New York Teacher On Leave After Making Students Pick Cotton in Social Studies Class
A social studies teacher in upstate New York is on administrative leave after reportedly making students pick cotton as a lesson on slavery.
The Rochester School of the Arts sent out an email last week confirming that Patrick Rausch did conduct a cotton-picking lesson and is on leave amid an investigation, Democrat and Chroniclereported.
Rausch is facing allegations of racism, including placing handcuffs and leg shackles on his mostly Black seventh-grade students and forcing them to pick cotton and refer to him as “Massah.”
“I almost drove off the road,” said Precious Tross, whose daughter, Ja’Nasia Brown, is in Rausch’s class.
“She’s traumatized; she feels belittled,” Tross said of her daughter. “He made a mockery out of slavery. How dare you.”
Tross took to Facebook last Tuesday to show the cotton her daughter took home from school. The post garnered an onslaught of criticism from many who called out the teacher and school administration.
But Tross and other parents are outraged that Rausch was allowed to conduct the unconventional history lesson at all.
“I am angry, I am upset, I am appalled,” Tross told WHAM-TV. “I am behooved that my child was forced to pick out of cotton. It is very unacceptable.”
Students also note that this isn’t the first time Rausch has taught about slavery in ways that made students feel uncomfortable.
“I walked in the class, I sat down, he pulled out handcuffs and was like, ‘Who is willing to put these on?’,” SOTA seventh-grader Jahmiere O’Neal said. “We were all shocked.”
By the end of the week, the school sent out an email to families confirming the lesson plan of “great concern” led to Rausch being placed on leave amid an ongoing investigation.
“The district takes these situations very seriously, as descriptions of what occurred in the classroom by the school community are extremely troubling,” the statement said in part.
Steve Harvey Won’t Willingly Give Michael B. Jordan Relationship Advice: ‘He’s Going to Have to Earn It’
He has written a book giving women advice—Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man—and is always quick to give relationship advice to anyone who wants to hear it.
Yet one thing comedian and TV game show host Steve Harvey will not do is willingly give advice to his daughter Lori Harvey‘s beau, superstar actor Michael B. Jordan.
Harvey appeared on E! News to respond to questions posed to him by fans recently. His daughter, Lori has been dating the popular Black Panther heartthrob for some time now. When asked what advice he would give Jordan, Harvey responded that the superstar actor was on his own.
“Really none. I mean I’m not going to help him,” he admitted.
“You know he’s going to have to earn it. I’m not gonna help him, so, but he’s a nice guy,” Harvey said. “He’s very respectful, family’s really great, he’s from a great family. I know his father personally. It’s going good for them. You know, relationships are hard, especially they, young and they’re in a Hollywood type relationship. I’m cheering for them.”
Maybe Jordan should read Harvey’s book or watch the films it has inspired.
It could be that Harvey is simply too busy with his television duties and radio show these days to offer some advice. The Black-owned entertainment recommendation platform PopViewers recently announced a collaboration with the comedian and Family Feud host. The app strives to make more diverse voices heard in entertainment. With the two-time Daytime Emmy Award-winner for Outstanding Game Show Host and Outstanding Talk Show Host in is corner, PopViewers scored what could be a game-changing win.
“PopViewers is creating a more inclusive viewing experience and building a space which represents the voices and perspectives of viewers from diverse backgrounds,” said Harvey, according to Deadline.
A Different Kind of Hard Work: Devon Henry Has Removed 23 Confederate Monuments
Team Henry Enterprises, a construction company owned by Devon Henry, has taken down more than 20 Confederate monuments over the last two years, but the job isn’t as simple as you might think.
The New York Timesreports Henry, 45, and his team have faced considerable risk while taking down Confederate statues including the Robert E. Lee statue in Virginia. Random people passing by have repeatedly threatened Henry and his staff. It’s happened so much that Henry carries a firearm and often wears a bulletproof vest on jobs.
“You start thinking, ‘Damn, was it worth it?’” Henry told the Times. “But then there are moments; my daughter, in her interview for college, said I was her hero.”
Henry, who started his construction company in 2006, was raised in Hampton, Virginia, where he attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School, which has since been renamed. Since his company got into general contracting, Team Henry Enterprises has been awarded more than $100 million in federal contracts.
The company didn’t get into statue removal until former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam called Henry in June 2020 to remove Lee’s statue. Henry was apprehensive about the request but eventually said yes. That led to more jobs. To shield his family, Henry and the city of Richmond agreed to a $1.8 million contract to remove a dozen pieces of Confederate products that would be awarded to a shell company he created, NAH LLC.
More than 400 Confederate monuments have been relocated into museums, renamed, or removed in recent years as the Black Lives Matter movement has brought attention to the racist symbolism of Confederate statues across the South.
The costs in some cases have run into the millions and Henry has become one of the most reliable contractors willing and able to take on the work. According to Henry, it’s about more than money. His mother, Freda Thornton, added that she recognizes the significance of her son’s job and has come to watch him work.
“I prayed the whole time,” Thornton said. “I thought about my dad. I thought about the people—the shoulders that Devon stood on, to do the job he was doing.”
FAMU’s Longtime Tradition ‘Set Fridays’ Creates A Hub For Black Entrepreneurship
BLACK ENTERPRISE visited the stunning Florida A&M University (FAMU) campus and experienced its one-of-a-kind tradition “Set Fridays,” on Friday, April 22, thanks to Visit Tallahassee and The Zimmerman Agency.
Originated in 1993, Set Fridays started out as Market Friday, an event that created an inviting space for student entrepreneurs to market and sell their products. Today, the tradition has evolved into aweekly social event.
According to Visit Tallahassee, “on Fridays, students gather at Set Fridays. The event takes place in front of the Student Union, on what is known as “The Set” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Created by student entrepreneurs in 1993 to showcase their brand or products and services for sale, the event now features student clubs, organization and vendor booths (mostly students), a live D. J., and scheduled entertainment with everything from fashion shows to poetry readings.”
FAMU students showcasing their model walk. Photo Credit: Atiya Jordan
During the recent visit, the Spring weather was perfect. Students gathered at the newly opened Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater to enjoy a host of festivities. From the infamous Hill, you can hear the DJ hyping up the crowd with popular hip-hop beats. Groups of students, soaked in Black joy, couldn’t resist joining in on the vibe with energy-packed dances and Rattler pride. FAMU was in its element.
Students gather at the newly opened Will Packer amphitheater. Photo Credit: Atiya Jordan
FAMU was also celebrating its Annual Giving Day, “1887 Strikes,” fundraising event. The campaign raised more than $660,000 to support initiatives and scholarships for students, according to FAMU News. Free t-shirts were offered as mementos at the amphitheater.
While the party was in session, ambitious vendors greeted students and non-students with all smiles, proud to be a part of the FAMU culture. There were rewarding conversations about their products from boutique clothing and handmade body candles to self-defense tools.
Robert Jones, a 2020 FAMU graduate and journalism major, told BLACK ENTERPRISE about his previous experiences at Set Friday and the student entrepreneurship aspect of the event.
“It was a time to kind of just unwind from the daily grind of being a college student and socialize with my peers as well as take part in a FAMU tradition that was more laid back,” said Jones who works with The Zimmerman Agency.
“This is an on-campus event that consistently brings a large crowd of students and gives student entrepreneurs the platform to showcase and sell their products to their peers,” he adds, “which I think helps build connections and bonds with people that last much longer than their time at FAMU.”
While browsing the talented vendors on campus, BLACK ENTERPRISE also had the pleasure of meeting two unique small business owners, Brianna Rogers and Amber Magny.
BriSafe
(Photo Credit: Steven Saccio Photography)
CEO Brianna Rogers started her own self-defense accessory line, BriSafe, after surviving a sexual assault in mid-2020. Since then, she has made it her mission to spread awareness about human trafficking and sexual assault, bring local businesses together, and give back to the community.
Rogers, who hails from the small town of Port St. Lucie, FL, said proudly, “You’re basically a family here. I was very nervous leaving home, FAMU literally welcomed everybody in with us.”
She continued, “I’ve learned so many life lessons from this school.”
The Tallahassee-based accessory company began with keychains and now offers a host of undetectable items, including pen and comb knives, tasers, cell phone and jogger stun guns, pepper spray, and more.
A FAMU legacy, Rogers has been vending for 18 months. She takes her business to both FAMU and Florida State University (FSU) campuses every week with the intention to educate students about healthy dating, self-defense, and the significance of saying “no.” BriSafe also offers self-defense classes and will have seminars in the fall.
“One in 5 women on a college campus will be sexually assaulted,” Rogers said. “The set is near and dear to my heart because we get to provide safety for individuals on that campus.”
FAMU student and chemistry major Amber Magny is the owner of Sensual Essence and Elaqor, two mirroring enterprises that aim to not only set a complete mood in your self-care routine but to spark positive conversations. Both businesses operate under the holding company MurderBunny Productions.
Launched in May 2021, Sensual Essence was born with encouraging and celebrating womanhood in mind. Honoring all sizes, colors, shape, and genders, this Tallahassee-based company features handmade adornments such as anklets, bracelets, and waistbeads. “I strive to remind women that they are beautiful at every stage of their life,” Magny says.
Elaqor, established in September 2021, is a luxury candle making brand that sells handmade silhouette body candles. The inclusive brand also offers candle personalization options, including different body types, scents and additional features such as piercings, gold drip, and body chains.
“The market has been extremely valuable,” says Magny, who started vending at FAMU since fall 2021. “I’m able to connect with other students and like-minded individuals. Through it, we are able to speak on interesting topics concerning the importance of body positivity, self-care, confidence, and much more.”
FAMU Receives $1.2 Million Gift From Frank and Laura Baker
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is excited to announce a $1.2 million donation from Frank and Laura Baker to help students with financial restrictions graduate in four years. The gift will establish the Frank and Laura Baker Graduation Fund, which will provide funding for students who are qualified to graduate in four years but have an outstanding account balance to the university.
Frank Baker is a co-founder and managing partner of Siris, a leading private equity firm with more than $7 billion in AUM focused on making value-oriented, control investments in technology companies. Baker said the donation to Florida’s largest, and only public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) is an investment in the future, according to a press release.
“In 2020, we established Siris’ Florida office, and as part of that, we believed it was important to invest in our new community. Through our conversations with FAMU, we learned there are extremely capable students who aren’t able to graduate in four years solely due to limited financial resources. We also discovered that the four-year graduation rate is a key metric in determining the amount of funding FAMU receives from the state of Florida. This made our ‘investment’ decision pretty easy — FAMU students in the work force sooner and potentially unlocking more State funding.”
As part of the gift agreement, the FAMU Office of University Advancement, the Office of Student Success and Strategic Initiatives, along with Frank and Laura Baker, will review the cohort each year to determine how the Graduation Fund will be distributed. The initial $300,000 will be used to clear university balances for spring and summer 2022 graduates once the certification process is complete and to match donations during the Day of Giving “1887 Strikes” campaign Apr. 21-22, which raised an additional $360,000.
“This is a transformational gift that will encourage our students to finish in a timely manner and allow them to move forward less burdened by debt to the University,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D.
“We thank Frank and Laura Baker for investing in our students. Their generosity will reap untold dividends for years to come.”
The agreement also puts in place a framework for the University to track recipients; they will be asked to respond to periodic surveys in the years ahead and encouraged to give back to the University.
“The timing and magnitude of this gift cannot be overstated,” said Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation.
“It reinforces the importance of the task ahead and is a reminder that student success is at the core of our mission.”
Looking For a Business Idea? Start With Your Purpose
Have you ever tried to come up with a new business idea? For some entrepreneurs, the idea comes naturally — perhaps it came from a familiar industry, or there was an unsolved problem that the founder experienced first-hand. But not every aspiring founder has a clear idea of exactly what that business should do. So, where to start?
Many business schools will recommend a set formulation: First, start by identifying a problem in the world or in your life. Then develop a solution. There are other methods, of course — like assessing personal skills and abilities, using design thinking, undertaking market research and so on. But one element often gets overlooked or left as an afterthought.
That element is a sense of purpose. It isn’t just the driving force of a business; it can also be the seed of a business idea.
Purpose before problem
In this alternative formulation, a sense of purpose — both individual and corporate — comes first and helps to guide the rest of the process. Forget quickly drawing up your corporate mission as a last-minute addition to your pitch deck. Instead, try asking yourself the following questions before you even begin:
– What is my personal purpose?
– What purpose would I like my business to work towards?
– Which ultimate goals drive my ambition?
Once you have a few initial thoughts, see if you can go deeper still. You may have heard of the Five Whys method, originally used in a corporate context to get to the core of an issue. Here, you can also apply it to your own purpose-finding journey. Ask yourself, “What is my personal purpose?” Come up with an answer. Then challenge that answer by asking, “Why?” Repeat that five times (hence the Five Whys), as a way of getting closer to the core of what drives you. This is essential — not just as a personal self-awareness initiative, but as a key aspect of your business plan.
For example, let’s say you start with the following answer:
“My purpose is to be successful in work.” Why? Maybe it’s because you’d be happy if things went well with your work. Why? It could be that you can see how your work impacts others, and this gives you a sense of pride. Why? Because you want to do work that matters. Why? Because you want to feel like your work contributes to the world or gives back in some way. Why? Maybe you want to feel like you left the world a better place, and it’s important to you that your work reflects the values you believe in.
There’s no right or wrong way to work through this method. It’s just a tool to help you explore your intentions in more depth. You don’t have to end up with an answer about changing the world, either. If it’s meaningful to you (for example, living with authenticity, taking care of your family, or connecting with your community), it should be included.
Back to business
Let’s say you’ve uncovered a foundational sense of purpose, or you’ve looked at your personal mission in a little more detail. What next? There are a couple of ways you can use a sense of purpose to guide a business plan.
First, you can return to the traditional model of finding a problem in an existing market and then searching for a solution — but this time, look at it through the lens of purpose. Taking a broad example, if your purpose was to “create happiness for others” (borrowing from The Disney Institute), you can look at your market problem through this lens. How could you find a solution to your problem that would not just serve a functional, profit-driven outcome, but also serve your purpose of maximizing happiness? Applying the purpose lens might lead you to a different way of addressing the problem, or a different approach to the issue altogether.
Second, you can use your sense of purpose to actually formulate the business idea itself, and locate your market, problem and solution. Take beauty disruptor Glossier as an example. Their corporate mission statement is to “democratize beauty” and to “give voice through beauty.” The result, for Glossier, is a consumer-focused company with an emphasis on inclusivity. But by starting with the mission statement alone, you could brainstorm hundreds of other ideas that work towards the same purpose. This is a process of creativity, and — if you’re thinking about generating business ideas for yourself — you can use your personal sense of purpose as a starting point.
Finally, you can realign an existing business idea to reflect your personal mission and purpose. Let’s say you’ve already seen a market problem, found a solution, validated it with consumers and started to build. A sense of purpose is still an important part of your strategy, no matter what stage you’re at. At this later stage, try to work out exactly what need you’re meeting for your customers or users. This might go one level deeper than just a product or service. Think about values, experience and personal connection. From there, you can work backwards to see what kind of purpose your company serves.
The purpose of purpose
What’s the point of all of this purpose-finding work? When it comes to the entrepreneurial lifestyle — long hours, perseverance, exhaustion — does having a sense of purpose help? In fact, research indicates that it does.
A recent study by Harvard Business Review suggests that entrepreneurs with a sense of “harmonious passion” (i.e., motivated by the job because it brings a sense of satisfaction and personal identification) were less likely to report experiences of burnout than entrepreneurs with a sense of “obsessive passion” (i.e., motivated by the job because of the status, money or other external rewards).
From a practical perspective, building a strong corporate purpose into my own startup has given me clarity at every later stage of the process — in pitching to prospective investors, in formulating business strategy, and in giving me a vision for the future.
On a more personal level, having a sense of purpose can provide the energy and drive you need to continue working on your business, day after day, year after year. Once the initial excitement of a new project fades, and you’re left with the difficult, consistent work of building your business, you’ll have a solid foundation of meaning, mission and purpose to support you.
According to the Associated Press, the NBA legend’s game-worn jersey worn in his first season (1996-97), including two playoff games, will be auctioned off later this month. It may set the owner back between $3 million and $5 million.
The online auction, announced by David Kohler of SCP Auctions begins May 18.
“We feel this could bring a record for any basketball jersey,” he said. Kohler said the anonymous seller has owned the jersey for 25 years.
The person who currently owns the jersey approached Kohler after seeing one of Bryant’s rookie jerseys sell for $3.69 million last year at an auction, the highest price ever for a basketball jersey.
The upcoming auction features the jersey Bryant wore for the Los Angeles Lakers in regular-season wins on April 13, 1997, against Utah and April 17, 1997, against Sacramento. He wore the same jersey at home games on May 8 and May 10 in the Western Conference semifinals against Utah.
Last March, according to ESPN, a rookie basketball card featuring Bryant was auctioned off for $1.795 million.
According to Goldin Auctions, an online auction house and repository for sports memorabilia, it is one of the most expensive basketball cards ever sold.
Bryant played his whole 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a five-time NBA champion, a two-time Finals MVP, and the league’s most valuable player in 2008.
During his career, Bryant made the All-Star team 18 times and was the youngest player to ever reach 30,000 career points. Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016.
Rutgers Women’s Basketball Coach C. Vivian Stringer Retires After 50 Seasons
A basketball legend is closing her playbook effective September 1.
C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers University women’s basketball head coach, recently announced her retirement after 50 years of excellence at Cheyney State, Iowa, and Rutgers.
After 50 years and 1,055 wins, @cvivianstringer will retire from coaching, effective Sept. 1.
It is impossible to find the words right now to sum up what you mean to us and to the game, but we’ll start with two:
Stringer’s teams have garnered 1,055 wins, four Final Four appearances, and 28 berths in the NCAA tournament.
“I am officially announcing my retirement,” said Stringer in a written statement.
“My life has been defined by coaching and I’ve been on this journey for over five decades,” she added. “It is rare that someone gets to do what they love for this long and I have been fortunate to do that. I love Rutgers University for the incredible opportunity they offered me and the tremendous victories we achieved together. There’s always a soft spot in my heart for the University of Iowa and Dr. Christine Grant for giving me my first major coaching position when me and my husband trusted her to move our family to Iowa. She was a strong believer in women’s rights and that’s a responsibility that I have championed and will continue to take up the fight for.”
Her legendary career has led to countless achievements as she became the second full-time head coach in Rutgers women’s basketball history in 1995. That feat makes her the longest-tenured Rutgers University coach.
Stringer won 535 games with the Scarlet Knights and took them to 17 NCAA tournaments, including 10 straight from 2003 to 2012 and two Final Four appearances in 2000 and 2007. The last one lead to Rutgers’ first NCAA Championship Game.
In 2000, she became the first men’s or women’s basketball coach to guide three different intercollegiate programs to the Final Four. She took Cheyney State to the NCAA Championship Game in 1992 and led Iowa to the national semifinals in 1993.
Stringer was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. Last year, Stringer was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame alongside Eli Manning, Rick Barry, Ed Harris, and Anne Hathaway.
Carmelo Anthony Joins Animated Series ‘Lil’ Heroes’ As Executive Producer
Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Carmelo Anthony and his producing partner and Creative 7 co-founder, Asani Swann, have signed on to become executive producers of a new animated series Lil’ Heroes.
Anthony and Swann join Exile Content Studio and Spanish artist Edgar Plans on the project.
Anthony will also voice a character for the animated series, which is based on the Lil’ Heroes NFT collection. The announcement was made by Daniel Eilemberg, who is co-founder of Lil’ Heroes and Exile’s president of content.
“We are excited to be partnering with Exile on what we believe is one of the most unique and innovative ideas for an animated series in a long time,” Anthony said in a written statement.
“At Creative 7, we are always looking to support dynamic projects like this that are reinvigorating the traditional content landscape. It’s an honor for me to be voicing one of the ‘Lil’ Heroes’ and we can’t wait for everyone to see what’s in store for this project.”
Who doesn’t want to be a superhero? It’s an honor to be an executive producer & voice my own @lilheroesNFT. Storytelling brings people together & we’ve created something special in this partnership with @exilecontent. Here’s a sneak peek at my NFT by the talented @plansartstudio. pic.twitter.com/j9cY4HMHHD
Anthony will also receive his own one-of-one Lil’ Heroes NFT designed especially for him by Plans.
Eilemberg added, “With Melo to voice one of the characters, it is sure to delight and attract fans everywhere to the series and hopefully to the ‘Lil’ Heroes’ franchise.”
There have been 7,777 Lil’ Heroes NFTs released, and there are over 4,100 unique owners. A Discord community has more than 100,000 participants as well. Celebrities including J Balvin, DJ Khaled, La Liga, and will.i.am have endorsed the Lil’ Heroes collection, each receiving an honorary Lil’ Heroes NFT.
“The list features unique varietals including a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc by Bodkin; a Provence Rose by Le Fete du Rose, perfectly timed to everyone’s favorite wine season; and a crisp Chardonnay by basketball player Dwyane Wade, just to name a few,” according to a press release.
Bodkin Wines
(Image: Bodkin Wines)
Bodkin Wines was founded by Chris Christensen, an Iowa native, in 2011. The following year, Christensen made America’s first sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, which became the flagship wine for the brand. In 2013, Andrew Chambers, an Oregon native, joined the brand. Bodkin also offers a number of aromatic white wines, Zinfandel-based co-ferments, and quaffable rosés.
Wade Cellars
(Image: Wade Cellars)
Wade Cellars was established in 2014 as a partnership between now-retired NBA star Dwyane Wade and the Pahlmeyer family, a Napa Valley family winery. The brand first launched in Shanghai and China with Wade Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon and Three by Wade Red Blend. In 2018, Wade Cellars’ wine became available for purchase in the U.S. The inaugural vintage of Three by Wade Chenin Blanc, which will be featured on Jet Blue’s wine list, launched in May 2020.
La Fête du Rosé
(Image: La Fête du Rosé)
After 15 years in the wine industry, Donae Burston launchedLa Fête, a premium rosé wine label geared toward multi-ethnic and multi-generational people who are passionate for life, travel, food, and rosé. La Fête du Rosé is produced in partnership with the winemakers of Chateau Saint-Maur, situated in the heart of St. Tropez.
Vine & Supply
(Image: Vine & Supply)
Founded by sommelier André Hueston Mack, Vine & Supply is crafted from a diverse set of clones, soil types, and microclimates wholly within the Willamette Valley. The wine company offers a classic Oregon Pinot Noir with flavors of black cherry and marionberry and a lingering red raspberry and spice.
Brendel Wines
(Image: Brendel Wines)
Brendel Wines, a collection of heritage offerings established by Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr., and the Lawrence family, began with its inaugural 2019 vintage. The distinct Napa Valley wines offer a wide variety, including Young Leon Frizzante Rosé, Noble One Chardonnay, Chorus Cuvée Blanc, and Cooper’s Reed Cabernet Sauvignon.
According to Jet Blue, “These five wineries stood out for their unique varieties, all of which pair wonderfully with our delicious fare from Pasquale Jones onboard. This latest effort underscores the airline’s commitment to not only supporting small businesses, but also continuing to diversify JetBlue’s roster of onboard business partners.”
