Salt n Pepa, Push It
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 7, 2022

Estranged DJ Spinderella Wants Salt N Pepa Back Together Again: ‘Let’s Get Some Unity Back’

Spinderella put her differences with Salt N Pepa aside while the legendary hip-hop group received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The iconic hip-hop group — consisting of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper — were all present on Friday for their induction into the notable Hollywood Walk of Fame on Los Angeles’ infamous Hollywood Boulevard, People reports.

The group, who rose to fame in the ’80s and early 90s with hit singles like “Push It”, “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man,” took the time to share how special the moment was for them.

The ceremony was the first time all three ladies made a public appearance together since Spinderella left the group in 2019. At the time, Spinderella filed a lawsuit over alleged unpaid royalties. The group’s DJ claimed to have received a “termination” email asking her to exit the group.

Spinderella also claimed she was “wrongfully excluded” from the 2021 Salt N Pepa Lifetime biopic and declared their relationship was “over.”

However, while speaking at the induction ceremony on Friday, Spinderella, 51, took time to address the elephant in the room and express her desire to mend their broken fences.

“Women everywhere were inspired, forever changed by the message of strength and independence,” Spinderella said. “And what our message did for you guys, it also did for me as well… Thank you S and P for mentoring me.”

She continued.

“Salt, Pep, life lessons. We’ve been through the ups and downs,” Spinderella said.

“But I have to thank you for those lessons. Because it wasn’t just the music to me. It was our relationship. And that means everything to me. So whatever we gotta do to fix that, let’s get some unity back in this. Let’s figure it out and be iconic and be what the fans want.”

Pepa made sure to applaud her group for serving as pioneers in the current wave of female rappers taking up space at the top of the charts.

“It was a No. 1 question, will hip-hop last,” Pepa said. “And I was like, ‘Yo, they love us all over this world.’ And look at that.”

“Hip-hop has lasted for the women.”

“We gotta keep empowering each other like we do, lifting each other up, pass the torch. And I’m telling you, this is our time as well. And it goes to show you that Salt-N-Pepa got a stamp on the Earth.”

Data Show Historic Number of Black Women Candidates in Midterm Races
by Atiya Jordan

November 7, 2022

Data Show Historic Number of Black Women Candidates in Midterm Races

Black women are setting records as candidates for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and governorships in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.

According to Click Orlando, the data comes from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University, which tracks women’s political participation in the United States; the count only includes major-party candidates.

In recent years, the House has witnessed more diversity, with the 116th Congress having the most diverse class of members in its history.

As of Oct. 21, an all-time high of at least 134 Black women were major-party candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. Of that, 105 are Democrats and 29 are Republicans.

Democrat Summer Lee, a second-term Pennsylvania state House member, would become the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania, NBC News reported. Community organizer Democrat Odessa Kelly would be the first openly gay Black congresswoman and the first Black woman to represent Tennessee in Congress if she triumphs over Republican opponent Rep. Mark Green.

At least 22 Black women are vying for spots in the U.S. Senate. The number consists of 16 Democrats and six Republicans. Democrat Natalie James is running against GOP incumbent John Boozman for U.S. Senate. If she wins, she would be the first Black member of Congress from Arkansas. Val Demings, currently a three-term congresswoman, would be the first Black person to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate if she beats Republican incumbent Marco Rubio.

Democrat Cheri Beasley of North Carolina is running for U.S. Senate against GOP Rep. Ted Budd. She would be the first Black woman elected to the chamber in the state’s history. Krystle Matthews, a Democrat, is hoping to beat out Republican U.S. Senator Tim Scott to become the first Black woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate.

The CAWP data continue to show that another 12 Black women are major-party candidates for governor. Eleven are Democrats; one is a Republican.

In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams is hoping to defeat GOP Gov. Brian Kemp to become the state’s first Black governor. She would also be the first Black woman in the country’s history to hold a governor seat. In Alabama, Democrat Yolanda Flowers is battling GOP incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey for governorship. Flowers, who has already made history as the first Black woman from either major party to win the nomination for governor, would also be the first Black woman to hold the office in Alabama.

Early Voting in Georgia Sets Record—Over 2.5M Residents Cast Ballots
by Derek Major

November 7, 2022

Early Voting in Georgia Sets Record—Over 2.5M Residents Cast Ballots

Early voting in Georgia has broken a new record in the state, as more than 2.5 million residents have cast early in-person or absentee ballots heading into Election Day.

According to NBC News, 49% of the early voters are registered Democrats and 42% are Republicans. Additionally, 70% of early voters were 50 and older and 56% were women.

The new early voting records in Georgia come as the race between former NFL running back Herschel Walker and Sen. Raphael Warnock gets closer. The midterm elections will be an indication of how much the former Republican stronghold has changed in recent years.

“The story is going to be, on the suburban margins—can Democrats get to the same level they got in 2020 to make up for losing ground in rural areas?” Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt, who helps conduct the NBC News survey told the network.

“That is the challenge. Because not all of the Biden vote in 2020 was for Biden—there was a component of that vote that was against Trump.”

In the last few days, Warnock has been appealing to those in Georgia who say they will vote for Gov. Brian Kemp but do not support Walker and could be open to backing him. Warnock is running a series of advertisements featuring testimonials from a wide variety of voters who say they cannot support the Trump-backed Republican.

Meanwhile, Walker is trying to consolidate Republicans in the Peach State calling the country’s leadership weak and denouncing pronouns in a rally last weekend.

“We’re a weak country because we’re talking about putting pronouns in our military. Pronoun? What the heck is a pronoun?” Walker said at a rally in Smyrna. “My pronoun is sick and tired of this pronoun stuff.”

Both men are hoping to capture 50% of the vote on Election Day, but if neither side claims the majority of the vote, the men will head to a Dec. 6 runoff in Georgia.

“We’ll deal with things as they come. I think we may very well get a verdict on Tuesday. We’ll see,” Warnock said.

“But the fact that people are turning out in record numbers is a great thing. I think it’s great for democracy.”

Georgia voters will also decide whether Fair Fight founder Stacey Abrams will defeat Kemp in their 2018 rematch.

NAACP President Encourages Georgia To Turn ‘Black’ on Election Day
by Stacy Jackson

November 7, 2022

NAACP President Encourages Georgia To Turn ‘Black’ on Election Day

During a tour of Atlanta-area churches on Sunday, NAACP President Derrick Johnson made a statement to the state of Georgia encouraging voters to make an impact this year.

According to The Hill, Johnson said he hopes the state turns “Black” on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

“Although they said that in 2020 you turned this state blue, I want to say that in 2022 we need to turn this state Black,” Johnson said.

“All eyes are on Georgia, and I know you can do it.”

Johnson also took to his Twitter account to encourage people to make efforts toward getting their votes in and helping others do the same. “This is one of the most crucial elections we will ever take part in—I am urging everyone to not only turn out and vote themselves, but to bring at least five friends to the polls with them,” Johnson said on Sunday.

In the tweet, Johnson also shared that the NAACP would offer a limited number of Lyft rides to provide free transportation to the polls.

“Remember the power of your ballot in this upcoming midterm election. Pull up to the polls on Nov. 8 to make your voice and vote count. Learn everything you need at naacp.org/vote,” the NAACP said on their Twitter page. 

According to Georgia News, the NAACP, a civil rights organization, has spent an estimated $2 million to fund radio advertising in Georgia and eight other major battleground states. The organization also distributed approximately $6.5 million to 55 grassroots partners and local organizations across 18 states.

The race for Senate has reportedly tightened between Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and former football star Herschel Walker. Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams is hoping for an upset against Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who has a healthy lead in the polls, according to The Hill. 

Boston Bruins Rescind Contract Offer to White Player Who Bullied Disabled Black Classmate
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 7, 2022

Boston Bruins Rescind Contract Offer to White Player Who Bullied Disabled Black Classmate

A contract offer has been rescinded after reports surfaced that hockey player, Mitchell Mitchell, allegedly bullied a Black student with developmental disabilities in middle school.

According to NHL, th prospect had signed an entry-level contract on Friday with the Boston Bruins before the organization canceled the offer two later.

In a written statement, Bruins team president Cam Neely shared the revelation that led to the team’s decision.

“The decision to sign this young man was made after careful consideration of the facts as we were aware of them: that at 14 years old he made a poor decision that led to a juvenile conviction.”

“We understood this to be an isolated incident and that he had taken meaningful action to reform and was committed to ongoing personal development. Based on that understanding we offered him a contract.

“Based on new information, we believe it is the best decision at this time to rescind the opportunity for Mitchell Miller to represent the Boston Bruins. We hope that he continues to work with professionals and programs to further his education and personal growth.”

The 20-year-old defenseman was selected in the fourth round with the 111th pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2020 NHL Draft and was offered the entry-level contract on October 7. Just 22 days later, the Coyotes relinquished the rights to Miller after the Arizona Republic reported that Miller had been involved in several bullying incidents with a Black student with special needs in Sylvania, Ohio.

The boy who was bullied, Isaiah Meyer-Crother, said the incidents took place in 2016 when he was just 14. Miller was charged with assault and a violation of the Ohio Safe Schools Act, and he confessed to participating in the incidents in court.

Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney said he had struggled with the decision to sign Miller, discussing the move with his family members. Days later, after hearing members of the team express concerns publicly and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman declare that the player was not cleared to play in the NHL, the Bruins knew they had to cut ties with Miller.

Black-Owned Fintech Company Launches Free Grant Search Platform
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 7, 2022

Black-Owned Fintech Company Launches Free Grant Search Platform

Black-owned fintech and finance company Novae LLC has announced the launch of a new online tool designed to help small businesses to find grants and tax incentives that can help them to grow exponentially.

Called Novae Grants, the new tool will allow users to search a database of thousands of financial assistance opportunities from both the government and the private sector. Tax credits that small businesses may qualify for will also be included in the database.

Novae founder Reco McCambry says that the grants his team is gathering for inclusion in the database range from $500 to $5 million in size, and are designed to help business owners serve their communities. The grants include town- and city-based grants to revitalize local businesses and create jobs, and federal and think tank grants to support renewable energy, tech, and innovation.

“The idea is to make it as easy as possible for small businesses to locate the support they need to grow,” McCambry says. “Whether you’re a mom-and-pop shop or a good-sized startup, you may be doing something that one of these agencies wants to promote for the sake of the public good.”

McCambry notes that most of the grants which have so far been located and placed in the Novae Grants database are intended for small businesses with 6-100 employees, though some are also intended for larger businesses and sole proprietor startups.

“We know that local businesses make us more secure,” McCambry told me in our interview, “and we know that innovation often comes from startups. There are a lot of organizations that recognize this and offer funding to support these missions. But not many people know how to find these grants, and many assume they won’t qualify because they aren’t in some specialized public service role. Our mission is to change that and bring this money into our communities.”

The Novae Grants search engine is now available at novaemoney.com. In addition to grants, Novae also helps companies build business credit, provides access to traditional business funding, and offers businesses the ability to provide consumer financing for their high-ticket offerings.

Novae and CEO McCambry’s mission to increase access to financing for businesses and customers in underserved communities has helped the company and its CEO to earn numerous awards and distinctions in recent years. Novae has been included on the Inc 5000 list of the 5000 fastest-growing businesses in America for two years running, while McCambry was recently named Innovator of the Year at the annual Bank Customer Experience Summit and received an Outstanding Leadership Award at Money2.0 this Spring.

McCambry hopes that the new grant search database, combined with Novae’s other offerings to assist businesses and consumers with financing for large purchases, will help to create prosperity for communities that have often been shut out of traditional banking and grant services.

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Warns Election Misinformation Targeting Black Men
by Derek Major

November 7, 2022

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Warns Election Misinformation Targeting Black Men

Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told MSNBC Sunday that Black men are being targeted with misinformation campaigns ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

The President Joe Biden advisor appeared on The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, who shared a clip of Georgia Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams claiming Black men are being targeted by misinformation campaigns.

Capehart asked Bottoms about misinformation being directed at Black men and whether Abrams “is getting the Black support that she needs in her race against Gov. Brian Kemp.”

“Listen, Jonathan, I think that Stacey is spot-on with that. I listen as my kids watch NBA highlights and whatever else they watch on YouTube, I hear the misinformation being piped in,” Bottoms claimed. “My 12-year-old, my 14-year-old son, my 20-year-old is getting it.

“There is definitely a target towards African-American men, not just to give them misinformation but to make them so discouraged that they won’t show up to vote,” Bottoms added. “And again, I have been a candidate before. I have been in this position before, going into my race as mayor five years ago, I was seven points down in the polls going into the week of the election and I won by more than 800 votes because people showed up to vote.”

The former mayor also blasted Republicans for trying to break the enthusiasm of Black voters heading into the midterms.

Remember the goal is not just to try and get them to vote for Brian Kemp or get people to vote for Herschel Walker; a victory for Republicans can be if African-American voters stay at home.”

According to Abrams, Black men have increased their voter participation since 2018, however, “I do not believe it’s because of a deep well of enthusiasm for my opponent.”

Abrams and Kemp will battle for the governor’s desk for the second time while Sen. Raphael Warnock will try to keep his seat against Walker. Both races are close and Black men will be paramount to both races. In a recent survey by theGrio and KFF, the biggest issues for Black people heading into the midterms are the economy, racism and criminal justice reform.

Black voters were largely credited with Biden winning the 2020 presidential election. Early voting in Georgia has broken records as more than 2.5 million residents have cast an in-person or absentee ballot.

Iowa Teen Who Killed Her Rapist, Escaped a Woman’s Center and Now May Face 20-Years In Prison
by Stacy Jackson

November 7, 2022

Iowa Teen Who Killed Her Rapist, Escaped a Woman’s Center and Now May Face 20-Years In Prison

A long road to prison may be ahead for a teen who escaped a woman’s center where she was serving time.

Pieper Lewis, an Iowa sex trafficking victim who pleaded guilty to killing her alleged rapist when she was 15 years old, has reportedly violated her probation after escaping from a women’s center she was assigned to after her trial.

According to Des Moines Register, Iowa authorities reported that Lewis was seen exiting the Fresh Start Women’s Center in Des Moines, where she was sentenced to serve a five-year probation period.

A probation violation report from the Judicial District Department of Correctional Services claimed that a residential officer was notified of a door opening when the facility’s alarm went off at approximately 6:19 a.m. The report said the officer observed Lewis exiting the facility through the A-Wing door before she allegedly cut off her GPS and went on the run.

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Lewis was sentenced at 17 years old in September on charges of involuntary manslaughter and willful injury after allegedly stabbing 37-year-old Zachary Brooks to death in June 2020. Polk County District Judge David Porter deferred the 20-year prison sentence for Lewis, who said she was forced into sex trafficking.

“Well, Ms. Lewis, this was the second chance you asked for. You don’t get a third. Do you understand that?” Porter asked her in September.

Before the stabbing, Lewis ran away from her adoptive mother, who she claimed was abusive. She was taken in by a 28-year-old man who allegedly forced her into sex trafficking and held her at knifepoint, ordering her to have sex with multiple men, including Brooks. Reportedly, he sexually assaulted Lewis multiple times before she stabbed him after raping her again.

Des Moines Register reported that as of Sunday, Lewis, now 18 years old, was not in custody at Polk County Jail or reported as apprehended. The family of Brooks has been notified of Lewis’s escape.

According to the outlet, the judge ordered Lewis to serve 1,200 hours of community service, which would cover more than $4,000 in fines. Additionally, Lewis is required by Iowa law to pay $150,000 in compensation for the death of her victim.

She could face the full 20 years in prison after violating her probation.

Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 7, 2022

Snoop Dogg Schooled Martha Stewart on How to Prepare ‘the Billion Dollar Bacon’

Some would say this pairing is one of the oddest yet one of the most lovable relationships.

Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart have been flaunting their fun bonding over the years through commercials, partnerships, and appearances in public.

In an exclusive interview with InsideHook, the Death Row rapper discussed how his friendship with Stewart has taught him many things in the kitchen. Yet, he also admits to giving her some sound advice.

The self-described “foodie” talks about his penchant for watching cooking shows to study what the experts do so he can utilize the same techniques and/or build on what he has learned.

“ I like watching a lot of cooking shows. I watch The Cooking Channel. I watch a lot of the competition shows. I’m just a foodie. I don’t look like it, but I am. I love different styles of food, different cultures, and different tastes. So I do a lot of studying, which I know people don’t believe, but that’s how I was able to put a cookbook together. That’s how I was able to work with Martha Stewart for so many years on television and to pick up some tricks and trades from her, and even teach her a few things as well, which shocked both me and her.”

The two met while he was appearing on an episode for The Martha Stewart Show back in 2008.

Snoop also reveals in the interview that he taught Stewart to prepare bacon so it can have “a particular texture.” Surprisingly, it has more to do with how the bacon sounds while cooking it. The hip-hop entertainer describes it as “the Billion Dollar Bacon.”

“It’s the way to cook it to make the bacon a particular texture. It’s how you put ’em in there and how you move ’em around, the sound you’re listening to when they’re done—not even a look, but it’s the sound you’re listening for.

“So I taught her about sound and food, not just looking at it and seeing if it’s done, but it’s a certain sound that the bacon will make to let you know that it’s done. Food talks to you. That’s why when you cook it with love, people appreciate it.”

White University of Kentucky Student Arrested After Assaulting Black Students, Spewing N-Word
by Atiya Jordan

November 7, 2022

White University of Kentucky Student Arrested After Assaulting Black Students, Spewing N-Word

University of Kentucky police arrested a white female student after she physically and verbally assaulted Black students on campus.

Sophia Rosing, 22, has been charged with intoxication in a public place, third-degree assault on a police officer, fourth-degree assault, and second-degree disorderly conduct, according to the Fayette County Detention Center, NBC News reported. Her bail is set at $10,000.

The early morning arrest was in connection to a video showing Rosing attacking a student named Kylah Spring. The outlet reported that the victim was working the overnight shift as a desk clerk in Boyd Hall at the time.

Spring shared the video on Tiktok, which has since been taken down. In response, she recently posted a “story time” on YouTube explaining the incident.

While working her shift, Spring noticed a girl who came in drunk and stumbling by the elevator. She said she stuck her head out the window to check if the girl was “OK.”

“That’s when the n-word, the b-word, those racial slurs… came out,” Spring said in the YouTube video.

Spring said she called the residence advisor, but while awaiting assistance, the situation escalated to physical violence.

“This point, she’s bitten on my arm a few times, as well as kick me in my stomach. And then she tried to run me and my friend over with a shopping cart. My friend was also experiencing these things,” Spring explained.

When the residence advisor finally responded to the scene, Rosing continued to hurl racially insensitive slurs and bite more people who attempted to calm her down, Spring said.

When the police arrived, Rosing refused to give her name. Spring said that Rosing physically attacked the police officers who tried to restrain her.

A video on Twitter with over 75,000 views shows the intoxicated young woman being placed in handcuffs while repeatedly saying the n-word.

“At this point, she’s like singing the n-word,” Spring said.

The university released statements on Twitter to update the community on the incident and the arrest. They also said that they stand in solidarity with the victim. A review is underway.

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