R&B Legend Bobby Brown Opens Up About Being Molested By a Priest In A&E Documentary
In his new A&E documentary, Bobby Brown is sharing truths about his life for the first time, including that he almost sexually molested by a priest in his youth.
“When my mother was arrested, I was sent to temporary custody by social services which was supposed to be a religious place,” he said. “It was not a nice place to be as a child. One of the priests tried to molest me. He tried to touch my private parts. There was no penetration or anything. He touched my privates and I didn’t like that. I punched and kicked and punched some more until he got away from me; so I ran away from there as quickly as possible.
“At that time, I was a young boy,” he added. “I didn’t know what sexual boundaries were. I just knew I didn’t like being touched. Some things are hard to forget.”
In early clips reported by Revolt, Brown also talks about several of his personal relationships.
“Did I sleep with Madonna? We didn’t do any sleeping. That just happened. I don’t even know how it happened. I don’t believe she knows how it happened. She probably knows how it happened, but we didn’t do no sleeping,” Brown said referring to the megastar.
“And then there was Janet Jackson, I had a big crush on Janet. What was it about Janet? Everything. Her little smile, body, her dance moves, her little laugh.” He also notes that it was Jackson who ended the relationship.
Brown is expected to go into detail about his marriage to late R&B superstar Whitney Houston and the deaths of his children, Bobby Brown, Jr. and Bobbi Kristina Brown.
In Biography: Bobby Brown, A&E said, “Confronting his very personal yet very public struggles, R&B icon Bobby Brown recounts what it was like to become a music phenomenon at such a young age in this tell-all documentary.”
SISTER LOVE! Sasha and Malia Obama Spotted Celebrating During Reunion at LAX
Malia and Sasha Obama celebrated seeing each other outside of Los Angeles International Airport. TMZ caught the pair doing a happy dance as they reunited in Sasha’s current hometown.
In the video, the sisters are seen hugging as Malia had reportedly been out of town for at least a week.
Sasha is currently a student at the University of Southern California, and Malia is currently a writer on a new series from Donald Glover headed to Amazon Prime Video. As previously reported by Black Enterprise, the Atlanta creator said of the eldest Obama daughter, “I feel like she’s just somebody who’s gonna have really good things coming soon. Her writing style is great.”
His partner and brother, Stephen Glover, also mentioned Malia’s involvement with the Amazon project. “Donald always says perspective is important, and people with different perspectives are important for a writers’ room. And for sure, [Malia] definitely has a unique perspective on everything. So we wanted to hear her stories and have her work with us. Listening to her stories and having her involved really gave us a lot of good ideas.”
The series is reportedly about a “Beyoncé-like figure.”
TMZ tried to ask the sisters a few questions about how they liked their life in Los Angeles, but both were mum.
Younger sister Sasha transferred to USC from the University of Michigan. She is reportedly dating Clifton Powell Jr. The son of the famous actor is a content creator for sports companies like Nike and Peloton.
In late 2021, former President Barack Obama shared that he was proud of his daughters, who participated in several marches for Black Lives Matter. “I didn’t have to give them a lot of advice because they had a very clear sense of what was right and what was wrong and [of] their own agency and the power of their voice and the need to participate,” Obama said. “Malia and Sasha found their own ways to get involved with the demonstrations and activism that you saw with young people this summer, without any prompting from Michelle and myself, on their own initiative.”
Single Black Dad Says He Will Encourage His Son to Pursue Entrepreneurship Instead of College
Journalist and now published author, Carlos Smith, didn’t take the traditional route to entrepreneurship. After graduating from college and constantly hearing that he lacked experience, he decided to create his own opportunity with his business called More Than A Job, LLC.
Now, he wants to convey that same message to his seven-year-old son, Brayden, that entrepreneurship could be a much better option than going to college.
Carlos comments, “Hearing ‘no’ so many times as a college graduate can be very disappointing. I started to hear no so much it started to make me question a lot of things. However, I refused to let the no define who I am and my circumstances, so I created my own opportunity. The meaning of ‘More Than a Job’ is about finding your purpose and understanding that life is more than a paycheck. It’s nothing wrong with creating your own opportunity and realizing the self-investment is your best investment.”
Under his business, Carlos has officially released his debut book “F*** School: Life Is Your Best Teacher.” He comments, “The purpose of my book is to share my journey and to inspire people all over the world. I want them to understand that success is all subjective and that you don’t necessarily have to go to college to be successful. I feel that at an early age society puts a belief on us that we must do things a certain way even when it comes to education. I also wanted to break the stigma especially as a black man that we don’t like to read or write.”
Carlos has also created his own podcast called “Cross The Line” where he travels to different places to interview entrepreneurs from various backgrounds to share their journey. His podcast can be streamed and/or downloaded via CarlosKSmith.com, iHeartRadio, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music and Pandora Radio. His book is also available through his website as well as on Amazon.
BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund Targets $1 Billion to Invest in Communities of Color Across the US
BlackRock has secured more than $800 million in initial commitments toward its $1 billion target for the BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund. This new fund, the first multi-alternatives strategy of its kind, is already beginning to invest in businesses and projects owned, led by, or serving people of color, with a particular focus on Black, Latinx and Native American communities in the United States.
Edwin Conway, global head of BlackRock Alternative Investors, commented, “Black, Latinx and Native American people face a number of systemic barriers in accessing the market and acquiring the capital necessary to drive economic growth and wealth creation in their communities. The BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund aspires to change the way institutional capital flows to communities of color, and is just one step BlackRock is taking with our clients and partners to address this significant investment opportunity.”
Launched in 2021, this return-seeking fund looks to uncover compelling investment opportunities in undercapitalized companies and communities that are poised for growth. It takes a novel approach to social impact by making direct investments across private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate and other niche asset classes — using a wide range of tools seeking to create collective wealth for the businesses and communities in which it invests, and to generate returns for the fund’s investors. The BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund’s investments focus on themes such as housing, financial inclusion, education, healthcare, inclusive transition and digital connectivity. To date, a broad investor base including leading corporations, pension funds, insurers, endowments, foundations and family offices have committed to the debut fund.
The fund is led by a dedicated and experienced team of diverse portfolio managers that leverages BlackRock Alternative Investors’ $330 billion private markets platform, as well as the convening power of BlackRock, to source and execute investment opportunities.
Pam Chan, chief investment officer and global head of BlackRock’s Alternative Solutions Group, commented, “To create collective wealth for these communities and our clients, we combine our singular impact objective — to improve economic outcomes for undercapitalized communities of color — with a flexible, multi-alternative investment approach. In doing so, we seek to deliver differentiated returns alongside impact and show that investors can do well and do good.”
To date, the fund has evaluated a robust pipeline of opportunities and completed three investments:
– In May 2022, the fund partnered with Eastwood Capital Partners, a Black-owned sponsor, and Retro Fitness to invest in the development of up to 70 fitness franchises in the Dallas, Houston and Southeast Florida areas. The investment seeks to make affordable exercise, health and fitness more accessible to communities of color to help address disparities in social determinants of health. Moreover, most budget gyms in the U.S. fitness industry are demonstrating a robust revenue rebound from 2020 and early 2021 pandemic-lows as pandemic-related restrictions ease.
– In February 2022, the fund partnered with BRP Companies, a Black-owned and operated real estate firm with a majority-diverse employee base, to invest in Arboretum, a to-be-built, 292- unit, garden-style rental community located in Farmingville, New York, a multifamily rental constrained market on Long Island. BRP has hired several diverse-owned businesses as vendors on the project and Basis Investment Group, a Black and female-owned commercial real estate investment firm, is acting as the preferred equity investor. This investment enables BRP Companies to expand its business beyond its historical focus of developing urban housing and highlights its strong capabilities and longstanding track record, which includes being New York City’s third most active real estate developer in 2020.
– In September 2021, the fund invested in Tricolor, a fintech company with a majority-diverse employee base that leverages proprietary AI-powered technology to sell and provide financing for high-quality, affordable used vehicles to underserved Latinx customers. The U.S. Latinx market is growing at 8.6 percent, faster than China or India, and is equivalent to the eighth largest economy in the world. Tricolor is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and operates 50 dealerships across Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas. The company won the 2021 LendIt Fintech Industry Award for Excellence in Financial Inclusion, and in April became the first consumer auto finance issuer of a social bond. Tricolor is also certified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). CDFIs are institutions focused on expanding economic opportunity in low-income communities by providing access to financial products and services.
Douglas McNeely, head of BlackRock’s Strategic Client Coverage Group, commented, “BlackRock believes it is essential that we collaborate with our clients and the broader financial services industry to identify opportunities that drive real, long-lasting impact in the communities that we serve. Through this fund, we are harnessing the power of the BlackRock platform and the active partnership of our clients to identify strong investment opportunities that align with our clients’ and partners’ ethos.”
Aaron Anderson, senior vice president and treasurer, PayPal, commented, “It is through catalytic funds like these that we can create pathways to economic opportunity for underserved communities. Building an inclusive economy requires collective action and we are proud to be joining BlackRock and this initial group of investors to drive sustained economic growth and equity.”
Jayson Bronchetti, chief investment officer and head of risk, Lincoln Financial Group, commented, “While we recognize that the issues around racial inequity will not be solved overnight, direct investments across private asset classes into undercapitalized communities are an important step in the right direction. Our partnership with the BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund aligns with our Responsible Investing efforts to help deliver both differentiated returns and a measurable impact on undercapitalized communities.”
Victor Terry, chief diversity officer, State Farm®, commented, “State Farm is committed to building safer, stronger and better educated communities. We foster a diverse and inclusive culture within our company, throughout our communities and across all organizations with which we partner. Investing in the BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund allows the chance for a connection to help more people experience financial well-being. Our aspirations align as we both continue to look for ways to invest in the future and support our local communities.”
Carlos Rangel, vice president and chief investment officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, commented, “The BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund is poised to have a tremendous impact on the movement to advance racial equity in financial markets with its influence and mission to get much needed capital to communities of color. We learned from the Business Case for Racial Equity that the U.S. stands to realize an increase in $2.7 trillion in GDP by closing the racial equity gap; that number could increase to $8 trillion by 2050. We’re proud to support this bold effort to reap those gains and to build on our long-standing relationship with BlackRock.”
Harold Washington Cultural Center to Kick Off 18th Year Anniversary Celebration With a Theatrical Fundraising Gala and Awards, May 16
The Harold Washington Cultural Center (HWCC) will mark a brand-new milestone as a gem of Chicago with “Clap Your Hands Just A Little Bit Louder,” a theatrical fundraising gala, kicking off the HWCC’s 18th year anniversary celebration, 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 16.
Hosted by the HWCC and Executive Producer Jimalita Tillman, “Clap Your Hands Just A Little Bit Louder,” a continuation of the HWCC’s widely celebrated Broadway in Bronzeville series, will feature songs and scenes from over 10 top Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including “42nd Street,” “Othello,” “Fosse,” “Phantom of the Opera,” and more.
“Clap Your Hands Just A Little Bit Louder” will also present its annual recognition of outstanding achievers who exemplify and support the HWCC’s mission of commitment to “Children, Community and Culture.” This year’s honorees include N’DIGO Founder Hermene Hartman (Media Impact Award), Atty. Paul Williams (Harold Washington Legacy Award), Grammy-nominated rhythm and blues artist Carl Thomas (Arts Legacy Award), and entrepreneurs/philanthropists Lahmard, Larron and Larenz Tate, a.k.a. The Tate Brothers (Arts Philanthropy Award). For the complete list of honorees, visit broadwayinbronzeville.org.
“The goal is to continue to expose our community to quality theatrical performances right in our neighborhood,” remarks Jimalita Tillman, HWCC global director.
“We will have a year-in-review of our programming and performance series titled Off the Streets and On the Stage. We believe that artistic expression is therapeutic, and that the arts will keep our children safe, offer them economic opportunity and ultimately deter at-risk behaviors.”
“Clap Your Hands Just A Little Bit Louder” will showcase the finest entertainment the Harold Washington Cultural Center has to offer, as well as surprise celebrity performances, featuring HWCC art partners including King High School, Lane Tech High School and A Touch of Classical Plus. Attendees will also be treated to a cameo appearance by Bril Barrett and M.A.D.D. Rhythms International Tap Ensemble, as well as a jazz reception.
Over 25,000 youth participate in HWCC programs annually. HWCC has a 1,000-seat theater, a video editing lab, a full-service recording studio, a computer lab, a two-story cascading atrium/exhibition hall and a museum. The HWCC’s mission is to preserve and protect African American culture, while leveraging the performing and media arts to deter at-risk behavior in youth. HWCC partners with community-based organizations as well as national and internationally recognized historical arts institutions on content and audience development.
What: “Clap Your Hands Just A Little Bit Louder” Theatrical Fundraising Gala
Where: Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King Dr., Chicago, Ill.
Black Designer Debuts Commemorative Coin to Celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day
Meet Beverly David Robinson, the founder and chief executive officer of Juneteenth Unlimited. Robinson has designed a commemorative coin that celebrates Juneteenth, a federal holiday inspired by the African Diaspora, Black American history and the fight for freedom.
Made of one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, this inspirational coin is for anyone who wants a valuable keepsake to memorialize this significant new holiday.
June 19, 1865, marks the date that the last known African-American slaves were freed. As a result, the date has become one of the most important days in African-American history. This commemorative coin both honors and remembers the African-American forefathers and mothers who suffered throughout the history of the trans-Atlantic slavery system.
What makes it a fascinating coin is the use of the Swahili word — Nahuona: “I see you.” Careful thought and consideration were put into the use of this word on the coin. The concept of Nahuona may present one of the best ways to acknowledge empathy and compassion for our ancestors and for all humanity. Juneteenth Unlimited is also delighted to use a West African Kente textile art design. The reverse side has an image of Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a famed abolitionist.
In addition to the holiday marking the last known day slaves were freed, Juneteenth serves to remind people that humans have an incredible capacity to heal and emerge from their darkest moments with hope and purpose. This coin represents how people had to rise from the ashes and acquire freedom.
Robinson comments, “Precious metals have proven to have financial stability throughout history. This coin will hold its value for present and future generations. It’s time to rejoice and celebrate history with one of these cherished coins.”
For more information about the commemorative coin, visit Nahuona.com.
Mother Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Allowing Teen Daughter to Marry 47-Year-Old Man
A Texas mother has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for exposing her daughter to sexual abuse after marrying her off to a 47-year-old man.
As reported by 8 News Now,Cherry Payton, 43, was convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a young child after an investigation in 2017 after the girl told her doctor that she had been having sex with her husband. Payton, the girl’s mother, told the doctor that her daughter was married and that marriage was a part of their religious beliefs.
The investigation revealed that Payton had also abused the girl as part of a different religious practice.
“Although the child victim, in this case, was failed by her mother time and time again, she was surrounded in the courtroom by a strong support system,” prosecutor Jessica Ramos told 8 News Now. “We are grateful to her adoptive mother, her court advocate, her CASA, and the caseworkers from Child Protective Services that supported the child throughout this investigation and trial.”
KPRC of Houston said that the man had been identified as Steven Carty, charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. The marriage is not legally recognized by the state, but only in the threesome’s Hebrew Israelite faith. In March, Carty was sentenced to 22 years and 20 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child and sexual assault of a child—and the sentences will be served concurrently.
“Every child deserves to feel safe with their mother, and this child wasn’t. As the nation prepares to celebrate Mother’s Day, I am reminded that not every child has a mother who will protect them,” lead prosecutor Charann Thompson said, “But I take solace in this jury’s verdict because it says that there’s a consequence awaiting mothers who fail to protect as profoundly as Cherry Payton did.”
Additionally, Prosecutor Melissa Munoz, deputy chief of the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Division, added, “Motherhood is a gift and a privilege. Cases involving child victims are always emotionally difficult to prosecute, this one particularly so. No one wants to think or believe another human being is capable of committing crimes against children, but they happen every day, most often by someone close to the child.”
‘Change is Good’: Kevin Hart Hypes Up Plant-Based Meat Ahead of The Summer Grilling Season
In Kevin Hart‘s undeniable fashion, the actor-entrepreneur aims to change the world one burger at a time alongside the Los Angeles–based producer of plant-based meat Beyond Meat.
In a single 60-minute video, while Hart convinces comedian Spank Horton to try a plant-based burger at a cookout, he takes viewers on a journey of the past through at least four different decades. As he miraculously switches his style to represent the 1970s, ‘80s, and ’90s, Hart continues to drive his message with catchphrases and persuasion.
Through his partnership with Beyond Meat, Hart wants his audience to go beyond traditional thinking and focus on the changes that can benefit the planet, like shifting from animal to plant-based meat. According to Adweek, the campaign not only kicks off National Burger Month but also drives a call to action as the summer grilling season approaches.
“Eating plant-based is actually fighting climate change,” Hart says in the new Beyond Meat campaign.
In 2019, Hart invested in Beyond Meat and is reportedly maintaining a primarily plant-based diet himself, according to The Drum. It’s not a surprise that Hart’s own media company, Hartbeat, wrote and produced the campaign. From bell bottoms and disco dancing to tracksuits and brick-sized cellphones, the familiar creative visuals strove to highlight the generational change.
“With Beyond Meat, I love that my family and I can enjoy all the foods we love — like grilled burgers in the backyard — but do so in a way that’s better for us without feeling like we’re sacrificing anything,” Hart said in a statement, per the outlet. “I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this summer grilling campaign to inspire more people to try Beyond Meat.”
For the new effort, Hart is leveraging his passion for improving lives and aligning with the mission of Beyond Meat to get as many people to focus on a more positive impact on their health and the environment.
Harry Ratchford, head writer and producer at Hartbeat Productions, said, “Combining Kevin’s genuine passion for helping people live better lives with Beyond Meat’s amazing plant-based products enabled us to create a really fun piece of content that feels truly authentic to who Kevin is and what he believes in.”
Georgia Sheriff Charged with Sexual Battery For Groping TV Judge Glenda Hatchett
Kris Coody, the sheriff of Bleckley County, has been charged with sexual battery after reportedly groping the breast of former judge Glenda Hatchett at a convention earlier this year.
Former DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown spoke to WSB-TV about the incident saying that Hatchett was at the convention as his guest. He said that he introduced the judge to Coody and turned away for a moment.
“As I turned to my left to focus back on the two of them, I saw his hand go down on her left breast,” Brown said. “I grabbed his arm threw it off of her chest and basically said, ‘What are you (adjective) think you’re doing?’ and that’s basically where it ended.”
Brown said that the situation angered him and that he could tell that Coody was intoxicated. However, Brown noted that he was more concerned about Hatchett, who was visibly shaken. The judge allowed her name to be listed in the complaint because she wants the story told.
“She’s very passionate about telling her story at some point in time, if for no other reason, for the hundreds of ladies out there who may have been victims of some type of sexual assault but have not said anything because they are afraid to do so,” Brown told WSB.
The news outlet said that Coody released a statement after he was charged saying that it was “improper” to contact Hatchett, but that he plans to comply with the charges and hopes for a future opportunity to express his regret about the incident.
As BET reported, Hatchett, 70, was the star of the syndicated show Judge Hatchett, which ran from 2000 to 2008. Since 2016, she has starred in a new courtroom show, The Verdict with Judge Hatchett.
As recently reported by Black Enterprise, Hatchett’s son, Charles Johnson IV, is suing Cedars-Sinai Medical Center because he believes that his wife bled to death in 2016 due to a culture of racism at the renowned Los Angeles hospital.
Hatchett and her son have been outspoken about the nightmare they experienced after Johnson’s wife, Kira Dixon Johnson, died about 12 hours after having their son, Langston, via a scheduled cesarean section performed in 17 minutes.
At a press conference last week outside of Cedars-Sinai, Johnson said, “There’s no doubt in my mind that my wife would be here today and be here Sunday celebrating Mother’s Day with her boys if she was a Caucasian woman.”
Never Give Up! 71-Year-Old Graduates With Masters Degree From University of South Carolina
For 71-year-old Leroy Harley, retirement isn’t in the cards right now — teaching is.
The Bowman, South Carolina, native is making headlines for recently graduating from the University of South Carolina with his master’s degree in teaching. He decided at 69 that he would embark on a new path toward his passion for education, WLTX reported.
“I really am proud of myself; I mean, I have to be,” said Harley, who graduated on Saturday afternoon.
In 1993, Harley found himself returning home to Bowman after years of moving around. He spent most of his time with his mother, who motivated him to seek a teaching opportunity at the local school. Harley took his mother’s advice and applied to Bethune-Bowman Elementary School, where he was hired as a teacher’s aide before enrolling at USC, according to 6Park News.
“Anything that was new and interesting, I became interested in it,” Harley said.
After discovering his passion for teaching, Harley pursued his degree. He credits his hard work and the support of his family for getting through.
“I thought, ‘Why am I going back to school at this age? I should be sorta coasting into retirement,” he said. “But I went on and did it anyhow.”
Harley’s sister, Patsy Rhett, told 11Alive that she is happy for her brother for following through on his heart’s desires.
“I am elated at the fact that Lee, after all these years, decided to follow his heart,” she said. “He has. Education has always been a strong part of his life.”
Harley may be 71, but he proves that passion has no age limit. He believes that if you want to pursue your dreams, do it with the belief that you are capable of learning and bringing your gifts to the table.
“I say go ahead and do it, I mean, because … you bring a lot to the table, OK?” he said. “There’s a lot you have to learn at the table, but you bring a lot to the table.”
