He lived his life fighting for equality and human rights and now his legacy and “good trouble” motto will live on.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced Tuesday that it will circulate a stamp in 2023 honoring the life and legacy of late civil rights leader John Lewis.

According to Axios, the stamp will feature a photograph of Lewis that was captured by photographer Marco Grob for an issue of Time that was published on August 26, 2013.

The U.S. Postal Service announces additional stamps it will issue in 2023. More will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead. For full details: https://t.co/O5tlIhILnl pic.twitter.com/aPGg57qnoE

— U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 13, 2022

“Devoted to equality and justice for all Americans, Lewis spent more than 30 years in Congress steadfastly defending and building on key civil rights gains that he had helped achieve in the 1960s,” USPS said in a statement.

“Even in the face of hatred and violence, as well as some 45 arrests, Lewis remained resolute in his commitment to what he liked to call ‘good trouble.'”

Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) posted a tweet in celebration of the announcement.

“I’m honored that this new stamp will join Atlanta’s John R. Lewis Post Office in honoring a great man and a guiding light for justice and moral clarity,” she wrote.

I'm honored that this new stamp will join Atlanta's John R. Lewis Post Office in honoring a great man and a guiding light for justice and moral clarity. Two months ago, President Biden signed my legislation renaming our post office in honor of Mr. Lewis. pic.twitter.com/XWrbPfTwAQ

— Congresswoman Nikema Williams (@RepNikema) December 13, 2022

Linda Earley Chastang, a former chief of staff for Lewis who now heads the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, embraced the announcement.

“Lewis’ face is the face of voting rights. Having it on a postage stamp honors Lewis and the movement which he led and, in the process, encourages voter participation, civic engagement, and getting into ‘good trouble,'” Chastang said in a statement, according to NBC News.

Lewis, 80, died in 2020 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The late American politician and civil rights activist was known as the “Conscience of Congress” for his unyielding battles for racial equality, voting rights, and human rights.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in 2021.

Lewis received the Earl G. Graves Sr. Vanguard Award at the inaugural BLACK ENTERPRISE Black Men XCEL Summit in 2017.

• Technology

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 14, 2022

Queen Khamyra Helps Maximize Teen Audiences, Content, And Brand Awareness for Girl Gamers

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Forbes 30 Under 30 lister and Girl Gamer Queen Khamyra is expanding her social empire.

As a social media star there are always a few close activities that are hidden from the public to ensure privacy. In the past, her love for gaming had been protected due to her using it as a space of wellness and healing. Gaming has been a therapeutic place for her to balance her online and in-real-life (IRL) pressures. Now, with platforms like Twitch, gamers like Queen Khamyra can merge their audiences and passions together. Twitch is an interactive live-streaming service where creators can share the things they love with a community of millions, and carve out a tight-knit corner of the internet to call their own.

This is why Queen Khamyra is launching her new Twitch channel. The programming will include segments of her interacting with her audience via gaming, product reviews, pranks, and so much more. Upcoming talent will include familiar friends and celebs who will join in on gaming competitions while answering questions teens want to know.

This 16-year-old entrepreneur believes that with support, consistency, and a safe place for young teen gamer girls like herself to strategize; there is potential for them to soar. In addition to her new channel she will be launching Queenz Gaming (QG). QG is a community initiative where its members can support and uplift each other. The collective will aid each other on the games, provide insight, share experiences, brand partnerships, and overall consistently encourage one another throughout their gamer girl journey.

“Girl gamers aren’t just players, we are true gamers. We should have the freedom to play what we want and with who we want, period” says Queen Khamyra. 

Her exceptional growth, quality content, and excellence within social media has excelled her as one to watch in 2023. While the conversation continues to build toward the solutions for inequalities within the creator community, Queen Khamyra finds it is important to also maximize industry efforts toward those consistent solutions with BIPOC creators and young girl gamers. Her brand Putta Crown On It was created to encourage her fans to value one another’s inner Queen and King. In a world where emotional reaction is directly linked to increased social engagement, it becomes easier to be consumed with negativity. Putta Crown on It is a reminder to those facing negativity and adversity to believe in themselves and soar.

As an entrepreneur and innovator Queen Khamyra is continuing her career by bringing smiles and laughs, helping others see their true King and Queen, and trailblazing change within the gamer community. Queen Khamyra plans on utilizing her love for music, gaming, fashion, acting, and overall creativity, to revolutionize and add value to the culture.

U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law on Tuesday at a jubilant celebration that featured U.S. singer Cyndi Lauper performing “True Colors” in front of thousands of supporters on the White House lawn.

The new law provides federal recognition to same-sex marriages, a measure born out of concern that the Supreme Court could reverse its legal support of such relationships.

Cheers erupted from the crowd as Biden signed the bill.

“Marriage is a simple proposition. Who do you love? And will you be loyal to that person you love? It’s not more complicated than that. The law recognizes that everyone should have the right to answer those questions for themselves,” Biden said.

“Today’s a good day.”

The event featured performances by pop icons Lauper and British singer Sam Smith.

“Well, this time, love wins,” Lauper said before starting to sing.

Made famous by her 1983 song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Lauper, 69, said the act offered peace of mind to families like hers and Americans nationwide.

“We can rest easy tonight because our families are validated and because now we’re allowed to love who we love, which sounds odd to say, but Americans can now love who we love,” Lauper, an activist on LGBT issues who has been married to actor David Thornton since 1991, told reporters at a briefing prior to the performance.

Addressing the crowd before the signing, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill promoted equality.

“Everyone deserves to bask in the magical blessing of building a union with the person you love,” she said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose daughter and her wife are expecting a child, called it “a day of jubilation.”

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal, Katharine Jackson; Editing by Howard Goller and Josie Kao)

The news of Sean “Diddy” Combs, aka Love, having a new baby daughter has sent shockwaves throughout the world.

As word got out about the baby, knowing that City Girls rapper Yung Miami isn’t the mother, DJ Akademiks, via social media, labeled her a side chick.

However, Diddy shut that down in one tweet.

Diddy, who is known to rarely discuss his personal affairs in public made sure to acknowledge that Yung Miami, his girlfriend, is “very important and special” and stated emphatically that the rapper is not his side chick.

“@yungmiami305 is not my side chick. Never has been, never will be. She’s very important and special to me, and I don’t play about my Shawty Wop. I don’t discuss things on the internet and I will not start today.”

@yungmiami305 is not my side chick. Never has been, never will be. She’s very important and special to me, and I don’t play about my Shawty Wop. I don’t discuss things on the internet and I will not start today.

— LOVE (@Diddy) December 13, 2022

In a follow-up Tweet, he sent a message that others better leave anyone associated with him alone or he’ll come see them. Of course, they’ll just have a discussion “like human beings.”

So think what you want. But know that if you do something to hurt mine, I’m gonna to come to your house and we’re gonna talk about it like human beings. LOVE.

— LOVE (@Diddy) December 13, 2022

 

Before Diddy released his latest single, “Sex In The Porsche” on Tuesday, he took to Twitter to address the controversy between Akademiks and Yung Miami after the DJ attacked the young rapper in a series of unsavory tweets.

Yung Miami mad at me for pointing out the obvious.. u said u and that nigga go together real bad… that nigga had another baby wit another woman. u the side chick. dont get mad now. at least u get hella gifts. live ur life queen. Also u tell us ur business lol ofc we gon comment

— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) December 12, 2022

Yung Miami, born Caresha Brownlee, hit back at Akademiks, shutting down claims she was just a side piece in Diddy’s love life.

 

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A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

According to TMZ, the identity of the woman who gave birth to Combs’ is a 28-year-old Dana Tran.

It’s been reported that she works in the cybersecurity industry. No details have been provided about how they met or how long they’ve known each other.

Families were walking in a winter wonderland this past weekend with the Currys.

NBA star Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, hosted their 10th annual Christmas with the Currys celebration on Sunday.

The Currys helped families through their nonprofit Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, which helped 2,000 people in need, including 500 children, during their winter wonderland event at The Bridge Yard in Oakland, California.

The Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation is an initiative founded by the Currys in 2019 to help promote a healthy childhood by fighting to end childhood hunger, providing access to education, and curating safe spaces for children to be active.

According to Good Morning America, families invited to the event were selected from the foundation’s partners, including Homies Empowerment, Black Culture Zone, East Oakland Youth Development Center, Community Education Partnerships, and Oakland Athletic League.

 

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A post shared by Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation (@eatlearnplay)

“The holidays are meant to bring us all together to share in the joy and warmth of each other’s presence,” the Currys said in a statement.

“We love our community and realize this time of year comes with anxiety and pressure for parents who are already doing everything they can to make ends meet. Christmas with the Currys is our way of lifting this burden for families in need throughout Oakland and ensuring they are part of a community that makes their season brighter.”

The Currys provided for the attendees to partake in a day full of fun activities: ice skating, food trucks, decorating sugar cookies, sledding, and snowball fights. The guests even got a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

The Curry shared that the celebration reminded them “how big an impact the gift of giving can make in one family’s life.”

Other notable guests in attendance during the Curry’s celebration event included Workday Chairperson Aneel Bhusri, Olympic champion figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, and her husband, Stanley Cup champion Bret Hedican.

DJ Stephen “Twitch” Boss, who was a DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and also an acclaimed dancer and entertainer, died at the age of 40, reportedly by suicide.

According to People, Boss’ wife, Allison Holker confirmed his death and released a statement:

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

“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.”

TMZ reported that Holker rushed into a police station in Los Angeles on Tuesday, and told police officers that Boss left the home without his car, which is something he would not do. Police received a phone call a short time later of a shooting at a hotel. They discovered him there with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Boss’ death is pending additional investigation according to The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Boss joined The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2014 when he appeared as a guest DJ. He became permanent on the daytime talk show and worked his way to becoming a co-executive producer in 2020.

Boss is survived by his wife Allison and children Zaia, 3, Maddox, 6, and Weslie, 14.

On the heels of another strong quarter, BlueLinx Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BXC), a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of building products, augments its leadership team to drive continued success.

The company announces a key appointment – Dionne Vernon as VP, Talent Management. The hire supports the company’s commitment to world-class financial management and career development to bolster growth and develop its talent.

Vernon joined last month and is leading BlueLinx’s talent management function. Her role includes facilitating employee experiences to foster personal and professional development and ensuring the company invests in the right resources for optimal success. Before joining BlueLinx, Vernon worked at Comcast Corporation as Senior Director, where she led various functions across the business and HR, including talent management, employee engagement, organizational planning, customer experience strategy, and project management.

“Two of our greatest strengths as a company are our financial stewardship and performance-focused leadership,” shares Kevin Henry, Chief People Officer at BlueLinx.

“Vernon [is a] proven executive that [is a] tremendous addition to our leadership team. We are excited about what [she will] bring to the business.”

About BlueLinx

BlueLinx (NYSE: BXC) is a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of residential and commercial building products with both branded and private-label SKUs across product categories such as lumber, panels, engineered wood, siding, millwork, and industrial products. With a strong market position, broad geographic coverage footprint servicing 50 states, and the strength of a locally focused sales force, we distribute our comprehensive range of products to approximately 15,000 customers including national home centers, pro dealers, cooperatives, specialty distributors, regional and local dealers and industrial manufacturers. BlueLinx provides a wide range of value-added services and solutions to our customers and suppliers. We are headquartered in Georgia, with executive offices located at 1950 Spectrum Circle, Marietta, Ga., and we operate our distribution business through a broad network of distribution centers. BlueLinx encourages investors to visit its website, www.BlueLinxCo.com, which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about BlueLinx.

All eyes in the hip-hop world have been fixed on the trial of Canadian recording artist Tory Lanez.

The rapper is on trial for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in 2020. The Texas rapper took the stand Tuesday in Los Angeles and said she wished “he would’ve just killed me” on that night.

According to Billboard, the “WAP” rapper got emotional while testifying that she had an intimate relationship with Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson.

On the night of July 11, 2020, after attending a party at Kylie Jenner‘s house, the rapper, her best friend, Kelsey Harris, Lanez, and a security guard who worked for him, Jauquan Smith, left the event and got into a vehicle, Megan said.

There was tension in the car when she stated that Lanez allegedly said to her, “You need to stop lying to your friend.”

Stallion said that Harris liked Lanez but she never informed her that she was seeing Lanez. After she found out, she was upset about it. While they were all in the car, Stallion said that Lanez called them “b**ches and h**s.” After doing so, she requested to be let out of the car. They were on Sunset Boulevard but since she was wearing a thong bikini at the time, she said she retreated back to the vehicle.

She said after going back in the car, she got frustrated once again and got out. She told the court, “I started walking away and I hear Tory yell, ‘Dance, b**ch!’” She recalled that he was pointing a gun at her.

“I froze. I just felt shock. I felt hurt. I looked down at my feet and I see all of this blood.”

After falling to the ground, she made her way to a nearby driveway. She said Harris and Lanez bumped into each other as they came her way.

“Tory was basically telling me I wasn’t s**t, and I said, ‘Actually, you ain’t s**t. This is where you at in your career. This is where you at with your music.’ And I feel like that really rubbed him the wrong way.”

She continued with more details about what transpired that night. She mentioned that she is now seeing a rapper named Pardison Fontaine, and she is “embarrassed” over the media coverage of her and the previous relationships she was in.

She goes on to say, “I can’t even be happy. I wish he had just shot and killed me.”

Lanez is facing up to 22 years in prison as well as deportation back to his native Canada. He has been charged with three felonies: assault with a semi-automatic firearm, possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm, and negligent discharge of a firearm.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 14, 2022

Former Head of Yeezy-Adidas Innovation Lab Launches FCTRY LAb with $6 Million Fundraise; Representing One of the Largest Investments in a Black Founder in 2022

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FCTRY LAb is a BIPOC-led, LA-based footwear prototyping lab and venture studio aiming to democratize sneaker production and open-source innovation for emerging and established designers and brands of all sizes.

FCTRY LAb’s fundraise for their launch on December 15th is one of 2022’s largest investments in a Black Founder.

Founded by Omar Bailey (Former Head of Yeezy-Adidas Innovation Lab) and Abhishek Som (Former Wall Street & Private Equity Executive), FCTRY LAb is an independent innovation studio that is US-based to avoid the risks and delays of overseas supply chains, thus shrinking product development time from 8-12 months to a short 1-3 months.

Making high-technology accessible, FCTRY LAb is working to provide equity in an industry where large sneaker corporations often make an overwhelming majority of profits off the creative power of minority designers, influencers and athletes.

This initial $6 Million tranche included a diverse group of venture capital firms, top professional athletes and a myriad of pedigreed angel investors. Investors include the Co-Founder of Tinder (via Time Zero Capital), Co-Founder of WeWork, the West Coast Head of Warburg Pincus, and a consortium of NBA & NFL stars via Chicago-based Aurelien Capital.

Venture capital investment was led by the LA-based, Pay-Pal-backed Slauson & Co, with additional investment from Relay Ventures, Elysian Park Ventures (the private investment arm of the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group), Level One Fund & Fog City Capital among others.

Omar Bailey helped transition the gap from cutting edge conceptual design into physically wearable footwear during the $1 Billion revenue growth of Yeezy-Adidas. With over 20 years of global product development and manufacturing practice as a design engineer, his other experiences include developing footwear for entertainers such as Jay-Z and Lady Gaga, athletes such as Karim Benzema and working alongside culturally-impactful brands like Supreme, New Balance, K-Swiss & Timberland. Satyan Gohil, also a footwear prototyping and development veteran at Yeezy-Adidas, has joined FCTRY LAb as Head of Innovation. In a short period of time FCTRY LAb has already designed, prototyped and manufactured multiple lines of collaborative footwear with top design and brand partners and a reigning Super-Bowl winner.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

December 14, 2022

Benefit From A Second Set Of Eyes And An Addtional 20% Winter Savings Discount With TOKK Cam 2

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You’ll never know when you need a portable camera. A reliable one will certainly will get decent mileage, whether for driving, as a security device or for recording daily activities.

You don’t have to break the bank for this small but mighty powerhouse.

TOKK™ CAM C2+ Range of Smart WiFi Discreet Day/Night Vision Camera is available for $60.99. That’s a savings of 30% from its MSRP ($89.99). Take an additional 20% off with the code WINTER20. The Winter Savings event ends on December 15. The 20% off coupon can be used on additional items from the Winter Savings Collection.

In essence, the TOKK™ CAM C2+ is a dash, body and security cam in one package. It’s like having an additional pair of eyes. It can stream instantly and/or record videos in 1280x720P resolution. Night vision takes it to another level and offers endless options for when and where you can use it. The built-in mic picks up high-quality sound from wherever you’re recording.

A camera is only as good as the images and footage it provides. With the TOKK™ CAM C2+, you won’t have to worry about insufficient visuals. Additionally, it works well with other devices. Micro SD not only allows for quick charging, but you can transfer your recordings to other devices in your home ecosystem. There’s a free accompanying app, iCookyCam, which works with iOS– and Android-compatible devices.

While this device shines with its versatility, it’s just as durable. You can wear it as a security camera, fit it on your dash or wear it as a body camera, as it magnetically attaches to any metal surface. It only weighs 19 grams and measures 1.5″ x 1.5″. On a full charge, it offers 90 minutes of working time.

This product ships with a camera, a clip-on, a stand, and a USB cable for charging. There’s also a manufacturer’s 90-day warranty.

Enjoy the added benefit of a second pair of eyes and purchase the TOKK™ CAM C2+ today.

Prices subject to change.