee Anthony Lowe Sparks Outrage From Family, Activists
The fatal January 26 police shooting of a 36-year-old, double-amputee in southeastern Los Angeles is the latest killing of a Black man to set off protests over excessive and lethal violence by U.S. law enforcement.
According to CBS News, activists and the family of Anthony Lowe Jr. took to the Huntington Park Police Department headquarters Monday to condemn the killing. “They murdered my son in a wheelchair—with no legs,” Lowe’s mother, Dorothy, said.
In a Jan. 30 statement, the Huntington Park Police Department said its officers were responding to a stabbing on the afternoon of Jan. 26.
The stabbing victim described his attacker as a man in a wheelchair. The attacker allegedly “dismounted the wheelchair, ran to the victim without provocation, and stabbed him in the side of the chest” with a “12-inch butcher knife,” before fleeing the scene in the wheelchair.
In the search for the suspect, police found Lowe, a few blocks away, holding a knife. Huntington Park police said officers attempted to detain the man, but that he ignored verbal orders and “threatened to advance or throw the knife at the officers.” Huntington Park police said officers tasered the suspect twice.
“The suspect continued to threaten officers with the butcher knife, resulting in an officer-involved shooting,” the statement read.
The L.A. Sheriff’s Department said Friday the suspect was shot in the “upper torso,” and “was treated on scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics and pronounced dead.”
The police officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave per protocol, according to Huntington Park police.
The Huntington Park Police Department, Homicide Bureau of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, and the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the shooting.
Yatoya Toy, Lowe’s sister, told the Los Angeles Times that her brother’s legs were amputated last year after an altercation with law enforcement in Texas.
The mother of one of Lowe’s children, Ebonique Simon, described him to CNN as a “loving, caring father.” She added that Lowe was “dealing with a lot of depression” over the loss of his legs.
A spokesperson for the family told CBS News that Lowe was undergoing a mental health crisis when he was shot.
Cliff Smith, an organizer with the Coalition for Community Control Over the Police, called on Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón to prosecute the officers involved. “We want specific justice,” he said at the press conference outside local police headquarters Monday.
Dorothy Lowe said, “This situation is worse than George Floyd. When these videos go out, it’s going to be all bad.”
Last week, five police officers were charged with second-degree murder for beating 29-year-old Tyre Nichols in Memphis—leading to his death days after and protests nationwide.
While Some Corporate DEI Progress Has Been Made, Real Growth Remains Low, Especially in Black Leadership Roles
A scarce 3% of Fortune 500 firms’ diversity data is available to the public, research shows.
Data also shows around 81% of CEOs of large companies are white men, compared to just 3.2% who are Black, based on a recent report.
And the number of Black CEOs has shrunk in recent years. Per BLACK ENTERPRISE, there will be seven Black Fortune 500 CEOs when Chris Womackachieves that status with Southern Company on May 24.
Figures reveal a bright spot is search engine giant Google boosted representation of Blacks companywide two times more than their overall employee representation in 2022 from 2021. However, only 19% of technology companies responding to the new survey by Big Four accounting firm KPMG have people of color in leadership roles.
While the goal is to lift that number to 25% by 2025, the numbers reveal that much more work is needed.
The push comes as a result of pressure put on U.S. companies to boost their DEI practices more aggressively. And it comes nearly three years after the George Floyd murder and subsequent national protests linked to systemic racism.
The KPMG survey indicated 71% of respondents had taken many DEI-related actions since 2020. However, a measly 12% reported making significant changes in their companies’ DEI profiles.
Elena Richards, KPMG U.S. Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, surmised in the survey what may be needed to help move the DEI needle in the corporate world.
“Although measurement is critical, equally important is the employee experience of DEI as the centerpiece of a company’s efforts. Organizations should do everything they can to ensure employees’ trust that leadership is constantly scanning the landscape for effective practices and that they understand and celebrate everything that makes employees unique.”
Richards has more than 20 years of experience in human resources, with a heavy emphasis on diversity strategy and consulting, talent management, succession planning, development, performance management, and recruitment. Partnering with KPMG’s management committee and board of directors, she helps advance the firm’s Accelerate 2025 strategy. That commitment is geared to attract, retain, and advance underrepresented talent.
BLACK ENTERPRISE connected with Richards via email regarding DEI.
Why are so few Black professionals in leadership roles, including CEO positions, as opposed to White men?
Change doesn’t happen overnight, and even the organizations that have made demonstrable progress realize that current efforts are only the beginning stages towards meaningful change. As organizations continue to put various barriers of change under a microscope – such as a greater focus on internal reorganization than DEI efforts, lack of knowledge on how to proceed, insufficient funding and investments, potential exposure to legal, regulatory or compliance risks, and lack of leadership commitment – more opportunities will arise to tap into the pipeline and create opportunities for underrepresented talent (including Black talent) to develop and lead their organizations. It can be highly beneficial to track, from a DEI perspective, who is applying, who is getting considered, and who is ultimately being hired.
Google is among the major tech companies doing a better job of boosting black representation. What will it take for other companies in such industries as technology and financial services, such as banking, to boost the number of Blacks in executive and mid-management positions?
Equity recognizes that an organization might need to intervene and provide support in different ways for different groups – and this support may also vary across different industries and different organizations within those industries. For example, organizations may consider targeted “Path to Leadership” efforts that focus on career readiness and sponsorship from senior leaders. These efforts can be augmented to fast-track development opportunities for “ready now or ready soon” individuals. Another example is increasing rigor for succession planning to increase appointments from underrepresented groups. These efforts ultimately transform the leadership pipeline and succession planning process to track, evaluate, and develop talent that may not have been previously considered.
Research as recent as 2021 has shown stunningly less than half of all of the business leaders are executing a fully developed DEI strategy for their full-time employees. That great of a percentage makes it harder for Blacks to move up the corporate ladder. What must companies do to make a sustainable change?
If companies don’t prioritize their DEI strategy, they will continue to do things as they’ve been done before, and it will become increasingly difficult to drive change from the top-down. Measuring progress has continued to be a driver of change with DEI strategies. There is value in tracking the same metrics over time, but organizations should also consider whether it is necessary to evolve what they measure to include new learnings and current challenges into consideration.
In 2023, what actions in such areas as recruitment need to be taken by U.S. companies to truly boost the number of Black men and women in decision-making positions?
Some tactics across recruitment and leadership development that have proven effective include participation in targeted college recruitment programs and robust mentoring programs for underrepresented talent. As an example, KPMG has taken a unique approach to accessing student talent, particularly underrepresented talent, through its recent participation in an HBCU Showcase with The Armory.
Moreover, KPMG offers four ideas here that might help companies make qualitative progress with their DEI efforts.
The College Board Removes Kimberlé W. Crenshaw, bell hooks, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Several Other Thinkers From Curriculum for African American Studies
The College Board has released its official curriculum for its new Advanced Placement (AP) course in African American studies following criticism from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education that it “lacked educational value.”
According to the New York Times, the 234-page curriculum framework was unveiled on Wednesday with many of the topics previously subjected to criticism from the governor and other conservatives stripped from the course.
College Board ushered out a number of Black writers and scholars associated with critical race theory, queer studies, and Black feminism, which were found in the pilot curriculum tested out in schools across the country this year. Black Lives Matter was also stripped as a required topic of the course, while “Black conservatism” was added.
Content covering Africa, slavery, Reconstruction, and the civil rights movement was seemingly untouched and is still included in the updated curriculum. However, contemporary topics like affirmative action, queer life, the debate over reparations, and the aforementioned Black Lives Matters will no longer be a part of the AP exam and are only presented in a list of options for a required research project.
The revised curriculum comes after DeSantis announced that he would block the AP African American Studies course based on its draft version. Florida education officials said its contents wasn’t historically accurate and violated state law.
The expelled educators include Kimberlé W. Crenshaw, a law professor at Columbia, Roderick Ferguson, a Yale professor who has written about queer social movements; and Ta-Nehisi Coates, the author who has made the case for reparations for slavery. Also, bell hooks, whose work is centered on race, feminism and class.
David Coleman, the head of the College Board, denied that the course was watered down due to political pressure.
“At the College Board, we can’t look to statements of political leaders,” Coleman added. The changes, he said, came from “the input of professors” and “longstanding A.P. principles.”
In a letter published on Tuesday (Jan. 31), more than 200 faculty members accused DeSantis of trying “to intimidate the College Board into appeasement” with his public condemnation of the course.
Crenshaw added that she was disappointed that the Florida Department of Education targeted topics related to intersectionality, Black feminism, and queer theory. “African American history is not just male. It’s not just straight. It’s not just middle class,” she said. “It has to tell the story of all of us.”
Tyre Nichols Stepfather Rebukes Rumors He Was Sleeping With Police Officer’s Ex-Girlfriend
A rumor circulating on social media has one of the Memphis police officers of beating Tyre Nichols because he had slept with the former girlfriend of recently terminated police officer Demetrius Haley.
Nichols’ stepfather said that was “just a rumor.”
Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, addressed the theory as “just a rumor,” according to Fox 13 in Memphis. There have been many social media posts, like the ones below, that have concluded that Nichols, who worked at a local FedEx facility, was in a relationship with the mother of Haley’s child.
It was rumored that after Haley participated in the beating of the 29-year-old man, took photos of him, and then sent them to the baby’s mother.
“BREAKING NEWS: I am being told that Tyre Nichols was in a relationship with and worked at a Memphis
After the beating Officer Halys took a pictures of #TyreNichols face and sent it to his babymama.”
BREAKING NEWS: I am being told that Tyre Nichols was in a relationship with and worked at a Memphis @FedEx with #MemphisPolice Demetrius Halys’s ex-girlfriend & baby mama.
Several people who responded to the post felt this beating was personal, based on the severity of the police officer’s actions.
“My son was not messing around with one of the officer’s wives,” Wells said Monday at a prayer vigil outside his home. “That’s just a rumor.”
Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean, Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith were terminated January 20 after the Memphis Police Department revealed that the police officers had violated department policy regarding the use of force.
They were all charged with second-degree murder, as well as aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, official misconduct, and official oppression.
Nichols died at a Memphis hospital three days after fire department workers took him to the hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition. The victim had been stopped by police officers and was pulled over for reckless driving on January 7 before the officers beat him.
