• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 31, 2023

The Savoy Invites Community to Share Old Photos, Memories of the Historic Third Ward Bar to Celebrate Black History Month

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Meet me at The Savoy” is a phrase that has been around over the course of 80 years in Houston and still is used today, now with a hashtag, to bring people together at The Savoy, a legendary neighborhood bar deep in the heart of Houston’s Historic Third Ward.

The popular bar and restaurant, located at 4402 Emancipation Ave., was built as a neighborhood bar in 1940 and relaunched in 2021 by Black and Long Enterprises.  The owners are inviting the community to celebrate Black History Month with them by shining a spotlight on the role the historic gathering spot has played in people’s lives and in the community over the years.

The Savoy is asking Houstonians to reach out and share old photographs, memorabilia, and stories of the neighborhood staple via their website at www.thesavoyhtx.com.  Photos and stories selected by The Savoy team will be featured at the bar and on social media throughout Black History Month and families of the entries selected will receive a Free Dinner!

The first photo to be featured at The Savoy for Black History Month came courtesy of Lena and Gerald (Gerry) Gilmore, taken at The Savoy in 1954.

At the time of the photo, Lena was a 21-year-old Texas Southern University student and Gerald was 22 years old and getting ready to attend basic training in the officer candidate school in Oklahoma, one of only two African Americans in the officer training program.  The other officer candidate, Roosevelt Kirby, is also pictured in the photo.

The photo was taken in August 1954, when Gerald took Lena to The Savoy while on a short visit on his way to the officer candidate school.   At the time, social clubs and fraternities would hold dances and events at The Savoy, where there would be a dance with a live band set after 12pm, coffee cups with Irish Cream on the table, and Savoy liquor under the table.  Lena said they frequently went to The Savoy for the dances and also because you could go to The Savoy and always get a “set-up”, a half-pint of liquor, a mixer, share cups, ice, and fresh cherries, long before mixed drinks arrived on the Houston bar scene.

Gerald finished basic training in January 1955 and came back to Houston get Lena in late January.  During his short stay in 1954 when this photo was taken, their daughter was conceived and they married in December of 1955.

From 1940 to 2023, the historic Savoy has only had three owners, the last of which is Black and Long Enterprises, who purchased it in 2019, did a full-scale renovation, and launched in the fall of 2021.  Over the last two years, The Savoy has quietly evolved from a trendy bar with a food truck to one of the best gathering spots in the Third Ward for hand-crafted signature cocktails, frozen specialties, Mega Drink Towers, and an amazing menu of elevated scratch-made dishes!

The renovated bar and restaurant brings a great new vibe to the historic building, with vintage motorcycle furniture décor and street-art walls, and a large, outdoor patio, a staple of the original neighborhood bar, with booth and high-top table seating for up to 250 people.  The new Savoy owners also plan to continue revitalizing and growing the iconic Emancipation Avenue Third Ward neighborhood by adding more restaurants and venues for the community to enjoy.

To share a piece of history for the Black History Month Celebration at The Savoy, please reach out and share old photographs and stories via their website at www.thesavoyhtx.com

The Savoy, located at 4402 Emancipation Ave., is open from 4pm-12am Monday-Wednesday, 4pm-2am Thursday and Friday, and 11am-2am Saturday and Sunday.   The historic bar and restaurant has daily Happy Hours, Weekend Brunch, and also offers catering and private events with a VIP Room for birthdays, parties, showers, and corporate gatherings.

For more information, please contact Sherrie Handrinos at Sherrie@boostonemarketing.com.   

Meet N’namdi Arinze, the founder and owner of Vegan Wangs, an Atlanta-based delivery and catering service that offers soy-free vegan chicken wings and gluten-free oyster mushroom wings along with side items and drinks.

The Black-owned company has already pleased vegans and non-vegans alike with its various flavors including Buffalo, Thai sweet chili, Ginger teriyaki, Mango habanero, Lemon pepper, and more.

N’namdi comments, “We’re excited to offer delicious plant-based options that everyone, including meat eaters, can enjoy.” Nnamdi was raised vegan in the early 80s and always wanted to create a vegan chicken wing brand that differed from the made-in-China soy-based wings that vegans are moving away from.

As the number of people wanting plant-based meat replacements continues to grow, more companies will be stepping up to offer their versions of this popular food trend. Vegan Wangs is the latest addition to this ever-growing but still untapped market segment and with restaurants and grocery store chains on board to carry their product.

Right now, Vegan Wangs is only available for take-out and delivery in the Atlanta metro area through Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. However, the wings will soon be available in grocery store chains nationwide and in bulk for restaurants. N’namdi also plans to expands to other cities starting with Brooklyn, New York in the near future.

For more details, visit his official web site at VeganWangs.com

As the starting quarterback for a Super Bowl team, win or lose, Philadelphia Eagle, Jalen Hurts, will be getting a contract extension after the season is officially over, according to a report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Hurts will be entering the last year of his rookie contract, and is scheduled to make $4 million. Since he wasn’t selected in the first round, his contract wasn’t for five years, so he is able to renegotiate based on his success over the last two seasons with the Eagles.

During his segment on NFL GameDay this past Sunday morning, Rapoport stated, “He is eligible for an extension after the season, and my understanding is the Philadelphia Eagles and his agent, Nicole Lynn, are going to get together this offseason and see if they can work out what would no doubt be a big-time monster extension for Jalen Hurts. Just think about how far he has come. This time last year, we were wondering, ‘Is he for sure the guy for the Eagles? Are they going to pursue any of the other big-name quarterbacks?’ Now an MVP candidate, who has led his team all the way to today, there is no doubt he is a massive part of the Eagles future.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 31, 2023

Memphis Fire Department Fires 3 EMT Workers Who Violated Protocols When Tending to Tyre Nichols

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The fallout from the police killing of Tyre Nichols continued as three emergency medical technicians were terminated for their response.

According to Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Memphis Fire Department fired three EMT workers who were at the scene after Nichols was beaten by Memphis police officers on Jan. 7.

The MFD fired two emergency medical technicians, Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge, and fire engine driver Lt. Michelle Whitaker. They were let go for failing to give the victim an “adequate patient assessment” when they were called to help Nichols after he was beaten by police officers.

A release from the Memphis Fire Department, in part states, “Our investigation has concluded that the two EMT’s responded based on the initial nature of the call (person pepper sprayed) and information they were told on the scene and failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols. After their initial interaction with Mr. Nichols, they requested an ambulance to respond.”

The two EMT workers arrived at the scene at 8:41 p.m. and at 8:45, an ambulance was summoned and arrived at 8:55 p.m. Nichols was taken to St. Francis hospital by 9:08 p.m. The driver, Whitaker, never left the vehicle.

“After concluding our internal investigation, it was determined that EMT-B Long, EMT-A Sandridge and Lt. Whitaker violated numerous MFD policies and protocols. As a result, EMT-B Long, EMT-A Sandridge and Lt. Whitaker have been terminated from the Memphis Fire Department.”

pic.twitter.com/p9ldt4w5Y0

— Memphis Fire Department (@MEM_Fire) January 30, 2023

This makes a total of eight people who have been terminated in connection to the death of Nichols.

Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith were terminated on Jan. 20 after an investigation revealed they had violated department policy regarding the use of force.

They were then 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 there, where he was listed in critical condition. The victim had been stopped by police officers and was pulled over for reckless driving on Jan. 7 before the officers beat him.

• Lifestyle

by Black Enterprise Shop

January 31, 2023

Protect Your Vehicle From The Elements with this Magnetic Windshield Cover

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People around the country are in the middle of the messiest winter months for snow, sleet, ice and just about anything else Mother Nature decides is suitable to be dumped from the sky. While a coating of snow makes for beautiful scenery, removing it from a vehicle can make people think twice about their love of snow.

Although there are a few months left of winter, it’s not too late to save your vehicle from the elements. For a limited time, you can purchase the Magnetic Windshield Snow/Frost/Ice Cover for $14.99. That’s a savings of more than 70% from its original MSRP ($69.99). This special deal is apart of our Winter Preparedness Sale, which brings products ready for real-world weather to consumers for remarkable rates.

This padded protector covers the entirety of a vehicle’s windshield, wipers and both side mirrors against snow, ice and sleet. It can easily be stored in a trunk or rear seat when not used. Its universal size fits most cars, minivans or sport utility vehicles.

While this product is a time-saver in the winter, it can also be used year-round. It offers the same protection against tree sap and pesky pollen that cloaks your vehicle during the warmer months.

“This is the best investment I’ve made for my car and it was inexpensive. Had to park outside for a month during freezing & snowy/rainy weather. Could just start the car, remove this cover, shake it out, and drive into work,” writes verified 5-star reviewer Jeannie Siegling.

This cover is built to withstand the harshest of elements. Six strong magnets clamp onto your vehicle as reinforcements. They also help prevent it from being stolen or blown away. Further security is offered through flaps that can be tucked into your vehicle’s doors.

Getting into your vehicle doesn’t have to be a labor-intensive task. Rid your vehicle of unwanted snow, ice and other pesky elements with ease with this windshield cover. Purchase it today.

Prices subject to change.

• Women

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 31, 2023

Holly Robinson Peete Gets Candid About Overactive Bladder Symptoms and Treatment

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Actress/TV personality Holly Robinson Peete has partnered up to help raise awareness on the impact of overactive bladder (OAB) and potential treatment options as part of the Time To Go™ Campaign.

The screen star is known for her work in raising awareness on causes like autism and Parkinson’s Disease. Now, Peete has teamed up with Urovant Sciences to educate the masses on the early symptoms and signs of OAB and the management options that are available.

It’s a personal one for Peete, who learned of her overactive bladder after visiting a doctor about her frequent urination.

“I was having some symptoms of urgency, having to go,  leaking frequently, and these were things that I thought were, just because I have four kids, because I’m becoming a certain age, menopause is wearing me out,” Peete told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“But they got kind of severe and chronic and I thought ‘let me mention this to my doctor,’ and when I did, he was like, oh, I think you have overactive bladder or OAB.”

The Hanging with Mr. Cooper star was joined by urologist, Dr. Ashley Tapscott, DO who helped explain the early symptoms and forms of treatment patients can look out for. Since learning her diagnosis, Peete has started using a medicine that helps her combat her frequent trips to the bathroom.

“With my OAB symptoms, there was a lot of added stress and worry before I traveled either for work or for fun. I’ve seen a positive impact on my OAB symptoms with GEMTESA,” Peete shared.

“By reducing my symptoms, I’m spending my time planning activities and less time mapping out the closest bathroom.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the 21 Jump Street star dished on her new reality dating show alongside her husband Rodney Peete called “Queen’s Court“. The new Peacock series will help Tamar Braxton, Evelyn Lozada, and Nivea team up their dating lives to find the other half of their power couple.

Press play below to learn more about OAB, Holly’s personal experience, and get a tease on what to expect on her new dating show.

Public Enemy‘s Flavor Flav revealed in a recent interview with DJ Akademiks that his drug habit was so bad that he spent up to $2,600 daily on drugs.

William Jonathan Drayton Jr., better known to us as Flavor Flav from the hip-hop group, Public Enemy, has talked about his previous drug addiction before and went into detail with DJ Akademiks during his recent sit-down. The discussion took place on the latest broadcast of Spotify’s Off the Record DJ with Akademiks.

The rapper and reality TV star even admitted to being his own “best customer,” as he also stated that he “sold a lot” of drugs as well. He expressed how he maintained himself and was able to hide it from friends, associates, and others during that time. But, he was able to kick the very expensive habit to be able to function without having to do drugs.

He stated that he was just tired of doing “stuff.” He was getting sick of “being like that.”

“There was a time that I was spending $2,400 to $2,600 a day, for six years straight. You do the math. And that’s how much I spent on drugs.”

He also said, “Hey, I ain’t gonna lie, I sold a lot. But I was my best customer. Cause I had a lot. I had a lot of money at the time too. I was just doing the wrong things with my money.”

But, he stated that he feels God wanted him to live because he is a “mouthpiece” to the world. He can talk to people about what he went through, so that he can express to people what not to do.

He also told Akademiks that in previous years, rappers talked about selling drugs, as opposed to the current hip-hop heads making records about actually doing drugs. He noticed the “big change” in the music, specifically the lyrics, that are a bad influence on younger kids, since they look up to hip-hop artists.

You can view the video clip below:

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 31, 2023

Black Parents Whose 9-Month-Old Died at Florida Daycare Center Win $5M Settlement

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The parents of Tayvon Tomlin, a 9-month-old baby who died after he was found unresponsive at Lincoln-Marti daycare center in Miami, Florida, have reached a $5 million settlement with the owners of the business.

The settlement happened nearly 7 months after Tayvon died. Since then, the official cause of death and results of the police investigation still aren’t complete.

In October, Tayvon’s parents Keiara Whorley and Devonte Tomlin filed a lawsuit over his death, accusing Lincoln-Marti of “incompetence, poor training, and inadequate staffing.”

According to court documents, Lincoln-Marti admitted that they knowingly violated Florida laws that require one daycare worker for at least every four infants in a facility. There was one worker for at least seven infants on July 19, the day of the incident.

Surveillance footage indicated that the babies were left completely unattended for 45 minutes. When the caretaker returned, she found Tayvon unresponsive with a slight pulse. The daycare workers attempted to do CPR as seen on the video, but it appeared to be inappropriate.

Tayvon was then taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, his parents are still seeking answers on what exactly happened. They had to drop the lawsuit as part of the settlement and they hope it would hold the daycare accountable. They also wish there would be a reform on daycare center protocols to prevent it from happening again.

“Whatever comes of this, we want to impact parents to not be in this situation,” Whorley told Miami Herald.

This story first appeared on Blacknews.com.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 31, 2023

Gap Collaborates with Brooklyn Circus on a Capsule Celebrating the Spirit of Individuality and Culture

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This spring, Gap is proud to partner with Ouigi Theodore, founder and creative director of The Brooklyn Circus – a Haitian-owned, historically inspired prep wear brand that exists as a staple for cultural tastemakers and fashion connoisseurs alike.

The limited-edition Gap × The Brooklyn Circus capsule launches on January 31st available to shop on both brand websites, in select Gap stores, as well as The Brooklyn Circus flagship store in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, NY.

Merging The Brooklyn Circus’ take on fashion throughout American history with Gap icons that have defined style standards and dressed generations since 1969, the new collection explores the concepts of individuality, movement and modern prep – blending academia, music and Black culture and street style from the 1960s through today.

The release looks to celebrate The Brooklyn Circus’ community and the efforts that the brand has put into threading together the Global Village over the last 16 years.

“Style is an opportunity for us to be honest. Classics are the foundation of what we do at The Brooklyn Circus and Gap is so known for that classic Americana style,” says The Brooklyn Circus Founder and Creative Director, Ouigi Theodore.

“Gap has always been in my history, which is where I find inspiration for our designs. We took our graphic elements and brought that explosion of energy and culture to iconic Gap styles. I’m proud of what we’ve put together and honored to launch a campaign with Gap that highlights various communities.”

Designed to close style, gender, and generational gaps, the Gap × The Brooklyn Circus collection includes product icons from each brand, including the varsity jacket and Gap’s classic arch logo hoodie. Street-style separates including chinos, basketball shorts, sweatpants, an Oxford popover, rugby, chore jacket and a crewneck sweatshirt round out the capsule, styled back to Gap’s iconic denim. Select styles are also available for kids — minis of the logo hoodie, varsity jacket, tees and sweatpants are prime for twinning. Hats, tote bags, pins, bandanas and socks complete the look.

Concepted by Gap Global Creative Director Len Peltier, the campaign was captured by photographer John Midgley, beautifully highlighting individuality through the lens of culture and American style. The imagery magnificently conveys the diversity of The Brooklyn Circus’ Global Village and the different cultural connectors that exist within its powerful web.

Individuals featured in campaign include:

• Ouigi Theodore (@thebkcircus) – Founder and Creative Director of The Brooklyn Circus
• Indya Moore (@indyamoore) – Actor, model and advocate inspiring and leading the way for the trans community
• Javon Walton (@onwardwanna) – Actor, boxer and aspiring future world champion
• Bethann Hardison (@bethannhardison) – Advocate and brand consultant, this trailblazing former model and agent has been a stalwart champion of diversity for over four decades
• Joy Oladokun (@joyoladokun) – American singer-songwriter, creating music influenced by her identity as a queer person of color
• Yahdon Israel (@yahdon) – Book enthusiast, editor, writer, educator, father, founder of Literary Swag Book Club
• Emily May Jampel (@emilymayjampel) – Filmmaker, curator and actress championing untold stories, new perspectives and representation through storytelling and creative collaboration
• Malik Tate (@yoo_malik) – Operations Manager at The Brooklyn Circus
• Alpha Diallo – Youth organizer of the Liberation Program at The Brotherhood Sister Sol who is advocating mental health support for students across NYC public schools

The Brooklyn Circus and Gap share in the heartbreaking loss of beloved icon Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who was a longtime supporter of the BKc community, Ouigi’s work and a core part of this campaign thanks to his personal friendship with Ouigi Theodore.

“When Stephen and I first saw his images from the campaign, it brought tears to our eyes. He was so moved by how they captured his true essence, and he was excited for the world to see them,” says his wife, Allison Holker Boss. “We pay tribute to Stephen’s life by sharing these images in homage to the joy and light he brought to everyone around him.”

In honor of Stephen, Gap is supporting The 988 Lifeline by donating to Vibrant Emotional Health. Vibrant administers the 988 Lifeline, which provides free and confidential emotional support and counseling to people in crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States.

The Gap × The Brooklyn Circus campaign debuts, January 31st, across digital media, out of home, Gap brand channels, BKc brand channels, and the BKc flagship store in Brooklyn. Follow the movement @gap @thebkcircus.

• Arts and Culture

by Stacy Jackson

January 31, 2023

Sabotage? Black Business Marketplace Slated to Shut Down After ‘Devastating’ Notice About Its Server

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Millionaires seek ownership of this Black business marketplace but want to turn its mission into something else.

Miiriya, a marketplace where consumers can find everything related to Black-owned businesses all in one place, announced plans to close after receiving a devastating notice that the extension from their server would be cut.

According to an announcement from the owner on Jan. 26, the marketplace will be shutting down in four weeks.

“A lot of Multimillionaires, the majority just wanted to purchase the entire thing to turn it into something different with different nonBlack shareholders/ for goals that it wasn’t for,” the owner revealed on Twitter. “I showed them the thousands of Black Businesses Miiriya helped succeed/ 100s of people it helped.”

https://twitter.com/miiriya1/status/1618693707120926720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1618693709851414528%7Ctwgr%5E08fd1efe4bcc0e2567def38890e4538d5ab6ada3%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fmiiriya-claims-lot-multi-millionaires-190210008.html

Miiriya’s owner shared the depression that has come about amid the December notice about the server. The Twitter thread took followers through a timeline of the marketplace, including its initial mission in launching and its numerous efforts to keep the platform afloat.

“I’ve put a lot of work into the code that syncs Black-owned businesses from all major platforms,” the owner said, sharing the accomplishment of completing the application programming interface (API) for the businesses to sync products, orders, and shipping from their stores.

The marketplace allows Black vendors to sign up through the website or mobile app for free, as opposed to other sites that charge monthly fees. According to the website, the owner looks toward donations, tips, and one-dollar memberships to cover the app’s servers and monthly costs.

“Miiriya.com gathers people who believe in ideas, change, and come together as creatives and thinkers to make those ideas come true,” the website read. “It’s a place that aims to provide you with whatever comes to mind.”

“My goal is to create convenience for shoppers who want to support Black businesses seamlessly while also creating a surge recirculating the Black dollar,” the owner wrote on the Miiriya website.

Since the post, Twitter users have sought out ways to support Miiriya. The owner provided its PayPal and CashApp for those interested in helping.