100-Year-Old Black WWII Veteran Smashes 100-Meter Record At Penn Relays
by Atiya Jordan

May 3, 2022

100-Year-Old Black WWII Veteran Smashes 100-Meter Record At Penn Relays

A day after celebrating his 100th birthday, Lester Wright broke the record for his age group in the men’s 100-meter at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on Saturday.

“It was pretty nice to be able to do this at age 100,” Wright told the Asbury Park Press. “When I came here, I was a little bit nervous, but when I saw the crowd and everything, I fell right in with it.”

On Saturday, the New Jersey native and sprinter brought thousands to their feet as he achieved an incredible run. According to FOX 29 News, this race is the first in three years for the WWII veteran since recovering from an illness. But he held his own against his 80-something competitors at the Franklin field.

Competing for Shore Athletic Club, Wright crossed the line in seventh place at 26.34, which surpassed the previously set record by Donald Pellmann in 2015 at 26.99 seconds.

Lester Wright and his granddaughter. Photo Credit: Jerry Carino

Born in 1922, Wright ran track for Long Branch High School in the 1930s and then married his teenage sweetheart, Adele. Later he enlisted in the Army and traveled to Europe during World War II, where he evaded bombs at the Battle of the Bulge, also called the Battle of the Ardennes. During his service, Wright impressively earned four Bronze Battle Stars.

Following the war, Wright came home and attended college on the GI bill. He then opened the first African American-owned dental lab in Monmouth County, New Jersey, making prosthetic teeth, according to the Asbury Park Press.

All the while, Wright’s passion for running continued to flourish. In 1999, as a 77-year-old, he conquered the 75-and-over 100-meter dash at the Penn Relays.

As for his record-breaking feat, Wright believes that anyone can accomplish what he has done. He says it all starts with self-belief.

“At 100 meters, I feel like I’m just getting started,” Wright said. “I thought this was nice, but I wanted a longer race.”

Report: 24-Year-Old San Jose Police Officer De’Jon Packer Died of a Fentanyl Overdose
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 3, 2022

Report: 24-Year-Old San Jose Police Officer De’Jon Packer Died of a Fentanyl Overdose

An autopsy report has been released stating that the cause of death of a San Jose rookie police officer was a fentanyl drug overdose.

According to NBC Bay Area, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s office announced that an overdose of the drug fentanyl caused the death of San Jose police officer De’Jon Packer.

The 24-year-old Packer, who was also a star running back at San Jose State University, was found unresponsive when police officers from Milpitas went to check on him while conducting a welfare check at his place of residence last month on March 13.

It was reported that Packer was seen at a party with fellow police officers the night before he died.

The San Jose Police Department released a statement on Saturday:

“Today, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the cause of death for Officer De’Jon Packer. The full details regarding Officer Packer’s death are still not known and are being investigated by the Milpitas Police Department and they have our full cooperation. This behavior is not something we condone, and we will continue to assist Milpitas PD with their investigation.

“Any allegation of illegal drug use by a San Jose Police Officer is concerning. There are no free passes for police Officers, and we will not make excuses. When an Officer violates the public trust, on or off duty, I will hold them accountable. I have stated that since the day I took the oath of leading this great agency as Chief of Police. The public demands and I expect ethical behavior, accountability, and professionalism from all who wear the uniform. I will continue to ensure we keep the trust of the City, and the community members we serve.”

Sources closely connected to the case mention that the police officers at the party could face an internal investigation. They also stated that a criminal probe investigation might also be in the works.

Parker’s family has also released a statement to ABC7 News:

“On behalf of DeJon’s mom, Sonya Steptoe, and family, we are shocked and heartbroken upon learning of DeJon’s cause of death. There was no indication that DeJon was involved in illicit activity and he was heavily against it as evidenced by his chosen profession. He joined the San Jose Police Department to make a difference in his community and did not want the police to be seen as a negative entity. It is our understanding that even the smallest trace of Fentanyl is lethal and can cause harm, and our family will be closely following the Milpitas Police Department and San Jose Police Department’s investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death.”

by Atiya Jordan

May 3, 2022

19-Year-Old Haley Taylor Schlitz Set To Be The Youngest, Black Law School Graduate In The Nation

At 19 years old, Hayley Taylor Schlitz is paving the way for young, Black aspiring lawyers as she prepares to become the youngest law school graduate in the nation.

The rising lawyer is currently a third-year law student at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in University Park, Texas. According to the school’s press release, Schlitz chose her soon-to-be alma mater out of eight different law school acceptances. After only three years, Schlitz will officially graduate on May 13 with her law degree.

Birmingham Times reports that Taylor Schlitz graduated from high school at the tender age of 13-years-old. She received national attention for her monumental achievement and continued to make strides toward her ultimate goals.

After her high school graduation, the prospective lawyer attended community college and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas Woman’s University before enrolling in law school at 16.

In her three years at Dedman School of Law, SMU’s youngest law graduate has flourished as an “author, public speaker, and respected thought leader on the issues students of color face in navigating gifted and talented programs in public schools,” the press release stated.

In accomplishing all that she has, Taylor Schlitz credits her experience to homeschooling. In fifth grade, she was disappointed by the public system as she struggled to be recognized as a gifted student.

“Many girls and students of color are left out of our nation’s gifted and talented programs,” Taylor Schlitz said. “Society will lose out on the potential scientist who cures a major disease, the entrepreneur who starts the next Amazon, and so much more. All because of their gender and/or skin color.”

According to Taylor Schlitz, the homeschooling advantage gave her the freedom to learn at her own pace and pursue the things she wanted to.

In 2019, Taylor Schlitz and her mother, Dr. Myiesha Taylor, published their book The Homeschool Alternative, which documents their experience as a homeschooling family and provides a how-to homeschool guide for Black families who want to explore beyond the traditional schooling system.

“I really want to help students realize their potential even if they can’t home-school,” Taylor Schlitz told the Dallas Morning News. “I want to help families open their eyes to the opportunities that they don’t even realize are there.”

A year later, Taylor Schlitz’s passions for community and public policy discussions have come to fruition. In June 2020, she was elected as one of the youngest delegates to the Democratic National Convention. She was only 17.

Among her impressive strides, Taylor Schlitz serves as a mentor in the Young Scholar Program (YSP).

Community Mourns Fatal Shooting of Teen Texas Track Star Killed After Attending Prom Party
by Corey Lee

May 3, 2022

Community Mourns Fatal Shooting of Teen Texas Track Star Killed After Attending Prom Party

A Texas teen who was a straight-A student and track star was tragically cut down by a fatal bullet outside an after-prom party early Sunday morning in Fort Worth, Texas.

Rashard Guinyard, 17, had plans to attend Abilene Christian University in the fall; instead, his friends and family are mourning his death, People reports.

Fort Worth Police told the outlet in a statement on Wednesday that “upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim deceased on the scene. The victim had sustained at least one gunshot wound.”

“Detectives learned that there was a large gathering [at the] location and unknown suspect(s) began firing weapons striking the victim as he and others attempted to flee the area on foot,” the statement continued.

The popular student had been nominated as prom king and was looking forward to attending college. His mother, Kimberly Howard, said that her only son was leaving the party to make it home by curfew.

“He’s always the life of the party. He’s got a wonderful smile,” Howard said of her son, who worked part-time at Walmart and ran track for Crowley High School and the Fort Worth Flyers Track Club Team. She added that Rashard had planned on becoming a doctor—particularly an anesthesiologist.

“His words were, ‘Mom, I want to be like God.’ He said, ‘I want to be able to put people to sleep and wake them up,’” Howard recalled to Fox4 News.

Abilene Christian University, where Guinyard was slated to attend, expressed its condolences on Twitter, writing, “The Wildcat Track and Field program is devastated to learn of the passing of Rashard Guinyard. A sprints recruit from Crowley High School, Guinyard, had signed with ACUTF to join our team this Fall. Please keep Rashard’s friends and family in your prayers.”

The shooting remains under investigation.

“Rashard was a standout scholar and student-athlete with a bright future ahead of him,” Anthony Kirchner, a spokesperson for the Crowley school district, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Crisis response teams are in place to provide support to students and staff who are grieving, and we urge anyone with information about Rashard’s death to contact the Fort Worth Police Department.”

Meet Flint Michigan Native Jason Bey Who Is Making His Mark Beekeeping and Selling Honey
by Corey Lee

May 3, 2022

Meet Flint Michigan Native Jason Bey Who Is Making His Mark Beekeeping and Selling Honey

Millions of Americans remember Flint, Michigan, from the 2014 water crisis that found hundreds of thousands of residents poisoned by lead in their water system. However, in the years since the onset of the crisis, the city has been recovering and growing in many ways.

Two years into his beekeeping business, Flint-native Jason Bey has harvested 80 gallons of sticky sweet honey this year, and he is looking to continue to grow his business.

Bey told BlackLikeUs that he started beekeeping to get moving after an injury. “I wasn’t able to work anymore…Sometimes I can walk and move around. Sometimes I can’t,” Bey said. “I had been sitting down for a couple of years. I was surfing YouTube and I stumbled across the beekeeping thing. I wondered can you do beekeeping in Michigan? I thought what others thought. You can only do it in the country.”

But, Bey learned that he could bee farm in Michigan and launched his business, My Bees Nest L.L.C. during the coronavirus pandemic in late 2020. He brought in nearly 60 gallons of honey in his first harvest, much of which he gave away.

Jason Bey (Image: KT Kanazawich)

This year, Bey is focused more on the business side and the future. He plans to open on a commercial level eventually.

“Being in the city, there are a lot of people afraid of bees,” Bey said as he talked about stereotypes he faced as a beekeeper, including beekeeping only being for white people or you have to live in rural spaces. “I’m trying to open up doors and knock down misconceptions. I get a lot of people that look at me crazy. I get a lot of white people who look at me like what is this Black man doing up in here and Black people who don’t even want to deal with me.”

Bey is one of many African Americans who are entering the beekeeping industry.

Jason Bey (Image: KT Kanazawich)

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported on Summer and Kam Johnson, the founders behind Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm, a collection of raw honey made on their land in New Jersey and named after their children. The parents started beekeeping for health purposes when their son, Zach, began struggling with asthma and seasonal allergies and used honey to help. “We would regularly find ourselves in the emergency room and were constantly giving him steroids and medicine to keep his asthma in check,” wrote the Johnsons in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE via email in 2020.

In Michigan, Bey said he also wants to help people. “There’s a lot of responsibilities, and there’s a lot of time invested,” Bey said. “I‘m in the process of learning how to make salves and soaps, and people that need healthcare products, I will pass it along to them. I’m doing this for my community.”

“The end game,” Bey said. “I really want to produce honey and educate people. Beekeeping is such a dynamic thing. It’s therapeutic. It helps people out. It’s helped me. My end goal is to be the best beekeeper I can to support myself and my community.”

Dave Chappelle and Busta Rhymes to Co-Headline the Dave & Busta Tour
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 3, 2022

Dave Chappelle and Busta Rhymes to Co-Headline the Dave & Busta Tour

Many of us have been to Dave & Buster’s arcade, but now two entertainers are gearing up to delight the masses with a different entertainment experience.

Over the weekend, rapper Busta Rhymes made an appearance at a Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock show, and while on stage, Chappelle announced that he and the lyrical artist would be heading on the road later this year.

Busta “warned” his Twitter followers about an upcoming announcement on Saturday morning.

The former Leaders of the New School member posted a clip from a show that announced the Dave & Busta Tour.

“There is nobody better than Busta Rhymes,” Rock states.

Then Chappelle chimed in and said, “Oh, I gotta tell you. Me and Busta are gonna start doing a tour together. It’s not even a show — it’s more like a party. It’s called Dave & Busta’s.”

The crowd seems to laugh and possibly takes it as a Chappelle joke, not realizing how serious the comedian was. Busta posted the “announcement” clip to his social media page.

“TIME FOR THE BIG BLOODCLAAAAAT ANNOUNCEMENT!! OH S**T!! @davechappelle x The Dragon 🐉 #DAVE&BUSTATOUR Stay tuned for dates comin’ soon!! The Blessing ain’t stoppin’!!!
Visual Captured by The Dragon 🐉 & @thebiggerpicturebuda“

Although there hasn’t been an official tour listing, it seems like they have already performed together, judging by the photos Busta posted to his Twitter page.

by Corey Lee

May 3, 2022

Former Viral Principal Nadia Lopez Banned From the Grounds of the School She Started

The principal who went viral for appearances on Humans of New York, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and other media outlets has been banned from the grounds of the school she helped build. According to a new report from The New York Post, she makes some staff members uncomfortable.

Nadia Lopez went viral in 2016 after a student nominated her on the popular Humans of New York blog for her work as principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

Lopez was celebrated for her goal to raise funds to take students to visit elite universities like Harvard so that they can picture themselves on campus. After becoming acclaimed for her work, Lopez was able to take numerous trips to show her 6th-8th graders the colleges before she resigned in 2021, citing health issues.

However, Lopez continued to lecture, and while shooting an appearance in a documentary, she returned to the school with a former student to visit a teacher. The Post reports that despite a pleasant visit, District 23 Superintendent Miatheresa Pate and her deputy, Josephine Van-Ess, approached Lopez and asked her not to return to the school grounds.

The decision reportedly stems from a previous visit when Lopez wrote a follow-up email criticizing the school and staff after seeing former colleagues and students.

“It’s very clear that the current climate and culture does not represent the expectations I set for our scholars or the staff of our beloved school,” she wrote. ”Those currently appointed to the role of [Mott Hall Bridges] leadership by the DOE, have no idea what it means to be a part of something that was created to defy mediocrity and the status quo.”

That visit, along with sharing images of students on social media, prompted a complaint, and despite her popularity, Lopez has been asked not to return to the school where she was principal for 10 years.

Lopez is the author of The Bridge to Brilliance: How one principal in a tough community is inspiring the world, which depicts her career journey. She has also previously given a TEDTalk and was once invited to visit former President Barack Obama at The White House.

Despite the recent turn of events, Lopez says she remains “invested” in the success of her former school.

 

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 3, 2022

Houston Artists Explore Controversy Surrounding Critical Race Theory Being Taught in Schools

A group of artists came together for a new exhibit aimed at exploring Critical Race Theory (CRT) and its abandonment in America’s school system.

Created by the non-profit Project Row Houses (PRH), the exhibit is part of the organization’s fifty-third Artist Round and is titled The Curious Case of Critical Race – Theory? Curated by Danielle Burns-Wilson, the exhibit opened on March 12, 2022, and will remain on display until June 5th.

Pieces in the presentation show artist interpretations of how and why CRT escaped the country’s education system and has become a topic of heated debates among conservative and liberal pundits.

“Art in and of itself is powerful,” artist Adam W. McKinney told the Houston Chronicle. “And as artists, we get to trust its power to make the connections it needs to make in the world.”

CRT was formulated in the 1970s by legal scholars looking for an analytical framework designed for graduate-level discourse on the racial disparities in America that lead to different experiences for people based on race, class, and gender.

The notion of CRT was to get people to understand how racism isn’t just the thoughts and ideas of certain individuals but is a structural and systematic practice deep-rooted in American culture.

Artists included in the exhibit are Leah Gipson, David-Jeremiah, Adam W. McKinney, Tammie Rubin, Bradley Ward, and ROUX, a collective comprised of Rabéa Ballin, Ann Johnson, Delita Martin, and Lovie Olivia.

“In this installation, visitors are met with thought-provoking illustrations, questions, and answers with the aim of quelling curiosity about CRT’s past, present, and purpose,” Project Row Houses captioned an Instagram post.

“In visiting the Education house, guests walk away with a deeper understanding of CRT, and therefore, are better equipped to engage with the remaining featured art houses and beyond.”

The Black Women Podcasters of ‘Truth’s Table’ Book Provides A Survival Guide To The Future of The Black Church
by Atiya Jordan

May 3, 2022

The Black Women Podcasters of ‘Truth’s Table’ Book Provides A Survival Guide To The Future of The Black Church

These three Black women, an activist, a theologian, and a psychologist, are envisioning a future where Black American Christians can lean into a more freeing, loving, and liberating faith.

First a podcast, and now a book, the woman collective is inviting Black women and others to what they call their “standing-room section,” as per The National Catholic Reporter.

After meeting at a conference, the Truth’s Table podcast co-hosts Christina Edmondson, Michelle Higgins, and Ekemini Uwan discovered together the value of laying out all the important topics necessary to identify with Black women in various church contexts.

From dating to the Black church, the Truth’s Table podcast has solidified its mark on the world among Black religion and spirituality podcasts. Now, the ambitious women are delivering spiritual enlightenment and personal breakthroughs in their book, Truth’s Table: Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation, which was released on April 26. 

(Amazon)

In their literary debut, Edmondson,  Higgins, and Uwan offer a collection of stories and essays by Black women and for Black women, while casting a future for the Black church. The documentation aims to explore the spiritual dimensions of theology, politics, race, culture, and gender matters through a Christian lens.

“It’s hard for us to see ourselves, actually, culturally, unless we engage cross-culturally,” said Edmondson, a scholar-in-residence of a multiracial Presbyterian Church in America congregation in Nashville, Tennessee. “So I really think there is a benefit and a gift to people who don’t identify as Black Christian women to listen respectfully to these stories and narratives in the same way that I pick up books by authors who are outside of my own demographics all the time.”

The book is dedicated, in part, to “Black girls who considered leaving the church when their imago Dei (image of God) wasn’t enough.” This declaration is a love letter to Black women.

“It was important for us to be able to rightly identify the ways Black women have often felt like they just simply were not enough, or maybe too much, in various church contexts,” Edmondson said. “And so we wanted to be clear about that and name that, from the outset, to let Black women know we see you, we know you, and we love you.”

Uwan, the Black Christian Experience Resource Center’s 2022 inaugural Theologian-in-Residence, said she most looks forward to, “this Pan-African reunification of seeing and being reconnected with loved ones, distant relatives, ancestors that were snatched during the trans-Atlantic slave trade and seeing Africans and African Americans and Caribbean siblings being reunited and experiencing restoration together, the reclamation of their ethnic identity.”

The Truth’s Table book is available to purchase on Amazon.

The sixth season of the podcast is currently in session, along with the second podcast, “Get in the Word With Truth’s Table.”

This Tech-Based Bundle Provides Greater Internet Security For $30
by Black Enterprise Shop

May 3, 2022

This Tech-Based Bundle Provides Greater Internet Security For $30

Nearly every aspect of our day-to-day lives is tied to technology. Our bank accounts, favorite subscription services, health-and-fitness information, and so much more are linked to our devices, whether that be our cell phones, tablets, or desktop and laptop computers.

Having streamlined access to all of our sensitive information has certainly made life easier to manage, but there’s a vulnerability to having all that information stored in one digital space. Remembering passwords for each service can also be a daunting task.

With The Lifetime Password Manager & Privacy Subscription Bundle, you can rest easier knowing not only that your passwords will never be lost, but also that your information will be safe and secured. For a limited time, you can purchase this two-item bundle for just $29.99. That’s a savings of 92% from its MSRP ($398). Lifetime access to Sticky Password Premium and VPN Unlimited is included with your purchase.

Sticky Password Premium is an award-winning password management system that allows you to create strong, unique passwords whenever and wherever you need them on all of your devices. Users are also able to securely share their passwords, and it’s all done through a cloud-based or local storage password library.

PCMag Editors’ Choice writes in its review, “Sticky Password Premium does everything you’d expect from a password manager and more. New biometric authentication and no‑cloud Wi‑Fi sync make it an even better choice.”

VPN Unlimited is the best-selling VPN of all time. It allows its users to reliably protect data on any public WiFi without the restriction of bandwidth or speeds. VPN has more than 400 servers worldwide which allow access to favorites like Netflix, BBC, iPlayer, Hulu, ESPN+, and HBO Now.

VPN Unlimited has received accolades such as Editor’s Pick Award by Software Informer, Laptop Review Pro’s Best VPN for Laptop, and PC Mag’s Top VPN.

“From its simple interface to its genuinely practical features, VPN Unlimited has plenty to recommend it,” Tech.Co writes in its review.

This two-deal punch is the perfect complement for anyone who spends even a little bit of time on the internet. Purchase it today to give your information the security and protection it deserves.

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