Ally has teamed up with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to award select HBCU students with funds and resources to pursue their entrepreneurial goals.

As part of its Moguls in the Making competition, 60 HBCU students were placed in 15 teams of four and asked to develop a business plan that supports economic mobility in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, The Shade Room reports.

The students went through a rigorous 72-hour hands-on experience where they were tasked with turning their business visions into reality. The groups were guided by mentors and speakers who helped prepare them to pitch their innovations to a distinguished panel of judges.

The team with the best business solution and presentation wins the entire competition, Ally shared. Winnings were tiered between first, second, and third-place earnings for the three winning teams.

Each first-place team member will receive $20,000 in scholarship funds, a guaranteed internship offer at Ally, a Microsoft Surface Pro 7 laptop with software packages, a Logitech portable keyboard, and plenty of other prizes and swag.

“One of our goals with MITM is to cultivate new talent for our team at Ally — we believe that everyone brings a unique perspective to our company, which makes us stronger,” an Ally spokesperson said.

“Each year, the top three teams in the competition win an internship at Ally, and all MITM participants are offered the opportunity to apply for an internship.”

The competition made its inception in 2019 and has allowed Ally to employ 36 MITM participants as interns. The internships have resulted in 12 students becoming full-time employees at the company.

Second and third-place winners were awarded scholarship funds, $10,000 for each second-place team member and $5,000 per third-place team member. This year’s participating HBCUs included Alabama State University, Fisk University, Grambling State University, Southern University and A&M College.

After a recommendation from Deion Sanders, Jackson State University has hired T.C. Taylor as Sanders’ replacement as head coach of the school’s football team.

Sanders brought the program to prominence before accepting another coaching position. Now Taylor is being given the chance to build on Sanders’ accomplishments

Taylor becomes the 22^nd head coach for Jackson State University football. He will officially take over the program after the Tigers compete in the upcoming Celebration Bowl, which will be Coach Prime’s last game. Taylor will be formally introduced in January.

“I am excited to announce T.C. Taylor as our next head coach,” said Jackson State Vice President/Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson in a written statement.

“T.C.’s passion and love for Jackson State University is unquestioned. His fervent desire and hunger to lead his alma mater as head coach is unparalleled. His standard of excellence as a player as a JSU Tiger and his career trajectory as an assistant coach has prepared him for this opportunity. His vision and plan to continue the championship excellence of Jackson State football elevated him to the top of the search process. I look forward to him leading our program in 2023 and into the future.”

Taylor played for Jackson State University as a quarterback and wide receiver from 1998-2001. In his last season, he broke the school’s single-season record when he had 84 receptions for 1,234 yards and 11 touchdowns. With his stellar play, he earned NCAA Division I-AA Third-Team All-America honors from The Sports Network and First-Team Black College All-America recognition from Sheridan Broadcasting Network.

In 2019, Taylor returned as a coach, when he accepted the position of coaching tight ends and wide receivers.

“Coach Taylor’s experience working with our student-athletes, along with his dedication to support and enhance his alma mater, are exactly what Jackson State University needs to continue to elevate the athletic prowess of our football program,” said JSU President Thomas K. Hudson, J.D. “I look forward to working with him as he continues to build on tradition and blaze new trails.”

Netflix has announced that Tyler Perry‘s next movie for them, Six Triple Eight, will be based on the true story of World War II’s only all-Black, all-female unit, the 6888th Battalion. This project, which he will direct and write, will be the fourth Netflix film for the Atlanta studio owner.

The script that Perry is penning will be based on an article written in 2021 by Kevin M. Hymel and published in WWII History magazine. This past March, President Joe Biden presented the 6888th Battalion with a Medal of Honor.

The 6888th Battalion went through a three-year backlog of undelivered mail, and delivered it to American soldiers who were far from home. The 855 Black women who were a part of the 6888th Battalion performed the job while facing discrimination and many other obstacles that Blacks had to endure during that time period. They had a motto, “No mail, low morale,” that they used to fulfill their promise of delivering 17 million pieces of mail.

Deadline reported that Perry will be producing the project with Nicole Avant and Her Excellency Productions; Keri Selig for Intuition Productions; Carlota Espinosa; Angi Bones and Tony Strickland for Tyler Perry Studios. Peter Guber of Mandalay Pictures has signed on as an executive producer.

Perry’s previous three films on Netflix include A Fall From Grace, A Madea Homecoming, and A Jazzman’s Blues.

Last month, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that Deniese Davis and Reform Media Group announced a development deal with Tyler Perry Studios that will bring more diverse storytelling to the television and film industry. According to Deadline, the deal covers television, unscripted, and first-look feature film projects. Perry said, “I could not be more excited to be joining forces with Deniese Davis and usher in a new era at Tyler Perry Studios, where we invite creatives to have the freedom to tell the kind of stories that they truly believe in.”

• News

by Niko Mann

December 15, 2022

DJ Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss Checked Into Hotel the Day Before His Death

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New details surrounding the tragic death of DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss on Dec. 13 have emerged. TMZ reports that the beloved dancer checked into the hotel, where he died one day before his death.

Boss was found dead at the Oak Tree Inn in Encino, California, on Tuesday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The hotel staff told the outlet that he checked in on Monday morning with a small bag and reserved the room for one night. They also said he did not seem visibly distressed. Boss was found by the hotel staff when he missed his checkout time on Tuesday.

The room Boss rented was reportedly an individual u-shaped unit, and the hotel staff said they did not hear a gunshot on Tuesday. Paramedics arrived at the scene at approximately 11:15 a.m. The 40-year-old dancer was pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled the cause of death as suicide.

His wife, 34-year-old Allison Holker, said that her husband had been acting abnormally before his death and had left home without his car. The couple share three children; three-year-old Zaia, six-year-old Maddox, and 14-year-old Weslie. Holker shared the tragic news through a statement to People.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” she said.

“Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans,” she continued.

“To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt. I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children.”

“Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”

 

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A post shared by Stephen tWitch Boss (@sir_twitch_alot)

Internationally renowned, Black Menswear is a champion for positive representation in a world where racism and anti-Blackness is the presence and utilization of stereotypes.

In the legendary spirit of Frederick Douglass’ battle against racist imagery, Black Menswear created a FlashMob series, originating in Dallas, in which the traveling collective strives to bring Black men together, suited and booted, to create culture-shifting viral content.

From Atlanta and Detroit to Accra to Toronto, this ongoing five-year effort echoes the brand’s vision of working to improve the perception of the Black man and changing the negative narrative portrayed in the media.

“It’s important for us to write our own narratives, our own stories,” NeAndre Broussard, the CEO of Black Menswear, told The Miami Herald.

Change-makers at heart, the dapper men of Black Menswear will be hosting one of their widely popular FlashMobs at the FTX Arena in Miami on the Saturday morning of Dec. 17, per the news outlet. The event marks the second one in Miami, where they employ local photographers and celebrate each other.

The group is inviting men of all ages to show up and show out in their suit jackets to participate in the electric part-networking-event, part-fashion-show. All the ladies are free to come and support.

 

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A post shared by Black Menswear ™ (@blackmenswear)

“The FlashMob series is a meetup that allows brothers to have free space to be able to empower each other, to share ideas, to network – but look good doing it,” Broussard said.

The highly anticipated Miami event comes full circle after last year’s acknowledgment by Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert III.

At the 2021 Black Menswear FlashMob on Dec. 18, Broussard posed alongside Gilbert with an official proclamation declaring the day Black Menswear FlashMob Day.

“It’s about the connectivity. You’ll find that with us growing our network, people are getting opportunities from people that no one knows. They’re getting jobs and getting more clients because of the connectivity with ordinary Black men,” Rock Mitchell, Creative Director, told Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

In driving impact, Black Menswear sparks conversations with their Youtube channel and a podcast dubbed The Check-In. They also work with organizations to amplify their initiatives and welcome them to connect with others at the FlashMob events.

Stay tuned for next year’s schedule. Register here.

• Arts and Culture

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 15, 2022

‘The 1619 Project’ From Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones Premieres in January

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Disney’s Onyx Collective announced a Jan. 26 premiere date for Hulu’s upcoming six-part limited docu-series “The 1619 Project,” an expansion of “The 1619 Project” created by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine.

The limited series will debut with the first two episodes streaming exclusively on Hulu, with two additional episodes released every Thursday.

In keeping with the original project, the series seeks to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. The episodes — “Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear” and “Justice” — are adapted from essays from The New York Times No. 1 bestselling “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story” and examine how the legacy of slavery shapes different aspects of contemporary American life.

The series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, is a Lionsgate Production in association with One Story Up Productions, Harpo Films and The New York Times. It was executive produced by Nikole Hannah-Jones; Academy Award®-winning director Roger Ross Williams; Caitlin Roper, an editor of The 1619 Project and The New York Times’ executive producer for film and television; Kathleen Lingo, The New York Times’ editorial director for film and television; and Oprah Winfrey. Peabody Award-winning executive producer Shoshana Guy served as the showrunner.

“The 1619 Project” will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories.

Check out “The 1619 Project” premiere date teaser.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

December 15, 2022

World’s Only Nonuplets Return Home After First 19 Months in Morocco

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A Malian mother, whose nine babies broke the Guinness World Record for the most children delivered in a single birth to survive, returns home with her bundles of joy after spending the first 19 months of their lives in Morocco.

On Tuesday morning, Halima Cissé, 27, and the father of the children, Abdelkader Arby, returned to the Malian capital, Bamako, BBC reported. Before the highly anticipated homecoming, the family had been living in Casablanca, Morocco with special medical care and financial assistance.

Back in May 2021, Cissé was flown to Casablanca under government orders and had a Caesarean at 30 weeks. Five girls and four boys were delivered, which turned out to be two more than she expected, according to a previous BLACK ENTERPRISE report. It was at a clinic in Casablanca where the nine babies were  first detected.

At the time of birth, the girls, Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou, and boys, Mohammed VI, Oumar, Elhadji and Bah, weighed between 1.1lb and 2.2lb.

The premature birth sparked health risk concerns, so the babies spent the first months of their lives in the hospital. Later, with the help of the Malian government, Cissé, Arby, and their new family were moved into an apartment where they received consistent care from the Ain Borja clinic.

“It’s a lot of work but Allah, who gave us this blessing, will help us in their upbringing and taking care of them,” Arby said, per BBC.

Earlier this year, Cissé and Arby not only celebrated their babies’ first birthday but their unique personalities as well.

“They all have different characters,” Arby said. “Some are quiet, while other make more noise and cry a lot. Some want to be picked up all the time. They are all very different, which is entirely normal.”

Now that they’re all home, the record-breaking babies have built a reputation for their miraculous birth and the people of Mali were very excited to see them.

The weather forecast for Today looks like a storm of carolers.

NBC weather forecaster Al Roker was surprised by members of the Today staff on Monday as they stopped by to serenade him at his New York City home while he recovers following his release from the hospital.

According to People, carolers were lined up outside following Roker’s virtual appearance on the NBC morning show, where he updated viewers on his recovery after spending four weeks in the hospital.

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the weatherman’s last appearance on the show was in November, revealing weeks later that he was hospitalized due to blood clots in his legs and lungs.

Footage of the special moment was aired on Wednesday by Today, showing his colleagues singing holiday classics like “Jingle Bells” and a special version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ written as “Al Be Home for Christmas.”

https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1603018981262200832

Carolers participating in the holiday cheer included anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, Jenna Bush Hager, and Sheinelle Jones, as well as meteorologist Dylan Dreyer, who has been filling in for Roker since his absence. Additional staff members like Today producers, security, and others joined in on the moment flaunting their red and white Santa hats.

“It was one of the most heartwarming moments, for all of us,” Guthrie said. “Everybody was in tears. And it was just beautiful and so wonderful to see him.”

“This place means so much to Al. To have us all just go out there and serenade him was emotional,” Dryer added.

Jones noted how “you could just feel the love all over the block.”

Roker stood outside his front door supported by a cane, cherishing the moment with his colleagues.

“I just want to thank you all,” Roker said. “It’s been a long, hard slog and I’ve missed you all very much. Seeing all these faces, just means the world to me. And you are all family. … I just thank you all so much. I really appreciate it.”

He also acknowledged his wife, Deborah Roberts, 62, who Al said has been “a rock.”

“We love you so much, Al,” Kotb told Roker. “Every single person couldn’t wait to come out here and sing to you.”