• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 19, 2023

White Man Who Hosed Down Homeless Woman in ‘Really Disturbing’ Confrontation Arrested

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After a video went viral showing a man in San Francisco spraying water on a homeless woman, the business owner has been arrested.

According to ABC 7 News, Collier Gwin, owner of the Foster Gwin Art Gallery was arrested after San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced a misdemeanor battery arrest warrant for him.

Jenkins released this statement before Gwin was taken into custody:

“Following the San Francisco Police Department’s investigation and reviewing all the evidence provided, my office has issued an arrest warrant for Collier Gwin. Gwin will be charged with misdemeanor battery for the alleged intentional and unlawful spraying of water on and around a woman experiencing homelessness on January 9, 2022.

“The alleged battery of an unhoused member of our community is completely unacceptable. Mr. Gwin will face appropriate consequences for his actions. Likewise, the vandalism at Foster Gwin gallery is also completely unacceptable and must stop—two wrongs do not make a right.”

Following @SFPD's investigation & reviewing all the evidence provided, my office has issued an arrest warrant for Collier Gwin. Gwin is charged w/ misdemeanor battery for the alleged intentional & unlawful spraying of water on & around a woman experiencing homelessness on 1/9/22.

— Brooke Jenkins 謝安宜 (@BrookeJenkinsSF) January 19, 2023

The alleged battery of an unhoused member of our community is completely unacceptable. Mr. Gwin will face appropriate consequences for his actions. Likewise, the vandalism at Foster Gwin gallery is also completely unacceptable and must stop – two wrongs do not make a right.

— Brooke Jenkins 謝安宜 (@BrookeJenkinsSF) January 19, 2023

Correction: The incident took place on 1/9/23*

— Brooke Jenkins 謝安宜 (@BrookeJenkinsSF) January 19, 2023

Gwin, 71, was booked at 5:37 p.m. Wednesday.

One man Alex Sakiyama, described the incident to San Francisco news station ABC7 as “really disturbing”,

The San Francisco Police Department issued a statement pertaining to the arrest:

“On January 18, 2023, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Gwin was arrested on the 700 block of Montgomery Street for the warrant. Gwin was transported to the San Francisco County Jail where he was booked for the arrest warrant on the charge of battery (242 PC).”

ABC 30 reported that Gwin could face up to six months in county jail and a $2,000 fine if he is convicted.

This is horrible. This awful man is spraying a homeless woman down with a hose. You can hear her yell “Help Me!”

Does anyone recognize him? Is he affiliated with Barbarossa Lounge? This is inhumane and inexcusable.

Shout out to @briochessf for posting the video. pic.twitter.com/3ZKeRP4gar

— (((BrokeAssStuart))) (@BrokeAssStuart) January 10, 2023

She’s a sneakerhead with a vision.

Jennifer Ford, a Houston native and owner of sneaker store Premium Goods, has confirmed a new collaboration with longtime supporter Nike on a new Air Force 1. According to Vogue, the design was created by Ford, who was inspired by items in her own closet.

The sneaker design features quilted sides and a beaded iteration of the signature Nike swoosh.

“There’s this artistic part of me that I never get the time to use or develop,” Ford said, recalling her desire to craft such a project. “I knew I was fully capable, but now seeing this creation I made, I know I can do it. It’s every sneaker owner’s dream.”

The collection features two sets of black and beige AF1s that Ford named after her daughter Sophia and her niece Bella. The sneakers are complemented with laces that are held by a metal rose, which Ford used to represent a generational family name.

 

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A post shared by @premiumgoodshtx

The collaboration highlights the accents on the shoes as a love letter to the Black women who continue to inspire Ford’s success with her craft.

“For me, it’s important, because if I’m the only one, people have to see me,” Ford said.

Reportedly, Ford became the first and only Black woman founder of a sneaker retail store in the country when she opened Premium Goods.

Home to some of the hottest kicks in Houston, Ford’s decision to open the location for Premium Goods came as an extension of her friend’s original store in Brooklyn.

Confident that the shoes would be a hit in the area, Ford opened its doors to the community in 2004.

“It’s about being with other people who enjoy the same thing as me and [building] a community,” Ford said.

The Premium Goods x Nike AF1 collection is available to shop on January 20 at Premium Goods.

• Business

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 19, 2023

Update: Usain Bolt Possibly Scammed Out of $12.7 Million From Private Investment Firm In Jamaica

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Someone needs to bolt into action and figure out what’s going on with Usain Bolt’s money.

The retired Olympic gold medallist discovered he is missing $12.7 million from an account with a private investment firm in Jamaica.

Lawyers representing Bolt sent a letter to Stocks & Securities Limited demanding that the money be returned, according to CBS News. If the money isn’t returned in 10 days, Bolt and his team are threatening criminal and civil action.

CBS News reports that his account, once having $12.8 million, currently reflects only $12,000.

The Guardian reported that in 2016 alone, Bolt earned $33 million from prize money, sponsorships, and appearance fees. “If this is correct, and we are hoping it is not, then a serious act of fraud larceny or a combination of both have been committed against our client,” Bolt’s attorneys wrote in the letter.

This looks like something that happens often at Stocks & Securities Limited, headquartered in Kingston.

While CBS couldn’t reach the firm for comment, the company claims similar situations of fraud occurred earlier this month, with several clients missing millions of dollars.

The Guardian reports that an employee working for SSL was named in a widespread fraud case at the company. That same employee could be involved with Bolt’s missing funds.

“My client is in discussion with SSL and the lawyers representing SSL,” a lawyer representing the employee said, according to The Guardian.

The company’s website asks that clients send all urgent queries to Jamaica’s Financial Services Commission, which is investigating the firm.

“We understand that clients are anxious to receive more information and assure you that we are closely monitoring the matter throughout all the required steps and will alert our clients of the resolution as soon as that information is available,” the company said, as told by CBS.

Nigel Clarke, Jamaica’s finance minister, called the situation “alarming,” but doesn’t want people to completely lose faith in the financial institution. “It is tempting to doubt our financial institutions, but I would ask that we don’t paint an entire hard-working industry with the brush of a few very dishonest individuals,” Clarke said.

Actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba called on Monday for business and political leaders to provide more support to the world’s poorest countries in the form of investment rather than aid.

At the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, the Elbas were both honored for their work on environmental conservation, food security and climate change.

The couple, who are Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development, appealed to participants at the annual summit for fast financial support for people hit by food scarcity and climate change.

“The poor of this world are not just looking for aid and handouts, they’re looking for investment,” Idris Elba said.

“We understand the power and change that can come from this room … We can move with agility and speed and your speed is needed now,” the star of he star of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and “Beasts of No Nation” added.

Sabrina Dhowre Elba highlighted food crises in Somalia, Haiti, Sudan and other countries, focusing on the plight of small-scale farmers without access to the resources they need and yet produce a third of the planet’s food.

“We are here at Davos to highlight the people and countries who are not making the headlines as much as my husband,” she said, looking at her partner.

(Reporting by Kathryn Lurie in Davos; Editing by Alexander Smith)

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 19, 2023

VIDEO: Karen on the Loose Arrested for Spraying People with Fire Extinguisher at Atlanta Airport

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A woman was arrested after using a fire extinguisher on several people in an airport in Atlanta.

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, a woman from Dayton, Ohio, Jennifer Kaye Holder, used a fire extinguisher to spray several airport workers in an unprovoked attack that was caught on video. The woman was charged with obstructing law enforcement officers, two counts of simple assault, and three counts of simple battery.

ATLSCOOP posted videos of the incident to their Instagram account.

Holder is seen holding the fire extinguisher as she walks towards a gate entrance leading to an airplane. You hear someone yell out, “Close that door! Close that door!” As some workers approach her, she turns to them and sprays the fire extinguisher at them and around her as she walks away from the entrance.

 

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A post shared by ATLSCOOP®🍑 (@atlscoop)

In another video clip shot at the scene, Holder is seen walking with the fire extinguisher. One worker approaches her and she turns around and sprays him. She continues to walk toward the gate, passing a security guard who does not intervene.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ATLSCOOP®🍑 (@atlscoop)

In the comments section, many people question why she was allowed to walk through the airport with the fire extinguisher as a white woman and not be stopped. Other people stated that if she was a woman of color, she would have been tackled or even killed.

A report was released by the Atlanta Police Department pertaining to the incident:

“On 1/17/23, around 9:34pm, officers responded to 11700 Spine Rd on concourse D located at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in reference to a suspicious female attempting to open secured doors inside the concourse. Upon arrival, officers met with airport security who requested police. Officers were advised a female, identified as Jennifer Holder, was in gate D-9 discharging a fire extinguisher inside the concourse. Officers attempted to make contact with the female, but she was non-compliant and sprayed officers with the fire extinguisher. Despite being assaulted, officers were able to detain the combative female. Three airport flight attendants were transported to the hospital with respiratory complaints due to exposure to the discharged extinguisher. Officers relocated the arrestee, Ms. Holder to the precinct where she continued to behave erratically and combative, by spitting and kicking at officers.”

By Steven Grattan

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – U.S. Representative George Santos competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago, two acquaintances told Reuters on Wednesday, adding to contrasts that have drawn criticism of the openly gay Republican congressman’s staunchly conservative views.

The embattled freshman congressman has also faced calls from fellow New York Republicans to step down over fabrications about his career and history.

A 58-year-old Brazilian performer, who uses the drag name Eula Rochard, said she befriended the now-congressman when he was cross-dressing in 2005 at the first gay pride parade in Niteroi, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. Three years later, Santos competed in a drag beauty pageant in Rio, Rochard said.

Another person from Niteroi who knew the congressman but asked not to be named said he participated in drag queen beauty pageants and aspired to be Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro.

Emails to the congressman’s press office and a newly hired communications director on Wednesday evening were not returned.

Santos is the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat in Congress as a non-incumbent, but has positioned himself as a staunch conservative on many social issues.

He has backed Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill, which prohibits classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Republicans are increasingly denouncing drag shows and performers, claiming they are harmful to children.

Santos, responding in October to criticism of his support for the “don’t say gay” bill, told USA Today: “I am openly gay, have never had an issue with my sexual identity in the past decade, and I can tell you and assure you, I will always be an advocate for LGBTQ folks.”

Rochard said the congressman was a “poor” drag queen in 2005, with a simple black dress, but in 2008 “he came back to Niteroi with a lot of money,” and a flamboyant pink dress to show for it. Santos competed in a drag beauty pageant that year but lost, Rochard said.

“He’s changed a lot, but he was always a liar. He was always such a dreamer,” Rochard said.

(Reporting by Steven Grattan; Editing by Brad Haynes, Heather Timmons and Edmund Klamann)

Meet Dr. Chike Akua, the creator of Reading Revolution Online, a web-based reading support program that helps children build reading skills, confidence and cultural identity development in less than 15 minutes a day, equipping them for success in school and in life.

With these brief, daily lessons, children learn about Black heroes and sheroes through, captioned videos, reading selections, vocabulary, grammar and writing activities.

Many Black parents have reported disappointment at the lack of lessons about authentic and accurate African American history and culture in their children’s schools. Studies have shown that Black parents want their child to have academic and cultural excellence. Students shouldn’t have one without the other. Effective Black parents also know they must supplement what the school is teaching by providing lessons and instruction at home.

In 2019, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported that only 18% of Black 4th graders were proficient in reading and only 15% for Black 8th graders. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, this only made the problem much worse as many Black children became even less engaged due to remote learning and the challenges of the pandemic. The learning loss has had devastating effects.

“Many of our children walk around with their pants sagging, using the n-word and underperforming in school because many schools do not teach accurate and authentic African American history and cultural values,” says Dr. Akua. “Studies have shown that when our children are introduced to the best of our culture in school and at home, they not only do better in school, they excel in life.”

He goes on to say, “Black students have unique learning styles that are often not taken into account in many schools.” Black students are known to be visual learners who associate words with images.

Black students are also known to thrive when their culture is properly represented. Reading Revolution Online was specifically designed with Black children in mind. Dr. Akua incorporated his experience from years of teaching Black students and observing their learning styles as he developed the Reading Revolution Online interactive platform.

Many Black parents and children have become frustrated because of the heavy backlash and state laws against teaching African American history and culture in many schools.

“In addition to advocating for change in schools, Black parents must take the responsibility of making sure our children know who they are and where they come from. Reading with your child at home increase comprehension, fluency, vocabulary development and critical thinking skills. Reading Revolution Online helps accomplish this goal,” says Dr. Akua.

Learn more by visiting his official web site at ReadingRevolution.org and click on “Parents.”

This article first appeared on Blacknews.com.

Dr. Shawanda Moore aka “The Tax Docta” who is the founder and CEO of Royal Financial Services based in New Orleans, Louisiana has created a Tax Preparation curriculum for aspiring entrepreneurs that includes a textbook, a workbook, and hands-on teaching for her students. She made history last year after grossing $1.5 million in three months, and now she wants to help others to be able to do the same.

Her Tax Preparation curriculum is embedded into a course that is an 8-week program held twice weekly via Zoom during the late evening hours to accommodate interested ones who may still have day jobs. During the winter season so far, she has had over 30 individuals from across the United States enroll in her course.

Dr. Moore and her colleague, Shante Williams (C.A.O.), have worked diligently to ensure that every individual enrolled in the program became knowledgeable on Taxation. They hosted a completion ceremony for those individuals who wanted to participate to ensure a habit of celebrating every milestone they accomplish is developed. Dr. Moore also assisted every individual who successfully completed the program with the opportunity to start up their very own tax business by providing them with copies of her tax software.

Dr. Moore received great feedback from each participant of the program as they ensured her that the knowledge gained through her program exceeded their expectations. One participant, Ms. Kandy Hall, was in tears at the graduation as she thanked “The Tax Docta” and her staff for educating her, empowering her, and motivating her to step out on faith to move forward with starting her very own tax company.

Other participants of the program were very appreciative of the warm and welcoming personality of the “The Tax Docta” and Ms. Williams and believe they made a wise choice by enrolling in the program. Furthermore, Dr. Moore will be offering this program twice a year and welcomes all interested individuals to contact her company for more details.

Dr. Moore has been credited with many accomplishments which includes being an author of children’s financial literacy books, tax preparation books, a tax software provider, a business growth coach, a speaker on several topics, and a community service host of several annual outreach events. Dr. Moore is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Moore will began offering franchise opportunities for Royal Financial Services in May 2023. For more information on how to become a franchisee, visit TheTaxDocta.com/franchise or contact 833-769-2549 ext. 700 or send an email to drshawandam@royaltaxbox.com

Also, be sure to follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.

This story first appeared on Blacknews.com.

Financed to launch a new cohort for Black farmers, the National Minority Supplier Development Council has gained a $120,000 grant from agricultural giant Cargill.

The Black Famers Equity Initiative between the large business advocacy group for minority businesses and Cargill is intended to elevate agricultural supply chain access for those Black entrepreneurs.

The push aims to create a pathway for emerging Black farmers to achieve parity in the agriculture industry with learning solutions, certification, lending, networking, and new contracts.

The initiative unfolded after McKinsey & Company reported just 1.4% of farmers today identify as Black or mixed race, compared with about 14% a century ago. Moreover, the statistics revealed Black farmers account for less than 0.5% of total U.S. farm sales. The lack of equity in America’s agricultural industry, coupled with Cargill’s support, led to the initiative.

• Lifestyle

by Black Enterprise Shop

January 19, 2023

Give Your Space an Upgrade with this Stunning Led Clock Lamp

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The days are starting to get longer, but people across the country still have a ways to go before the clocks jump forward later this spring. The lack of sunlight has undoubtedly caused more than a few electric bills to soar as people turn their home and office lamps on earlier than usual.

The prolonged darkness doesn’t have to zap you of your energy. It can be just the excuse needed to introduce some new pop to your room or office. Proper lighting can also provide positive psychological benefits. This clock lamp is the perfect blend of elegance and efficiency. For a limited time, you can purchase it for $120.99. That’s a savings of nearly 10% from its original MSRP ($129).

This masterpiece of a lamp features oak and gold plating. Along with its automatic hand clock that rests on a stunning oak base, it comes together in an eye-catching classic package. The oak base also doubles as a wireless charger compatible with Qi-certified smartphones. The two hands of the automatic clock appear to float between the half circle that displays the light. Two AA batteries are needed to power the hands.

Smooth-touch control makes it easy to customize your illumination to your needs. The touch feature makes it ideal for bedrooms or side tables, but it can illuminate far larger spaces. LED color ranges from 2700 to 7000K. The bulb’s lifetime spans 30,000 hours. Dimensions of the entire profile are 12.6″L x 4.7″W x 17″H, and it only weighs 2.2 pounds. The length of the cord is 4.6 feet.

Even without the looming darkness of winter, this eye-catching lamp is standout in any season. The fact that it excels as an illumination instrument is just a bonus. Spice up your room, office or living space with this elegant clock lamp. Purchase it today.

Prices subject to change.