Black Female flight Attendant Sues Spirit Airlines Claiming They Fired Her Because of Her Weight
A former Spirit Airlines flight attendant is suing the budget airline in federal court, claiming she was fired for being overweight and wasn’t given the same opportunity to lose weight as a white co-worker.
The Miami Heraldreported that Chelsia Blackmon, a Black woman, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The suit states Blackmon was unable to fasten the seat belt for the jump seat on one of Spirit’s planes in September 2021, forcing her to exit the plane. Spirit then gave Blackmon between September 3 to October 12 to lose weight so she could fit in the jump seat.
Blackmon was fired on November 3, 2021, and now the former flight attendant and her lawyers are claiming she was the victim of racial discrimination. In her suit, Blackmon cited a white colleague at Spirit who she says also couldn’t fit into the jump seat due to her size and weight, but was given “several months” to lose weight to fit. Blackmon was given a little more than a month.
“As a result of the discriminatory and illegal differential treatment based upon her race, [Blackmon] has suffered lost wages, compensatory damages, mental anguish, and suffering as a result of the discriminatory treatment that Spirit Air subjected her to,” the suit alleges, according to the Herald.
Blackmon is seeking back pay, damages, and legal costs in a jury trial, according to Business Insider.
Spirit is currently dealing with another employee lawsuit. Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported that the airline is currently a class-action suit for its flight attendants for not counting passenger boarding and deplaning as work hours.
The legal issues come at an inconvenient time for Spirit. The airline is in the middle of a $3.8 billion sale to JetBlue Airways. The Department of Justice still has to approve the potential merger that would make JetBlue the fifth-largest U.S. airline, but, according to the Herald.
Carmelo Anthony Launches STAYME7O Brand, Based On a Positive Mindset And Community.
After years in the making, 10-time NBA-All Star and entrepreneur Carmelo Anthony adds to his expansive enterprise with a namesake apparel and lifestyle brand, STAYME7O™, available exclusively on www.STAYME7O.com.
Carmelo channeled his personal life experiences and positive mindset to develop STAYME7O™ as a brand aimed at building community, family, a support network, and to overall positively affect people’s lives.
“Life has its moments, and through it all I’ve tried to remain levelheaded and focused,” said Carmelo Anthony, founder, STAYME7O™.
“Over time, the STAYME7O™ mindset was born. It’s now time to share that mindset with the world.”
(Image: Carmelo Anthony in STAYME7O apparel / Courtesy of STAYME7O)
The debut STAYME7O™ drop, Collection_001 consists of t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweatpants, a varsity jacket, candle and blanket. Prices range from $40 – $150. STAYME7O™ is available on STAYME7O.com beginning December 12 @ 7:00pm EST. To help bring his ideas to life, Carmelo partnered with brand building agency Brands by Avid, with support from CAA.
Association for Black Wine Producers and Entrepreneurs Offering $5,000 Grants
The U.S. wine market, which has generated nearly $64 billion in sales, is expected to experience a compounded annual growth rate of almost 7% by 2030.
Even so, securing financing to grow can be hard for wine business owners, and more so for people of color. But a new effort by the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) hopes to change that.
In the first quarter of 2023 the association will award $5,000 grants to five Black-owned, AAAV-member businesses to help augment their operations, marketing, or innovation efforts. Based on a report by the Wine Industry Advisor, backing for the program is occurring now, led by a $5,000 grant from the H-E-B grocery chain. Applicants must be existing AAAV members at the grower, vintner or negociant (wine merchant) level.
According to the AAAV website, “With less than 1% Black ownership within the U.S. wine industry, we are establishing a grant to stimulate growth and sustainability of Black wine producers and entrepreneurs. We are excited to launch this initiative to deepen our commitment and impact in making the wine industry more equitable and inclusive.”
Funding for the initial AAAV Wine Entrepreneur Grants opens next month. The push to raise the $25,000 comes as the AAAV celebrated two decades of advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the wine industry this year. “Until now, we’ve been primarily focused on scholarships and paving the path for people of color to enter the wine industry,” stated Longevity Wines founder and winemaker Phil Long, who became president of AAAV in 2020.
He added, “We are starting our third decade with a new commitment to provide tangible help to our members in breaking down barriers and building successful businesses. Our new wine entrepreneur grant program is just the first step.”
The AAAV reported that its mission is to “increase diversity in the wine industry, build awareness of Black winemakers and provide guidance and financial assistance to students from underrepresented minorities pursuing careers in the wine industry. Founded in 2002, the AAAV reports it has grown to more than 200 members with over 60 wineries and wine brands.
AAAV Executive Director Angela McCrae said, “access to capital and land is essential for true equity and inclusion in the United States. Only 2% of agricultural land ownership is by Black, Indigenous or people of color in this country, so we still have a long way to go. With the help of our supporters and wine industry leaders committed to a sustainable and inclusive future, AAAV will provide access to capital for growing wine businesses.”
James Harris, H-E-B’s Sr. Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity, stated, “H-E-B is happy to support this important endeavor. We realize that to make small and diverse suppliers better at their craft to help us better serve our customers, it requires funding, education and research.”
Check here for more details about the grants and this for the fundraising efforts.
Kenneth Walker, Breonna Taylor’s Boyfriend, Settles Lawsuit with the City of Louisville for $2M
The man who was with Breonna Tayloron the night she was killed by Louisville, KY police officers has settled two lawsuits he filed against the city.
According to The Associated Press, Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend of the EMT worker who was killed after police officers erroneously targeted her apartment in search of illegal drugs, has been awarded $2 million by the city of Louisville.
Taylor’s attorney, Steve Romines, said in a written statement that Taylor’s death “will haunt Kenny for the rest of his life.
“He will live with the effects of being put in harm’s way due to a falsified warrant, to being a victim of a hailstorm of gunfire and to suffering the unimaginable and horrific death of Breonna Taylor.”
Initially, Walker was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer, but the charges were dismissed. He explained to investigators that he had no clue that the men who burst into Taylor’s apartment were police officers, and he was defending against who he thought were thieves attempting to break into the apartment that night.
The attorneys for Walker said on Monday that part of the $2 million settlement would go towards setting up a scholarship fund for law students who have an interest in practicing civil rights law. He also plans to make a contribution to the Center for Innovations in Community Safety, ] a police and community reform center at Georgetown Law School.
In September 2020, the city of Louisville agreed to pay Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, a $12 million settlement.
Taylor was tragically killed after police officers forcefully entered Taylor’s apartment on a no-knock warrant while she and her boyfriend, Walker, were in bed sleeping. Walker, who is a licensed gun owner, maintains that plainclothes officers entered their home unannounced and that he called the police and fired a warning shot in self-defense, thinking they were intruders. As a result, one of the officers was shot in the leg. The cops responded with a hail of bullets that killed Taylor.
Fox Soul’s Creator of CheMinistry, Chanel Nicole Scott, Provides 5 Tips for Surviving the Holidays Single and Alone
Whether you’re on a journey to find love or fresh out of a relationship, the holidays can be the best of the single season.
Creator and visionary of Fox Soul’s #1 relationship platform, CheMinistry, Chanel Nicole Scott talked to BLACK ENTERPRISE about the challenges Black singles face during the holidays.
“Black singles have the added layers of statistics and commentary that suggest we are challenged in having relationship success in general, much less during the holidays,” Scott says.
“Culture is an undeniable part of holiday traditions and black people like to get together during this season. Holiday dinners are when you’re expected to bring your significant others or perhaps go to meet his family and although this is not a “black single” phenomenon, we do have patterns of cultural dysfunction in our families that tend to hit the fan at holiday gatherings. It can be all the more challenging to navigate these situations without the support of a significant other.”
Thanks to CheMinistry, where chemistry and ministry come together, their latest “A Loveless Holiday” episode not only offered real solutions to the brokenness in relationships but also provided insight into how singles can survive the holidays alone.
According to the relationship guru, here are five tips for surviving the holidays single and alone:
1. Practice gratitude for the good in your life
2. Have a spiritual practice
3. Reach out to friends and family for fellowship and support
4. Don’t allow your relationship status to define you. Acknowledge the other parts of yourself like your personality, gifts, talents, dreams, and goals.
5. Be kind, gentle, and generous to yourself. Give yourself gifts during the holidays.
Photo Credit: Will Sterling
What inspired you to create a relationship platform?
One of the most googled phrases is “How to…” and CheMinistry was born out of my desire to learn how to do relationships successfully.
I had found myself in a string of failed or stalled relationships and one of my greatest desires is to experience something different. I wanted to create a space where honest conversations from the male and female perspectives on relationships could be explored.
How do you attract, create, and maintain deep connections in a relationship? That’s CHEMISTRY.
How is CheMinistry relevant to today’s landscape of Black relationships?
Social history and media have played a significant role in separating black men and women. CheMinistry is a media platform that can reverse some of the adverse or inaccurate stereotypes while also offering remedies to some of the actual toxic behaviors and patterns.
CheMinistry offers viewers the opportunity to know better so they can do better. It simultaneously puts the spotlight on celebrities who have a relevant and influential voice so that people will actually pay attention. We give the people what they want so that we can deliver what they need.
For singles, how do you recommend they redefine how the holidays’ influence their lives?
Some singles can make the holidays bearable by traveling, pampering themselves, or taking the opportunity to learn how a new culture celebrates the holiday.
Other singles may find it more satisfying to allow themselves to just FEEL whatever emotion that comes up and honestly acknowledge it, but it’s a good practice to let the feelings pass when the holiday passes.
With your journey to finding love and building a platform to bridge the gaps in relationships, how did you make the most of your single holiday seasons?
The show has become like my boyfriend, so I’m almost too busy to notice my singleness these days. Honestly, there’s serendipity in that. When you really focus on your purpose and getting to know and love yourself, genuine joy and contentment result.
I’m also engaged in my spiritual practices, which helps me navigate every area of my life-personally, professionally, and purposefully.
The latest taping of CheMinistry focused on the topic of “A Loveless Holiday.” For those who missed out, what is the hard truth about that topic and what were some of the key takeaways from that discussion?
Issues of selfishness or incompatibility may be highlighted during the holidays, but more than likely have been brewing all along.
It was pointed out that people may have been letting their “representative” show up in the relationship and when the holiday hits, their true personality or intentions surface; hence, you may find out during the holidays that you are not in a relationship but a “situationship” or you may discover the person is there just to take advantage of the gifts during the season.
You’ve talked about purpose partners. How can they help singles survive the holidays?
Purpose partners are two people who come together with sincere intentions and deeper goals than just “hooking up.” Purpose partners see their relationship as a vehicle to fulfill a deeper calling or mission in their lives. Hence, the reason why we refer to our viewers and followers as “Purpose Partners.”
Showing love, kindness, and charity is a way to stay energized during the holidays. Planning gatherings with friends can bring a spirit of celebration in lieu of having a romantic relationship as well.
Operation Hope’s 1M Black Business Initiative Has Supported More than 155,000 Black Businesses to Date
Operation HOPE, the nation’s leading non-profit dedicated to financial empowerment for underserved communities, today announced that its groundbreaking 1 Million Black Business (1MBB) initiative has supported more than 155,000 unique businesses to date through its HOPE Inside network and 1MBB partners.
According to the 1MBB 2022 Impact Report, which will be released in Q1 2023, this accounts for approximately 5% of all Black-owned businesses in the U.S.
Launched in October 2020, Operation HOPE and lead partner Shopify established 1MBB to help create and support up to one million new Black-owned businesses by 2030, according to a release.
Shopify committed resources to the initiative valued at approximately $130 million. In addition, Operation HOPE has signed a coalition of more than 60 other corporate, governmental and private partners that have committed to support the effort. This includes the U.S. Small Business Administration, Truist, First Horizon, Wells Fargo, the NFL, MasterCard, Comcast, iHeart Radio, Aprio, Clark Atlanta University, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Reid AME Community Development Corporation, Fraternities Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma and municipality partners including the cities of Birmingham, Memphis, Jackson, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Charlotte, Salisbury and Montgomery, among others.
The no-cost program helps Black entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge, skills and access to resources required to start, scale and grow their businesses. Through 1MBB, Black business owners have the opportunity to sign up for Operation HOPE’s award-winning model of community uplift, financial literacy and education – HOPE Inside – and upon graduation, Shopify has committed to providing aspiring Black entrepreneurs education, programming and resources to help launch or expand their businesses. Other 1MBB partners have also committed to providing in-kind services and support for these business owners.
“I have consistently espoused that ‘silver rights’ is the ‘civil rights’ issue of this generation. Operation HOPE’s bold 1MBB initiative is equipping entrepreneurs with what they need to create and sustain a viable business,” said John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE. “1MBB offers a real, actionable approach to tackling financial disparities and building stronger communities. The data shows that we are having a true impact and empowering Black businesses.”
“Operation HOPE, 1MBB, and Shopify gave me the ability to build and launch a beautiful, easy-to-manage website with no prior experience along with the capital from my first loan to acquire the things I needed to continue to grow my business,” said Jazmin Richards, Founder & CEO, BlkSunflower.com.
“Operation HOPE and 1MBB also provided me with amazing coaches and resources that help set BlkSunflower up for success. With the resources and coaching, especially access to funding, and business development tools, I now know that I am supported and the sky is the limit.”
To date, 1MBB has achieved the following results:
Onboarded more than 30,000 hours of professional services including accounting, legal, e-commerce strategy and marketing advice services from 1MBB partners to support Black business owners.
Established a strategic alliance with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which includes the support of municipal partners and civic and community leaders in more than 200 U.S. cities, to help raise awareness of tools and resources available to underserved communities through the SBA.
Activated nearly 100 certified financial wellness and small business coaches to provide one-on-one sessions to source, train, certify and support program participants via virtual webinars and in-person events.
Expanded national efforts to recruit new small business owners through various business trade groups, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as members of the ‘Divine 9’ National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).
Research from the latest HOPE Minority Small Business Index reveals that Black entrepreneurs remain optimistic despite recent inflation, hikes in interest rates, and supply chain disruptions. Through the 1MBB initiative, removing barriers to business success such as mentorship, risk tolerance, lack of technological innovation, digital strategies and limited access to capital can help improve outcomes.
‘I Believe In Jesus’: Florida Educator Fired After Caught on Video Disrupting Muslim Students Amid Prayer
A Florida charter school teacher was fired after a video of her intentionally interrupting Muslim students while in prayer went viral across social media, Local 10 Newsreported.
“I believe in Jesus so I’m interrupting the floor,” said the former Franklin Academy educator before crossing the students’ prayer mats, stepping over their hands, and blowing a whistle.
A viral video showing the string of events was posted on TikTok Wednesday and racked up over 7 million views before being reposted to Twitter on Thursday.
Two students were captured on camera reciting an Islamic prayer in Arabic while gentle music played in the background. Seconds later, a teacher barged in and was seemingly in shock when she discovered that the students were in her office. In fury, she accused them of practicing magic.
“Hold on, this is in my office, and y’all doing this magic?” she hollered.
The pair of students appeared to remain calm. One student had to readjust himself on his mat while the teacher appeared to step on or kick his hand.
“Who told them to come in here?” the teacher can be heard asking another person.
The user who posted the video, dubbed @gawpu, wrote in the caption, “I literally don’t even believe what happened to me is real.”
A flood of comments criticized the teacher’s actions and wanted to know more about the story.
“To clear up, we asked two teachers if we can go pray and they allowed us into the room that we were in, everything was fine untill she walked in,” the user explained in the comments.
In response, the Franklin Academy administration released a statement to Local 10 News, saying that after seeing the “very troubling video,” an investigation had been initiated.
“While we do not discuss personnel matters, we can share with you that the teacher in question is no longer a member of the Franklin Academy staff,” the charter school shared.
“Franklin Academy does not tolerate discriminatory behavior. As many know, we are an International Baccalaureate (IB) school system, and as part of the IB initiatives to which we are committed, Franklin aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural and racial understanding and respect. We not only look for our student body to develop these traits but for our faculty and staff to exemplify them as well.”
All Eyes on Jackson State University: T.C. Taylor May Replace Deion Sanders as Head Coach
Jackson State University (JSU) has its eye on a potential new football head coach.
With the departure of Deion Sanders, who has accepted a coaching job at the University of Colorado Boulder, JSU is expected to make T.C. Taylor his replacement.
According to Football Scoop, Taylor, who once played for the JSU Tigers and was most recently the program’s wide receivers coach is anticipated to become the head coach of the HBCUs football team.
Jackson State football is reportedly close to naming T.C. Taylor, one of the most decorated players in the program's history, to be Deion Sanders' successor with the Tigers. https://t.co/nRNvuMl7wR
On the recommendation of Coach Prime aka Sanders, Taylor has been a key figure in helping Sanders guide the direction and success of the football team.
Taylor, who once played for teams in the NFL and NFL Europe was a record-setting Tigers wideout during his collegiate days. He has been on the coaching staff since 2019, one year before Sanders was brought on as head coach.
The Clarion-Ledger reported that Taylor, who is a Mississippi native, played both the quarterback and wide receiver position while attending JSU from 1998-2001. In the 19 games he lined up at the wide receiver position, he caught 188 passes for 1,793 yards. As a senior, Taylor set a school record with 84 receptions for 1,234 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He previously coached at Coahoma Community College, which is located in Clarksdale, Miss. He worked there from 2005-11, when he began as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach and in the last six seasons he was there; he was the school’s offensive coordinator.
Taylor then moved on to Texas Southern in 2012 and 2013 as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. From there, he spent the next five seasons as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at North Carolina Central from 2014-18. He went back to Jackson State University in 2019.
According to The Sporting News, NFL Hall of Famer Sanders accepted the position as the football head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is currently still the head coach of the JSU Tigers, who recently won the division championship.
Named ‘Antisemite of the Year’ Kanye West Suspended From Clubhouse App After Spewing Anti-Semitic Rant
Another week, another suspension for Ye.
The continuation of Ye’s cancelation may be the longest one we’ve witnessed. After going on yet another anti-Semitic rant on the popular app Clubhouse over the weekend, the social audio app announced that Ye is now suspended from the platform, according to The Wrap.
When word got out that the music producer formerly known as Kanye West would give an interview on the Clubhouse platform, it was also announced that it would be a $20 entrance fee to hear the discussion on the app. The interview did not start as scheduled, but when he appeared, instead of it being a Q&A, Ye quickly took over the chat with long-winded rants rather than responding to questions.
As he continued his responses and conversation, Clubhouse cut the session short when the rapper presented a conspiracy theory that Jewish people “are used by the Chinese” to control Black people. After he started to go in on his theory, Clubhouse immediately ended the room.
The social media app also released a statement about the discussion that the combative rapper was leading.
“We took action to shut down a conversation yesterday because it violated our policies. We also suspended those who violated the policies. There’s absolutely no place for bullying, hate speech or abuse on our platform as explicitly stated in our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.”
The conversation lasted just under 56 minutes.
Billboard also reported that Ye earned another distinction the day after his latest diatribe. He was voted the “Antisemite of the Year” by the watchdog group StopAntisemitism.
“Mazel Tov Kanye West for propagating the most Jew hatred in 2022 and winning this year’s dishonor,” the organization stated in the video announcing him as the “winner” of the “award.”
Former NBA Player and Head Coach, Paul Silas Passes Away at 79
The National Basketball Association (NBA) world is mourning after learning that former NBA All-Star and longtime head coach Paul Silas died at 79.
According to an announcement by the Houston Rockets, Silas, the father of the current head coach, Stephen, died over the weekend. The New York Times reported that his daughter, Paula Silas-Guy, revealed that he died of cardiac arrest on Saturday night.
The Fertitta Family and the Rockets organization are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Silas, father of Rockets head coach Stephen Silas.
Our heartfelt thoughts are with Stephen and his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/EOMSjv23t5
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement on the former head coach’s death.
We mourn the passing of former NBA All-Star and head coach Paul Silas. Paul’s lasting contributions to the game are seen through the many players and coaches he inspired, including his son, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. We send our deepest condolences to Paul’s family. -Adam
Silas was the first coach LeBron James played for when he entered the NBA in his rookie year.
According to CNN, Silas played in the NBA for 16 seasons and won three NBA championships. He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) at No. 10 in the 1964 NBA Draft. He was a graduate of Creighton University.
The former NBA coach won two championships when he played with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and 1976. Three years later, he obtained a third one with the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) in 1979. He was a two-time All-Star and an All-Defensive player five times during his career.
He became a head coach in 1980 when he took over the reins of the San Diego Clippers (now the Los Angeles Clippers) for three years. He also coached the Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Orleans Hornets.
His record as an NBA head coach was 387-488.
He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Silas leaves behind his two children, Stephen and Paula.
