Halloween Display of Man Hanging From a Tree in North Carolina Sparks Controversy
This Halloween display was a little too much for community residents.
A controversial Halloween display in a family’s yard in Harnett County, North Carolina, was taken down after it was spotted and shared by hundreds of people on Facebook.
WRALreports that the display appeared to be a full-dressed man hanging from a tree outside the home in Coats. The man-looking prop had its hands tied behind its back as the body dangled from a branch.
Investigators with Harnett County’s Sheriff’s Office spoke with the news outlet regarding the display. According to the family, the Halloween decor was supposed to reflect a farmer, but other residents were concerned that the display had racist intentions.
“Maybe we did take it the wrong way. And it did look a certain way that everyone was kind of confused about, but I’m glad in the end, that’s not what it was representing,” said Jenni Byrd, who lives in Harnett County. “My daughter is biracial – she’s Black, white and Indian, and I don’t want her growing up seeing these things,” Byrd added.
Investigators informed that no existing policies ban such displays on private property. However, the family decided to take the display down after recognizing it was a hurtful sight within the community.
DeAngelo McDougald spotted the display while riding by and posted the image to Facebook. WRAL says posting the image was his attempt to bring light to the situation.
“I just rode past it and it looked so real that I stopped,” McDougald said. “If you’re passing by and you just glancing over, you’d be like ‘someone’s hanging from a tree,” he added.
According to North Carolina Time, the display has been removed. Major Aaron Meredith with Harnett County Sheriff’s Office shared that investigators addressed the controversial display with the homeowners of the property.
“It’s a Hispanic family and they said it was simply a Halloween decoration they put up and once it was explained to them how it was perceived, they realized that and they were very apologetic and they took it down immediately,” Meredith said.
Reportedly, members of the community were satisfied with the outcome of having the display removed, including Byrd, who said, “If the intent of it wasn’t what we thought it was, then that’s the best outcome.”
Bank Of America To Invest $100 Million In Deposits To Support Minority Depository Institutions In Underserved Communities
Bank of America (BoA) will invest $100 million in low-cost deposits to a group of Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs).
According to a BoA release, the deposits, which are part of its $2 billion portfolio of investments in community banks, will facilitate lending, housing, and a host of other banking services in minority and low- and moderate-income communities.
“It is well recognized that MDIs are a critical resource to minority and underserved communities by providing banking services, creating jobs, and helping businesses grow,” D. Steve Boland, chief administrative officer of Bank of America, said in a statement. “As a founding member of the Economic Opportunity Coalition, we are committed to finding innovative ways to scale and expand the reach of our capital to provide access to economic opportunities and support diverse communities across the country.”
In a statement, Bank of America said, “These low-cost deposits will help MDIs expand their lending capacity and leverage the investments made by Bank of America and other institutions across the U.S., as well as the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP).”
BoA has made numerous moves this year to support women and minority businesses, expand healthcare in communities of color, assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and offer mortgages with zero down payment and zero closing costs to first-time Black homebuyers.
Other large banks including Chase and CITI have also started initiatives to benefit MDIs and CDFIs and underserved communities in the aftermath of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement.
The deposits build on BoAs effort to advance racial equity and economic opportunity, including more than $42.5 million in investments to more than 20 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and MDIs.
“MDIs are a critical resource to minority and underserved communities,” providing banking services, creating jobs and helping businesses,” Boland told Reuters.
Byron Allen’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against McDonald’s To Start In May After Attempts To Dismiss Suit Fail
Byron Allen’s $10 billion racial discrimination lawsuit against McDonald’s will go to trial next May after the fast food giant tried and failed to have the suit dismissed three times.
The Chicago Crusader reports the trial is set for May 30, 2023, after Judge Fernando Olguin determined last month that McDonald’s failed to meet the bar to prove Allen’s Entertainment Studios made no reasonable claim for discrimination.
“McDonald’s apparent refusal to even offer terms for advertising on The Weather Channel makes little business sense given that The Weather Channel has higher ratings and wider distribution than the two [white-owned] comparator networks,” Olguin wrote in the dismissal.
Allen, the owner of the Allen Media Group, filed the $10 billion lawsuit alleging McDonald’s, which has an advertising budget of more than $1 billion, has refused to advertise on his networks and spends just $5 million advertising with Black media.
The suit also claims McDonald’s created an “African American Tier” with a smaller advertising budget where Allen’s TV networks have been categorized.
This isn’t the first time McDonald’s has been sued for racial discrimination. In 2020, 52 Black former McDonald’s franchise owners filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming they faced “systematic and covert racial discrimination,” with McDonald’s denying them the same opportunities as their white counterparts. A federal judge recently dismissed the class-action lawsuit, but the plaintiffs have until Oct. 21 to file an appeal.
Last year, the burger chain bought 13 locations from former MLB player Herb Washington as part of a settlement in a racial discrimination lawsuit. Washington, who once owned more than 20 McDonald’s locations, sued the burger chain claiming it racially discriminated against him by having him purchase low-volume restaurants in Black neighborhoods and forcing him to downsize his base years later after grading his locations unfairly.
In a statement, Allen explained the motive for his lawsuit.
“This is about economic inclusion of African American-owned businesses in the U.S. economy,” Allen said in a statement according to the Crusader. “McDonald’s takes billions from African American consumers and gives almost nothing back. The biggest trade deficit in America is the trade deficit between white corporate America and Black America, and McDonald’s is guilty of perpetuating this disparity.”
Last year, McDonald’s said it would increase advertising with Black-owned companies from 2% to 5% of its total budget by 2024.
Allen has sued other large companies for their lack of Black advertising, including Comcast cable.
Southern Company Helps Students Attend First Ever HBCU Week at Walt Disney World
Southern Company joins HBCU Week Foundation, Disney and the Propel Center to help make attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) a reality for local students during what is anticipated to be the largest ever HBCU Week event.
More than 5,000 students including seniors from Atlanta Public and Birmingham City schools are expected to attend, according to a press release.
HBCU Week, created by the HBCU Week Foundation, is designed to encourage high-school-aged students to enroll in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, provide scholarship dollars for their education and help cultivate a pipeline of diverse talent. A central focus of the Orlando, Fla. event, set for Oct. 6-9 at Walt Disney World Resort, is a college fair. Southern Company and its partners will provide a pair of $50,000scholarships for students to help advance their education at an HBCU.
Each scholarship will be paid in four equal installments, one per year to cover tuition and fees. The first scholarship will be awarded on Friday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. ET, at the HBCU Week College Fair while the second will be offered through an application process administered by the Propel Center with the recipient announced on Thursday, Nov. 10.
At Friday’s college fair, students equipped with their transcripts and standardized test scores will have the opportunity to receive on-spot admission as well as scholarships and awards from the more than 50 HBCUs in attendance.
“HBCUs have a deep and long legacy in shaping and lifting up the leaders of tomorrow,” said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company.
“Education is a vital component of success. By alleviating affordability, one of the largest barriers to education, we are helping to ensure the success of companies like ours everywhere.”
Southern Company is committed to advancing equity within our company and communities we serve. One such commitment toward these goals is the company’s relationship with the Propel Center. In January 2020, Southern Company, along with Apple, became a founding partner of the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind, global technology and innovation hub that serves all 101 HBCUs. As part of the partnership, the Southern Company Foundation provided a $25 million investment aimed at elevating and amplifying HBCU institutions and helping create new opportunities for students to become future leaders, innovators, and trailblazers.
“Attaining a college education helps break the cycle of poverty for Blacks and people of color and offer exposure and opportunity that was once unattainable,” said Womack.
“We want the best, most-inclusive workforce today, tomorrow and beyond. Our investments in HBCUs and Propel are one way we can reach that goal.”
Texas Driver Arrested and Charged with DWI and Murder After Hitting 6-Year-Old Boy Three Times
A Texas driver has been arrested and charged with murder after he struck a six-year-old three times while intoxicated.
According to the Houston Police Department, Pedro Alberto Hernandez has been charged with murder and driving while intoxicated, which is the third time he has been charged with a D.W.I. The tragedy occurred on Saturday, Oct. 1. Hernandez reportedly ran over the boy at least three times.
Fox News reported that the 52-year-old Hernandez confessed to police officers that before the incident, he drank “numerous beers” before he ran over the young boy. ABC 13identified the boy as Darien Lewis.
“What we believe happened is: he struck the child, ran over the child, then was told that he had struck the child, and so he backed up again onto the child,” a spokesperson from the Houston Police Department toldFox 26 Houston. “Those are all things that a sober person doesn’t do.”
The unidentified boy was walking alongside his grandfather but reportedly ran ahead of him while they were in the parking lot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses detained Hernandez after he struck the boy and held him for police to arrest him.
After Hernandez struck the boy, witnesses stated he showed signs of intoxication. While at the scene, a drug recognition expert determined the suspect was drunk and they took him to get his blood drawn to see what his blood alcohol levels were.
Police stated that Hernandez struck the child and when told he hit the boy, he backed up to strike him again before hitting him a third time.
Dana Hubbard, who is Lewis’ grandfather spoke to ABC 13 about the tragedy.
“He came in on my left side and hit my grandson. That’s how close he was to me,” Hubbard said. “I was able to hit his car to let him know what happened. I ran around and I said, ‘You just hit my grandson.’ He stopped, he backed up, drove over my grandson again, and stopped his truck on his head.”
Hubbard mentioned that Hernandez smirked and then he tried to hit him because he thought it was funny.
“I swung out on him because he was laughing and thought it was funny,” Hubbard said.
Bank of America Finds 66% of Small Business Owners Expect Revenue Increases Over the Next Year; 52% Plan to Expand Their Businesses
Despite headwinds from supply chains, inflation and labor shortages, small business owners are forecasting a strong year ahead, according to the 2022 Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight, a new report from Bank of America exploring the outlook of entrepreneurs nationwide.
The report is based on a survey of more than 1,300 small business owners across the country, with additional insights into gender and ethnicity, and found that revenue expectations rose to a seven-year high, and expansion plans increased significantly since the spring, according to a press release.
Over the next 12 months:
– 66% of business owners expect revenue to increase—a seven-year high
– 52% plan to expand their business—up from 37% this spring
– 83% plan to obtain funding for their business—up from 70% this spring
As the possibility of a recession looms, 77% of entrepreneurs say their business is equipped to survive a recession.
“As we look ahead to 2023, small business owners are optimistic about the future, even with ongoing economic challenges and uncertainty,” said Sharon Miller, president, Small Business, head of specialty Banking and Lending at Bank of America.
“The data underscores what we’ve seen time and time again: the continued resilience of small business owners whose success remains foundational to our local and national economies.”
Inflation and commodities prices are top concerns
When asked about their primary concerns, small business owners identified inflation (75%) and commodities prices (69%), followed by a potential recession (67%), the U.S. political environment (66%) and interest rates (65%). A strong majority (88%) say inflation and supply chain issues (80%) are continuing to impact their operations, leading to price increases.
Hiring plans are up significantly with wages on the rise to attract talent
Amid labor shortages, business owners reported that their hiring plans are reaching the highest levels in seven years, with 38% planning to hire in the next 12 months. The majority (61%) of business owners say labor shortages are currently impacting their business, up from 41% in the spring. Among those business owners impacted:
– 49% are working more hours
– 31% are raising wages to attract competitive talent
– 30% are having difficulty filling job openings
The report also includes specific insights on the perspectives of women, Black, Hispanic-Latino and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business owners, examining key areas including access to capital, business outlook, social change and community.
Women, minority entrepreneurs face barriers accessing capital
More than a quarter (29%) of women business owners surveyed said they do not think they will ever have equal access to capital, while 40% of Black business owners, 27% of Hispanic-Latino business owners and 22% of AAPI business owners said the same.
Minority business owners reported more challenges accessing capital for their businesses than the national average, with 46% of Black and Hispanic-Latino business owners and 55% of AAPI business owners reporting they’ve personally faced challenges.
Black business owners were most likely to say they are concerned about credit availability—57% of Black business owners surveyed expressed concern vs. 45% overall.
Women business owners project growth but are less optimistic than men
Women business owners have an overall positive business outlook, while confidence in their business and the broader economic landscape is more tempered than their male peers. Over the next 12 months:
– 63% expect revenue to increase vs. 68% of male business owners
– 47% plan to expand their business vs. 57% of male business owners
– 38% are confident that the national economy will improve vs. 50% of male business owners
Overall, women business owners say they face more challenges in business than their male counterparts, with the majority (59%) saying they have to work harder for the same success as men.
Black business owners advocate for social change through their businesses
Fifty-five percent of Black business owners say racial justice and equity are important causes for their business, compared to 30% of non-Black business owners. Eighty-seven percent of Black business owners say they are committed to driving social change through their business, and two in five have active pledges or commitments toward social causes through their business, including volunteering, making operational changes and monetary commitments. As a result of these efforts:
– 61% say they have increased sales
– 40% say they deepened ties to their community
– 34% say they have increased their customer base
In addition, Black business owners are more optimistic than their non-Black counterparts about their business outlook. Over the next 12 months:
– 72% expect revenue to increase vs. 63% of non-Black business owners
– 65% plan to expand their business vs. 50% of non-Black business owners
Hispanic-Latino business owners prioritize building generational wealth
Keeping the future of their families in mind, a strong majority (86%) of Hispanic-Latino business owners are committed to building generational wealth through their business—compared to 77% of non-Hispanic-Latino business owners. Community involvement is a priority, too: 88% of Hispanic-Latino business owners say they actively give back to their communities, taking actions such as donating products/services, volunteering and sponsoring local events and teams.
Additionally, Hispanic-Latino business owners are more optimistic than their non-Hispanic-Latino peers about their business outlook. Over the next 12 months:
– 71% expect revenue to increase vs. 65% of non-Hispanic-Latino business owners
– 59% plan to expand their business vs. 52% of non-Hispanic-Latino business owners
AAPI business owners rely on family to drive business
AAPI business owners report strong support systems, as 80% say their family supports their business. Providing for the next generation is also top of mind, with 82% of AAPI business owners aiming to build generational wealth through their business. Additionally, more than one in three (37%) AAPI business owners said they received guidance on starting their business from family members.
When asked about their business outlook for the coming 12 months, 62% of AAPI business owners said they expect their revenues to increase, while 60% said they plan to expand their business (vs. 52% of non-AAPI business owners).
Bank of America 2022 Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight
Ipsos Public Affairs conducted the Bank of America 2022 Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight survey online between July 26 and Aug. 17, 2022 using a pre-recruited online sample of small business owners. Ipsos contacted a national sample of 1,308 small business owners in the United States with annual revenue between $100,000 and $4,999,999 and employing between two and 99 employees, as well as 357 interviews of Hispanic small business owners, 369 interviews of Black small business owners and 150 interviews of Asian American small business owners. The final results for the national and demographic segments were weighted to national benchmark standards for size, revenue and region, while the final results for the Hispanic segment were weighted for size, revenue, region, and whether the respondents were primarily English-speaking or Spanish-speaking.
Cleveland’s Leading Black Artists and Cultural Entrepreneurs Say Visual Arts Institutions Have Failed In Diversity Efforts
The leaders of Northeast Ohio’s top visual art institutions say they’ve made progress on diversity. However, Cleveland’s Black artists gave those institutions an F.
Cleveland.com reports the city’s Black artists gave its institutions a failing grade at a symposium organized by the Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art and the nonprofit Assembly for the Arts last month.
At the symposium, William Griswold, director and president of the Cleveland Museum of Art; Megan Lykins Reich, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, and Kathryn Heidemann, the president of the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), cited increased diversity in their staff, in the art they’re buying and showing, and in the students the CIA is admitting.
However, some of Cleveland’s leading Black artists and entrepreneurs view the situation very differently, adding the institutions can do more to address racial inequities and Injustices.
“If you ask us, it’s probably an F,” Ismail Samad, a Cleveland native, chef, and entrepreneur who started a farm-to-jar food company, said, according to Cleveland.com.
David Ramsey, an arts entrepreneur who operates a gallery in Cleveland, agreed with Samad, giving the art institutions an F as well. Ramsey said the institutions failed to provide grants and exhibitions to some of the city’s best artists.
In an example of the disconnect between the institutions and the city’s Black artists, when Ramsey and Samad took part in an afternoon session on the city’s art scene and diversity, some of the art institution’s leaders left.
Ramsey, Samad, and other panelists at the symposium discussed how they use their art skills to help community projects focused on uplifting those living there and providing economic mobility.
Samad, 42, is working with Trader Joe’s President Doug Rauch to open three nonprofit healthy grocery stores in Boston. Walter Patton’sCreate Art, Not Violence project connects children affected by gun violence and crime with Black therapists through an initiative called Ghetto Therapy.
Fred Bidwell, the founding CEO of FRONT International and a trustee of the Cleveland Museum of Art, said he was happy the symposium and the discussion revealed tensions concerning the city’s art institutions could improve relations with minority artists, audiences, and communities.
Federal Judge Dismisses $1 Billion Lawsuit Filed By 52 Black Franchise Owners Against McDonald’s
McDonald’s, the mega fast-food chain with the golden arches, seems to be on the winning side of a legal battle against Black franchisees.
Last week, a federal judge in Chicago dismissed a lawsuit with 52 Black franchise owners filed against McDonald’s, claiming the fast-food chain directed the Black owners toward locations identified as low-income neighborhoods with high crime rates.
According to CNBC, McDonald’s has temporarily beat back the lawsuit by the Black franchise owners who claim the corporation ‘set them up for failure.’
The 2020 lawsuit was allegedly dismissed in a written order. Although the judge did not explain why he dropped the case, the plaintiffs were given until Oct. 21 to file an amended complaint.
The plaintiffs allegedly claim that McDonald’s proposed locations are not profitable and do not provide the Black franchisees with growth opportunities while working under the same terms as white franchise owners.
The restaurant chain is not offering successful options for the Black franchisees even with the restaurant chain’s public commitment to diversity and Black entrepreneurship. Reportedly, the plaintiffs are requesting up to $1 billion in damages.
McDonald’s has denied the claims and said franshisees make the ultimate decision on what areas they want to settle their store locations in, even though the restaurant chain does offer location recommendations.
Reuters reports that a spokesperson provided a statement regarding the lawsuit informing that the case was dismissed “because the plaintiffs had no facts to support their arguments.”
“Discrimination has no place at McDonald’s, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to taking action to attract and support franchisees who represent the diverse communities we serve,” the company said, according to the outlet.
Sources provide that lawyers for the plaintiffs did not respond to a request for comment.
Foodservice Industry Veteran, Cassie Nelson, Joins A La Carte Menu Services, Inc. as Executive Vice President and CSO to Manage and Grow Iconic ‘Mrs. Winner’s’ Brand
Foodservice industry veteran, Cassie Nelson, who spent more than a decade as a senior executive at McDonald’s Corporation joins Atlanta, Ga.-based A La Carte Menu Services, Inc. as EVP and CSO of Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits.
The St. Louis, Mo. native found her passion for the food industry more than 30 years ago when she began working at her local McDonald’s restaurant as an hourly crew member. Prior to taking on her new role at Mrs. Winner’s, Nelson served as vice president of Operations for a 10,000 plus employee global airport foodservice concessionaire, Paradies Lagardère, according to a release.
“I am excited to work for a dynamic minority female-owned organization. I know the significance of having role models and mentors that look like you in the workplace and I am committed to helping other young women of color see a rewarding path forward in the restaurant industry,” stated Ms. Nelson.
“Mrs. Winner’s has tremendous upside and has every opportunity to be one of America’s best loved QSRs [Quick Service Restaurant].”
Nelson’s hiring is evidentiary of building toward an even brighter future that includes greater influence from women, people of color, and other previously underrepresented leaders as championed by the Women’s Foodservice Forum and other industry organizations.
“As we embark on our next chapter of growth for our Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits brand, we are excited to have someone of Cassie’s background and expertise to lead that charge,” said A La Carte Menu Services, Inc.’s CEO, Valerie Goldston.
“We look to expand the markets and regions in which we operate, and we have a mission to foster significant wealth creation opportunities for franchisees. Cassie’s experience in growing QSRs will be key to our achieving successes in multiple areas,” continued Ms. Goldston.
About Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits
Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits is a regional authentic Southern bone-in chicken and Southern fixins QSR chain which for decades has been a favorite of diners in the Southeastern United States. Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits dine-in and drive-thru offerings include Tantalizingly Tasty Fried Chicken, Sensational Sweet Tea, Super Cinnamon Rolls, and other Southern staples. Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits is a fast-growing QSR chain of company owned and franchised restaurants that is establishing new locations in new territories throughout the United States.
Motto Mortgage Named a Top Franchise for Black Entrepreneurs and a Top Recession-Proof Franchise by Franchise Business Review
Motto® Mortgage, the first and only national mortgage brokerage franchise in the U.S., furthers its reputation as a top franchise to own and today announces it has been named to three prestigious top franchise lists from BLACK ENTERPRISE, in partnership with Franchise Business Review (FBR), and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Earlier this year, the Motto Mortgage brand was named a Top 200 Franchise of 2022 by the Franchise Business Review for the fourth consecutive year, ranking #32 of the top 50 large franchises and #1 in the financial and tax category, according to a press release. Now, the brand has also been named a 2022 Top Recession-Proof Franchise based on an assessment of its strong potential to outperform competitors during challenging economic times. BLACK ENTERPRISE, in partnership with FBR, also leveraged the 2022 Top 200 Franchise data to determine the list of the Top 25 Franchises for Black Entrepreneurs, which highlights franchisors with the highest owner satisfaction scores among Black franchise owners.
“We decided to purchase a Motto Mortgage franchise because as first-time entrepreneurs we were attracted to the perks that came with joining the Motto network,” said Kelly Jacksonand Davina Arceneaux, co-owners of Motto Mortgage Home Services.
“When we opened Motto Mortgage Home Services, we received an immense amount of support from other Motto offices to help us navigate the industry and have consistently received ongoing education opportunities from the franchise headquarters’ team to give us the insight and tools to help us grow our business. Plus, Motto Mortgage’s brand credibility and reputation gave us strong credentials to fall back on and allowed us to make a name for ourselves much faster than we would have if we went the independent business route.”
“Since Motto Mortgage’s inception in 2016, the brand continues to create value in the mortgage industry by providing exceptional service, more options, transparency, and convenience for consumers,” said Ward Morrison, president and CEO of Motto Franchising, LLC.
“Now with 200 offices open in almost 40 states, Motto’s unique value proposition and Mortgage Brokerage In-A-Box℠ business model not only creates a secondary business with revenue potential for current real estate brokerage firms, but also offers opportunities for mortgage professionals seeking to open their own businesses and independent investors interested in a financial services franchise.”
Each Motto Mortgage franchise is independently owned, operated and licensed.
