Texas Court Orders A Review of Crystal Mason’s Five-Year Sentence For Illegal Voting
by Derek Major

May 13, 2022

Texas Court Orders A Review of Crystal Mason’s Five-Year Sentence For Illegal Voting

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a lower court to review the case against Crystal Mason, who was convicted of illegal voting in 2016 and sentenced to five years.

Mason voted in the 2016 election while she was on supervised release after being released from prison on federal tax evasion charges. In 2018, Mason was convicted of a second-degree felony and sentenced to five years in prison. Mason is currently out on bond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-MuD1EvX1c

According to Mason’s attorney, Alison Grinter Allen, Mason was unaware she couldn’t vote because although she was out of prison, her sentence was not completed. Mason, who wasn’t on the state’s voter rolls, used a provisional ballot to vote, which was not counted.

NPR reports The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals determined a lower court mistakenly upheld Mason’s conviction by “failing to require proof that [Mason] had actual knowledge that it was a crime for her to vote while on supervised release.”

The case will now return to the Court of Appeals, where it was ordered to take up the case with the new directive from the higher court.

Last year, Texas Republicans passed a controversial voting restrictions bill that created new criminal penalties for those who assist voters in-person or by mail and increased penalties for existing election crimes.

The bill also included provisions aimed at preventing another case like Mason’s. A provision in the law states a person “may not be convicted solely upon the fact that the person signed a provisional ballot affidavit … unless corroborated by other evidence that the person knowingly committed the offense.”

“The amendment clarifies that a provisional ballot affidavit alone is insufficient evidence that the person MASON ― knowingly committed the offense,” the court wrote in its decision. “Corroboration by other evidence is required for conviction.”

Voting rights advocates fought the bill’s passing, saying it would lead to people being arrested and charged for making honest mistakes while voting. Advocates also said the law disproportionately affects communities of color in the state. Texas Democrats were so against the bill many fled the state to block the bill from being voted on.

Two Chicago YogaSix Franchise Owners Practice More Than Fitness
by Nancy E Williams

May 13, 2022

Two Chicago YogaSix Franchise Owners Practice More Than Fitness

In May 2021, Crystal Pinkston and Sharon Calhoun Norman opened their first YogaSix franchise, located in Hyde Park, a diverse neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

Calhoun Norman, a Chicago native, and Pinkston, who relocated to Chicago years ago, are longtime friends who have always enjoyed taking a variety of fitness classes together. The two became interested in opening a YogaSix studio because they could combine their passion for a wellness lifestyle with entrepreneurship.

Pinkston’s career has spanned 20-plus years with several F100 CPG companies. She is currently a senior leader with a CPG company focused on consumer and shopper behavior in addition to helping manage the YogaSix franchise. Her career expertise directly translates to the business of better understanding the member, marketing, and sales strategies.

Calhoun Norman is a lawyer by trade. She is a former law firm partner whose 15-year legal career focused on litigation and intellectual property. Calhoun Norman recently left to focus full-time on the growth and expansion strategy of the duo’s YogaSix studios.

“Savings and faith helped me to overcome the fear of leaving a salary behind,”  she says. “I am also confident in my skill-

YogaSix Studio – Hyde Park, IL

set and resume and know that a traditional nine-to-five will be available for me if I choose to go that route. Ultimately, I thought it was best to invest my time and money in myself and my own business rather than putting all my energy into corporate America.”

Where passion leads you

Yoga has been a passion of Calhoun Norman’s for almost 20 years, and the friends share a love of boutique fitness and maintaining an active lifestyle.

“The YogaSix brand is appealing because it seeks to make yoga accessible to all, ” Calhoun Norman says. “Yoga can be intimidating, and YogaSix takes the intimidation factor out of yoga by removing Sanskrit and making the classes energizing, empowering, and fun using music and a state-of-the-art audiovisual system. From a business standpoint, Xponential Fitness, YogaSix’s parent company, has perfected the boutique fitness model through sister brands such as Club Pilates and Cycle Bar so we knew that YogaSix’s business model was strong.”

But it’s not simply wellness and entrepreneurship that Pinkston and Calhoun Norman value. The opportunity to give back to their community is very important. “For Black History Month, we held weekly educational classes that built on the theme established each year by the ASALH (Association for the study of African American Life and History),” Pinkston said.

In honor of Juneteenth, they held a virtual meditation event as an opportunity to reflect on and commemorate what Juneteenth means. The charitable event raised money for the DuSable Museum of African American History to highlight the importance of Black history in Chicago and nationwide. Pinkston and Calhoun Norman matched the total dollar amount donated.

The duo also created a YogaSix Teacher Training scholarship program to increase diversity in the yoga space and help them identify and retain talent in a competitive fitness landscape when they launch Yoga Teacher Training this fall.

“Year-round we aim to provide programming and instructors that appeal to the Hyde Park community through music, workshops, partnering with other businesses in Hyde Park.”

The road to growth

Pinkston and Calhoun Norman recently acquired two existing YogaSix studios in other parts of Chicago and plan to expand into a new boutique fitness vertical in 2023.

“These studios are in communities that are different from Hyde Park, but we believe our approach and philosophy of inclusion can help make these locations as successful as our Hyde Park location. No matter what side of Chicago you live on—North, South, Loop—we want to provide a Hot Yoga studio that is engaging, empowering, and fun.”

The entrepreneurs purposefully chose the franchise route to business ownership because of its proven model and structured approach. It was a huge advantage that gave them the freedom to laser focus on understanding their members and operations versus trying to optimize a business model.

“There are pros and cons to organic entrepreneurship or franchise entrepreneurship that really come down to personal preference, risk tolerance, and bandwidth.”

Chris Rock Jokes He Has ‘Most of My Hearing Back’ After Will Smith Oscars Slap
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2022

Chris Rock Jokes He Has ‘Most of My Hearing Back’ After Will Smith Oscars Slap

Chris Rock is bouncing back after being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars. The comedian recently joked about the embarrassing attack during a standup show in the U.K.

Rock claimed that he wouldn’t joke about the slap during his “Ego Death” comedy show on Thursday, The Times of London reported. Eventually, he explained why words don’t hurt as much as being “punched in the face.”

“I’m OK, if anybody was wondering,” Rock said at the Royal Albert Hall in London. “I got most of my hearing back.”

He also teased when and where he would finally fully address the live televised smack heard around the world.

“People expect me to talk about the b——-. I’m not going to talk about it right now; I’ll get to it eventually,” he said. “On Netflix.”

Rock’s latest comments came after he said he wouldn’t talk about the slap until “I get paid.” It also comes after he took to the stage in Hollywood to make a light reference to Smith following an attack on Dave Chappelle by a fan during a live show, The New York Post reported.

“Was that Will Smith?” Rock asked after a man charged at Chappelle, knocking him to the ground during his set at the Hollywood Bowl. One day after Chappelle’s attack, the comedian appeared in a secret show at Los Angeles’s famed Comedy Store, where Rock jokingly said, “I got smacked by the softest n—- that ever rapped.”

Sources told the New York Times that comedy venues have started to beef up their security in the wake of the violent attacks against comedians.

Meanwhile, Rock’s family has offered their support. His brother Tony Rock spoke out against Smith, and their mother, Billie Jean Shaw, called out Smith for not personally apologizing to Rock after the live televised slap.

Will Smith released a public apology and accepted his 10-year ban from attending the Academy Awards. There has been no word on if he has spoken to Chris Rock.

Coca-Cola Florida, A Black-Owned Business, Named Best Managed Company In U.S. for 2022
by Derek Major

May 13, 2022

Coca-Cola Florida, A Black-Owned Business, Named Best Managed Company In U.S. for 2022

Coca-Cola Florida, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the U.S. and the largest in Florida, has been selected as a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company.

Founded in 2015, Coca-Cola Florida is the third-largest privately held and sixth-largest minority-owned business in the state. The company, headquartered in Tampa, covers 47 counties in the state as well as Miami, Jacksonville, and Orlando.

The Ledger reports the award, sponsored by The Wall Street Journal and Deloitte Private, recognizes the outstanding achievements of private U.S. companies and their management.

“This recognition is a significant achievement for us, and we see it as a validation of the diligence, consistent effort, and resilience of the 4,600 plus associates of Coke Florida,” said Troy Taylor, founder, chairman, and CEO of Coke Florida.

“We hold ourselves to being best in class in all the evaluated categories, and we are honored to join the 1,200 other companies across the world who hold this prestigious designation,” he added. “We are especially proud to receive this recognition after more than two years of unprecedented business challenges.”

The private businesses selected by Deloitte and the Journal have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution. They also show a commitment to their employees, fostering a dynamic welcoming culture by investing in their workforce and demonstrating a habit of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“While financial results are one indicator of strong business performance when combined with strategy and execution, they demonstrate the tenets of a truly solid organization.” Coca-Cola Florida Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, David Cross, said.

“Building a strong and inclusive organizational culture across the Coke Florida footprint has been an intentional part of our overall strategy. Our culture is the foundation of everything we do, and it is a key driver of our business results.”

In 2020, Coca-Cola Florida was selected as a Minority Business Enterprise Supplier of the Year Class IV. The award recognized the company’s annual sales of more than $50 million, demonstrated strong business performance, and strong involvement.

Food Network’s ‘Worst Cooks in America’ Star Gets Life Sentence for Murdering Foster Daughter
by Jasmine Jackson

May 13, 2022

Food Network’s ‘Worst Cooks in America’ Star Gets Life Sentence for Murdering Foster Daughter

Ariel Robinson, the champion of Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, was sentenced earlier this week to life in prison for the murder of her 3-year-old foster daughter, Victoria “Tori” Rose Smith.

Robinson took the witness stand last Thursday. She said Smith, her “mini-me,” was “the perfect child.”

Jean Smith and Avery Santiago witnessed Robinson cleaning Smith’s dress in the women’s bathroom sink at church on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2021. Fox Carolina reported Santiago overheard Robinson scold the bare child.

“Oh, you’re cold. You’re cold. Girls that make themselves throw up deserve to be cold.”

When Jean Smith asked if the child was sick, Robinson responded that the foster child “eats too much and makes herself throw up.” Jean Smith added Robinson referred to the child’s eating habits as “a game.”

According to Fox News, Smith threw up on her dress on the way to church. The incident spiraled to the death of the foster child. Robinson’s husband, Jerry “Austin” Robinson, testified that his wife often became angry with Tori’s eating habits. He stated his wife would express her anger by beating the child with a wooden paddle or a belt. Robinson’s husband said he would try to help Tori avoid Robinson’s anger by eating some of her food.

Ariel Robinson said her husband lied to the police. He pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse and now faces between 10 and 20 years in prison. Both Robinson and her husband were charged with homicide by child abuse in January 2021.

Police found the 3-year-old beaten and unresponsive the day after witnesses saw the mother and daughter at church. According to Greenville County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Ward, her blood vessels had burst. According to Fox Carolina, prosecutors said Robinson severely beat the child with a belt, which caused her to suffer internal bleeding.

Robinson won a $25,000 prize after competing in Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, season 20.

The case involving the Food Network contest winner sparked a petition on Change.org. The petition reads, “We want there to be frequent non-scheduled home visits to the foster and adoptive parents and even after adoptions are finalized.” It also calls for the law to “pass the bill to be named Victoria’s Law, which will call for reform of the current screening process to become not only an adoptive parent but as a foster parent as well.”

Robinson’s season is no longer available to stream on Food Network’s platforms.

Mother and Daughter Evicted After Daughter Twerks in Apartment Complex Pool
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2022

Mother and Daughter Evicted After Daughter Twerks in Apartment Complex Pool

A little bit of twerking has gotten a teenager and her mom evicted from their Charlotte apartment complex.

Marshette Foster is speaking out after learning she and her daughter, Alana Foster, 21, are being evicted following a twerking encounter at the pool, The Charlotte Observer reported.

“That’s egregious,” she told building management.

But Element SouthPark management claims the eviction is a result of “extremely unacceptable behaviors” Alana and her friends displayed in the community area.

On April 30, a building concierge approached Alana about twerking at the pool. The young woman claims to have apologized and said she would stop. However, what followed was an eviction notice.

In addition to the twerking, building personnel claims Alana had too many guests at the pool, and fighting occurred. Marshette claims she has never seen white residents being told they have too many guests at the pool.

The mother admits that her daughter’s friend cursed at the concierge after being told there were too many of them at the pool because they reportedly said nothing to the white groups with over four or five guests.

However, just two days after the incident, Marshette says Element SouthPark’s property manager told her that she was being evicted after the daughter’s friend verbally attacked the concierge. The building released a statement that it prides itself on having diverse residents in the pricey residential building. But after multiple reports from building dwellers, the building had to take action.

“Resident statements and video show the resident and her guests performing acts of public nudity, fighting, and other extremely unacceptable behaviors for any of our residents to witness, but it is especially unacceptable due to the presence of small children,” Element SouthPark said.

Marshette, who moved into the $2,600/month two-bedroom apartment last July, claims the building’s allegations are false.

“They’re making us out to be unkempt, uncouth, that we don’t follow the rules,” she said. “It’s not true. It’s like they’re fabricating.”

The mother has since retained lawyer Shawntae Crews, who advised her to remain in the apartment past Sunday’s deadline ahead of a legal filing to contest the eviction.

Dogfish Head Miami Partners with Chris Bosh to Launch ‘Bosh Blonde’ Beer in Celebration of the Brewpub’s One Year Anniversary
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

May 13, 2022

Dogfish Head Miami Partners with Chris Bosh to Launch ‘Bosh Blonde’ Beer in Celebration of the Brewpub’s One Year Anniversary

In celebration of its first anniversary, Dogfish Head Miami has teamed up with entrepreneur, philanthropist and NBA Hall of Famer Chris Bosh to release a limited-edition brew, “Bosh Blonde” on Sunday, May 22.

The special beer, dreamed into existence by long-time friends Chris Bosh and Dogfish Head Founder and Brewer Sam Calagione, will be released at noon to kick start the anniversary festivities.

Dogfish Head Miami made a grand entrance into Wynwood one year ago, bringing the national brand’s off-centered, innovative and creative culture to the similarly artistic city of Miami. Since its opening, the brewery has provided locals and visitors alike a place to enjoy innovative beers, local food, music and art through activations and impressive beer collaborations, and Dogfish Head Miami’s One Year Anniversary Celebration will be no different.

Bosh and Calagione share a love for the brewing process and wanted to come together to create a one-of-a-kind beer that speaks to Miami locals through infused flavors. Brewed with Florida-grown oranges and fresh squeezed sugar cane juice, the “Bosh Blonde” ale exudes the essence of South Florida leisure: easy drinking with a citrus twist meant to be shared with family and friends. The can itself is designed to reflect the coming together of Chris Bosh and Dogfish Head Miami with vibrant colors and artistic sketches that nod to music, beer and basketball of course.

“We are thrilled to commemorate our one year anniversary with this special collaboration,” said Calagione.

“Chris Bosh is not only a good friend and fellow beer lover, but he is committed to giving back to the Miami community through various organizations. This refreshing brew will not only benefit a local non-profit, but is sure to please the palate with its crisp, citrusy flavor.”

Open to the public, guests can join the celebration to taste the new “Bosh Blonde,” indulge in a special menu of tasty “Bosh Bites” based on Chris Bosh’s favorite foods as well as live music throughout the day, and more. Limited-edition hats will also be available for sale at the event, and the first 20 people in line to buy the beer will get a free hat. Meet and greets with Chris Bosh will be exclusively available for a limited number of Dogfish Head Miami’s Off-Centered Society members. Guests who want to join the meet and greet but aren’t an Off-Centered Society member, can sign up in person at Dogfish Head Miami and then send an email to ocshelp@dogfish.com to receive a secret event link to register for one of the limited meet and greet spots.

The “Bosh Blonde” will be available exclusively at Dogfish Head Miami both on draft and in four pack 16 ounce cans for $16 each starting at noon on Sunday, May 22. A portion of proceeds from sales of “Bosh Blonde” will be donated to Refresh Miami, a local non-profit organization with a mission to educate, inspire, connect and grow the Miami tech and startup community.

To pair with the refreshing, citrusy blonde ale, Chris Bosh and Dogfish Head Miami have also curated a Bosh Bites Menu, featuring barbecue dishes with a “Bosh Blonde” twist, incorporating the actual beer into each dish seamlessly. Guests can indulge in menu items including the Bosh Blonde BBQ Pork Slider topped with a vinegar-based slaw, BBQ sauce made with Bosh Blonde and sweet pickles packed into a toasted brioche bun; the Burger Slider topped with bacon jam, spicy pimento cheese, potato stix, shredded lettuce and shaved onions and the Baked Mac & Cheese Empanada, a warm and crispy empanada, stuffed with mac and cheese made with a Bosh Blonde cheese sauce. To finish off the menu on a sweet note, Bosh and Dogfish have created the Bosh Blonde Ice Cream with toasted coconut, pineapple and guava caramel sauce.

For more about Dogfish Head Miami, including hours of operation and upcoming events, please visit www.dogfishmiami.com, or follow @dogfishmiami on Instagram and Facebook.

Bodycam Proves Cops Rummaged Through Black Women’s Lacrosse Team Personal Items During Search
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2022

Bodycam Proves Cops Rummaged Through Black Women’s Lacrosse Team Personal Items During Search

Deputies had denied searching through the personal items of the women’s lacrosse team at Delaware State University during an unwarranted stop and search. But recently released bodycam footage proves otherwise.

On Thursday, bodycam footage was released showing Georgia sheriff’s deputies rifling through the personal items of the majority-Black women’s lacrosse team, NBC News reported

The footage goes against Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman, who claimed the officers did no such thing.

The unwarranted search was conducted late last month when the Delaware State Hornets were returning home from a game in Florida along the I-95 in Liberty County, Georgia. Police stopped the team’s Black bus driver, Tim Jones, over claims he was improperly traveling in the left lane.

Players felt like they were being racially profiled during the April 20 encounter. But, Bowman denied that motivation. “Before entering the motorcoach, deputies were not aware that this school was historically Black or aware of the race of the occupants due to the height of the vehicle and tint of the windows,” he said.

He added at a Tuesday press conference that “no personal items on the bus or any person were searched.”

But footage obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal shows deputies rifling through the players’ backpacks and bags. Authorities used K-9 dogs to search the bus.

“This is what we do,” one deputy told a player. He described how their job is to stop commercial vehicles in search of drugs, “large amounts of money,” or children being trafficked.

Now that the footage has been released, the women’s lacrosse team is happy that bodycam footage proved their claims of having their personal items searched.

“It gives me a sense of relief so that everybody else can see what they did to us and how we felt in that moment,” player Sydney Anderson, 19, said.

“They were searching through our belongings and luggage for 20 minutes. I remember them going through my friend’s and she was saying, ‘That’s my bag,’ and they were looking through her panties.”

Anderson posted a personal video from the encounter on social media asking if this is what “it means to be Black in America?”

 

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Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings has requested the justice department to conduct a formal review of the incident, the Delaware News Journal reported.

(Image: Delaware State)
President Biden Nominates Judge Carlton Reeves As First Black Chair Of U.S. Sentencing Commission
by Derek Major

May 13, 2022

President Biden Nominates Judge Carlton Reeves As First Black Chair Of U.S. Sentencing Commission

A Mississippi federal judge could soon become the first Black chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission after President Joe Biden announced a group of nominees.

The Mississippi Free Press reports Biden nominated U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves of the Southern District of Mississippi to lead the bipartisan agency, which Congress created in 1984.

“The Commission was created to reduce sentencing disparities and promote transparency and proportionality in criminal sentencing,” Biden said in a statement yesterday. “The Commission has lacked a quorum since 2019, which has prevented it from doing critical business.

“Today, President Biden is pleased to announce the nominations of these individuals—a bipartisan slate including the first Black chair of the organization—whose confirmations would allow the Commission to conduct its important work.”

If Reeves is confirmed, he would be the eighth chair while continuing to serve as a federal judge in Jackson. Reeves was appointed to the Southern District of Mississippi in 2010 by former President Barack Obama.

Throughout his career, Reeves has made several headlines that Republicans are sure to make waves about.

In a 2020 opinion, the judge criticized qualified immunity calling it a “legal doctrine” that “judges have invented to protect law enforcement officers from having to face the consequences for wrongdoing.”

In 2011, Reeves delivered a speech that made national headlines while sentencing three white men for the brutal murder of James Craig Anderson.

“Hate comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and from this case, we know it comes in different sexes and ages. A toxic mix of alcohol, foolishness, and unadulterated hatred caused these young people to resurrect the nightmarish specter of lynchings and lynch mobs from the Mississippi we long to forget,” Judge Reeves told the courtroom.

In 2014, Reeves struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage a year before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state bans nationwide, and in 2018 he found Mississippi’s six-week abortion ban unconstitutional under the existing Roe v. Wade precedent, noting its authors likely passed it to trigger a U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the 1973 ruling.

U.S. Sentencing Commission acting Chair Charles Breyer welcomed Reeves’ nomination in a statement.

“Since the Commission lost its quorum in 2019, it has been unable to provide guidance on the First Step Act, as well as a host of other pertinent sentencing policy challenges,” Breyer said. “As a result, courts have been left without uniform national sentencing standards relating to important sentencing decisions, particularly as it relates to compassionate release amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”

West Indian Dominoes Player Speaks Out Against Discriminatory Noise Ban in London Square
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2022

West Indian Dominoes Player Speaks Out Against Discriminatory Noise Ban in London Square

A group of primarily Black pensioners who enjoy their free time by playing dominoes in London Square are speaking out against a new noise ban they feel discriminates against them.

The Guardian reports that Ernest Theophile, 73, is among the group of retirees who take to the square about seven days a week to gather and socialize over games of dominoes and cards.

But last year, Theophile was summoned to court by the Westminster Council and was accused of being too loud and causing a disturbance.

As a result, the council implemented a special injunction that banned social gatherings. While the injunction was eventually overturned, a court order was put in place that could land Theophile and his friends in jail if accused of “playing loud amplified music, drinking alcohol and shouting and swearing.”

But Theophile says no drinking and swearing occurs when he and his friends gather at Maida Hill market.

“The loneliness was one of the biggest factors as to why we gathered there. That’s why the square was ideal for us,” Theophile said.

“Sometimes the younger generation come here and congregate, but we just want a place where we can socialize and play a few games to pass the time.”

Tony Edwards, who is in his 60s, shares Theophile’s sentiments and says the domino players don’t create violent environments.

“I’m here all the time, seven days a week,” Edwards said. “All we do here is play a little cards, a little dominoes. That’s all we do; we don’t trouble anybody. We’re peaceful; we’re a family.”

The complaints are centered around the game of dominos, which is considered a joyous pastime in Caribbean cultures. Now, Theophile has lawyered up to combat the order he and his legal team say is representative of racial “discrimination,” Metro reports.

Lawyer Tim James-Matthews says the order “is likely to be indirectly discriminatory.”

“Although apparently “neutral” in application, the majority of those whose behavior is constrained by force of the injunction, share a protected characteristic: race,’ James-Matthews sain in Central London county court.

He asked if the council considered whether their ban was “advancing equality” under their public law while requesting an injunction.

“An injunction restraining the activities of a minority of black people in a public square where there is a theoretical power of arrest and sanction of imprisonment is indirectly discriminatory,” James-Matthews added.

Meanwhile, Westminster Council claims to have offered a free space for dominoes to continue, something Theophile and other locals say they are unaware of.

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