BREAKING: Elon Musk Taking Twitter Private in $44 Billion Deal
by Kia Morgan Smith

April 25, 2022

BREAKING: Elon Musk Taking Twitter Private in $44 Billion Deal

By Greg Roumeliotis

NEW YORK (Reuters) –Elon Musk clinched a deal to buy Twitter Inc for $44 billion cash on Monday in a transaction that will shift control of the social media platform populated by millions of users and global leaders to the world’s richest person.

It is a seminal moment for the 16-year-old company that emerged as one of the world’s most influential public squares and now faces a string of challenges.

Discussions over the deal, which last week appeared uncertain, accelerated over the weekend after Musk wooed Twitter shareholders with financing details of his offer.

Under pressure, Twitter started negotiating with Musk to buy the company at the proposed $54.20 per share price.

“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk said in a statement.

Shares were up about 6% following the news. The deal represents a near 40% premium to the closing price the day before Musk disclosed he had bought a more than 9% stake. Even so, the offer is below the $70 range where Twitter was trading last year.

The transaction was approved by the board and is now subject to a shareholder vote.

In a prepared statement the company said Musk secured $25.5 billion of debt and margin loan financing and is providing a $21 billion equity commitment.

It was not immediately clear what the breakup fee would be or who would run the new company.

Twitter‘s outsized importance as a mouthpiece for politicians, political dissidents and activists belies its relatively small size.

Although it is only about a tenth of the size of far larger social media platforms like Meta Platforms Inc’s Facebook, it has been credited with helping spawn the Arab Spring uprising and accused of playing a role in the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.

After Twitter banned former President Donald Trump over concerns around incitement of violence following last year’s U.S. Capitol attack by his supporters, Musk tweeted: “A lot of people are going to be super unhappy with West Coast high tech as the de facto arbiter of free speech.”

Republicans on Monday cheered the news of a possible Musk buyout of Twitter, betting on Trump’s reinstatement on the service.

Trump, whose company is building a rival to Twitter called Truth Social, said he will not return to Twitter, according to a Fox News interview.

(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York, additional reporting by Krystal Hu;Editing by Mark Potter, Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)

Blast at Illegal Nigerian Oil Refinery Kills More Than 100 People
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 25, 2022

Blast at Illegal Nigerian Oil Refinery Kills More Than 100 People

Charred bodies were left scattered among burnt palms, cars and vans on Sunday after a weekend explosion which killed more than 100 people at an illegal oil refining depot on the border of Nigeria‘s Rivers and Imo states.

Flip flops, bags and clothing belonging to those who died littered the ground, which was blackened by oil and soot while still emitting smoke in some places despite overnight rain.

“There are so many people that died here. I’m pleading to the government to look into this,” Uche Woke, a commercial bike rider, told Reuters at the scene of the blast on Saturday night.

The Nigerian Red Cross Society was on the scene on Sunday to assess the blast, which destroyed a section of the Abaezi forest, which straddles the border of the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo state with Rivers state.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement that he would intensify the clampdown on illegal refineries after what he described as a “catastrophe” and “national disaster.”

Unemployment and poverty in the oil producing Niger Delta have made illegal refining attractive, but with often deadly consequences. Crude oil is tapped from a web of pipelines owned by major oil companies and refined in makeshift tanks.

The process has led to fatal accidents and polluted a region already blighted by oil spills in farmland, creeks and lagoons.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre said several vehicles that were in a queue to buy illegal fuel were burnt.

“The fire outbreak occurred at an illegal bunkering site and it affected over 100 people,” Goodluck Opiah, the state commissioner for petroleum resources, said of the accident.

The border location is a reaction to a recent crackdown in Rivers on illegal refining in an effort to reduce worsening air pollution.

“In the last month or two, there were several raids and some security agents involved were tackled,” Ledum Mitee, former president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), said.

At least 25 people, including some children, were killed in an explosion and fire at another illegal refinery in Rivers state in October.

In February, local authorities said they had started a crackdown on the refining of stolen crude, but with little apparent success.

Government officials estimate that Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer and exporter, loses an average of 200,000 barrels of oil per day, more than 10% of production, to illegal tapping or vandalizing of pipelines.

That has forced oil firms to regularly declare force majeure on oil and gas exports.

Meet the Young Black Female Navigator Who Turned Sailing the World’s Largest Tankers into a Travel Career
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 25, 2022

Meet the Young Black Female Navigator Who Turned Sailing the World’s Largest Tankers into a Travel Career

Capt. Sandy Campbell has circumnavigated the globe at the helm of the world’s largest gas tankers as a merchant mariner and seafarer. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, she’s no stranger to taking on challenges and breaking down barriers. But today the young seafarer has traded her seat in the captain’s bridge for one behind a laptop screen where she curates travel experiences, coaches would-be solo travelers, and consults as a travel advisor through her newly launched website SandysSuitcase.com

Campbell’s love of travel grew roots on the ocean-going liners she has lived and worked on — 1,100-foot vessels (the size of three football fields) that have propelled her from country to country in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. For years, she traveled around the world, scraping the surface of countries and cultures she would only have a few days to explore at a time. On each of those short trips, she vowed to come back one day to fully explore what these places have to offer.

The Bahamian-born seafarer’s latest challenge? Carrying that same energy into the travel industry.

“In the beginning, blogging was an outlet for me, a way of keeping a record of my travels from around the world,” says Campbell.

“But what’s really important to me now is giving people who want to get their feet wet in the traveling pool the resources they need to do that.”

“Traveling for work has exposed me to so many wonderful places, and it’s made me want to share my love of travel and all the knowledge I’ve gained doing it with other people,” she says.

Today, the seafarer has traveled to 56 countries, five continents, and most of the Caribbean islands. She has sailed the Malacca Straights, explored the Greek Islands, sand-boarded in Peru, hiked an active volcano in Guatemala and lived like a local in Lagos.

Her next goal? Visiting every country on the planet!

Growing up in the Bahamas but raised by the world, Sandy’s passion and zest for life continue to grow as she aims to help would-be travelers get out there and see! Sandy consults, plans, coaches and advises on all things travel as well as curates group trips. Her love affair with the world is evident in her colorful anecdotal stories and descriptive narratives which she regularly posts on her website.

If you are thinking of taking the leap on a wild adventure or you’re ready to start traveling solo but are not sure where to start, schedule a call with Capt. Sandy today and fall in love with life!

To learn more about Captain Campbell’s story, visit sandyssuitcase.com and her Instagram page @SandysSuitcase.

This article first appeared on Blacknews.com. 

For the First Pick, Aflac and Coach Prime Select Historically Black College and University Athletes
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 25, 2022

For the First Pick, Aflac and Coach Prime Select Historically Black College and University Athletes

Aflac, a leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S., today unveiled, “Prime Prospects” with Coach Deion “Prime” Sanders, to address and close the growing gap between the number of qualified players at HBCUs ready to compete at the professional level and the number of athletes drafted.

As part of the campaign, Aflac also revealed a new advertisement, named “Believe,” that features Coach Prime and will air during the April draft. The campaign is a reflection of Aflac’s initiative, “Close the Gap,” which centers on educating, supporting and advocating for those underserved and overlooked, according to a press release.

Since August, Aflac has worked hand in hand with Coach Prime to close the gap for HBCU football programs, all culminating in this campaign designed to shine a spotlight on those HBCU players who are ready to compete at the next level. In 2021, Aflac donated $75,000 to the Jackson State University Athletic Department for professional development as well as $25,000 as a supporting partner of Deion Sanders’ Football Camp, which is featured in the “Believe” ad spot. Both Aflac and Coach Prime recognize there is more to be done to advocate for these student athletes especially because, for the first time in over a decade, there were no HBCU athletes selected in the 2021 draft.

“Aflac has a 20-plus-year history of supporting HBCUs and their alumni both on and off the field. Through our partnership with Coach Prime, we know HBCUs house elite football talent, and their athletes have promising professional aspirations,” said Garth Knutson, vice president, Aflac Brand.

“These students are the next generation of leaders, and their skills translate far beyond the football field. At Aflac, we know there is no better time than now to raise awareness of this gap and no better talent than Coach Prime to give these rising HBCU juniors and seniors a platform that can put them on a path to a professional football career.”

Aflac and Coach Prime will introduce “Prime Prospects” with a 30-second video on social media where he explains the gap between HBCU football players and the professional draft. Using the hashtag #PRIMEPROSPECTS, Coach Prime will spotlight each player and their skills on his social media channels for professional scouts and general managers to see.

“Prime Prospects” will also be promoted on Aflac’s social media channels. This list of players represents 12 historically Black colleges and universities:

– Antwan Collier, S, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

– Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

– Dee Anderson, WR, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

– De’Shaan Dixon, DL, Norfolk State.

– Ezra Gray, RB, Alabama State.

– Jah-Maine Martin, RB, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

– James Houston, DE/LB, Jackson State.

– Jerry Garner, LB, Mississippi Valley State.

– Joshua Williams, DB, Fayetteville State.

– Keenan Forbes, OL, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

– Keith Corbin, WR, Jackson State.

– Marquis McClain, WR, Southern University.

– Shemar Bridges, WR, Fort Valley State.

– Tevin Singleton, DB, Bowie State.

– Will Adams, S, Virginia State.

– Zabrian Moore, WR, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

“Last year, there were 259 picks in the draft and, for the first time in over a decade, no players were selected from a HBCU team,” said Coach Prime.

“Together with Aflac, we know there’s more we can do to advocate and raise awareness of these players and stand in the gap together. Whether it’s through me coaching at JSU, my camp or ‘Prime Prospects,’ Aflac remains a committed partner, dedicated to advancing the next pipeline of HBCU players and, in turn, closing the gap for those underserved and overlooked.”

Produced by The Aflac Studio, Aflac’s in-house agency, “Believe” gives fans a look into the Deion Sanders‘ Football Camp with a narration from Coach Prime explaining that not one pick from last year’s professional draft came from an HBCU. As an inaugural sponsor of the camp, Aflac recognized the need to bring attention to the gap existing between HBCU football programs and the professional draft. As part of its efforts to help close health and wealth gaps in the U.S., Aflac will donate an additional $100,000 in 2022 to help Coach Prime continue his mission of mentoring these young athletes.

“Spending time at camp last summer and working with Coach Prime to bring these stories to life is an honor,” says Jared Martin, director, The Aflac Studio.

“We are excited for audiences to see the ad and learn about these talented athletes who have been largely overlooked in the past.”

“Believe” will air on ESPN April 28 during the first round of the professional draft. To learn more about “Prime Prospects,” you can follow Coach Prime and Aflac on social media or search #PRIMEPROSPECTS.

To learn more about how Aflac is helping close the gap for underserved communities, visit Aflac.com or Aflac.com/Español.

Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Says Wells Fargo’s Discriminatory Loan Practices Is Killing Black Opportunity
by Derek Major

April 25, 2022

Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Says Wells Fargo’s Discriminatory Loan Practices Is Killing Black Opportunity

On Monday, civil rights attorney Ben Crump held a press conference alleging Wells Fargo’s discriminatory loan practices kills Black opportunity.

Crump, who has represented the families of Ahmaud Abery and Breonna Taylor, held the conference at the Mt. Zion Second Baptist Church in Atlanta and included several Black homeowners who have joined the class action suit against Wells Fargo Bank.

At the presser, Crump, along with co-counsel Linda Friedman and Suzanne Bish, urged Wells Fargo shareholders to approve a motion by the SEIU, one of the country’s largest labor unions, to conduct an independent racial equity audit on the bank. Crump also urged other politicians to follow the lead of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and stop investing with the bank.

“It’s rare when you think about being kicked out of your home and for no other reason than a bank is discriminating against you because of the color of your skin,” Crump said at the event.

The presser also included Black homeowners who say they’re victims of Wells Fargo’s discriminatory bank practices and have joined the class-action lawsuit against the bank.

The class-action suit was filed by Aaron Braxton in March 2020, alleging Wells Fargo systematically discriminated against Black homeowners in its evaluation of refinancing applications. A Bloomberg News investigation backs up the claim, finding that the bank approved Black homeowners seeking to refinance mortgages during the pandemic at a much lower rate (47%) than white homeowners (72%).

Additionally, the bank has paid out millions in racial discrimination claims made by workers and customers. In 2012, the Justice Department ordered the bank to pay $175 million after charging African American and Hispanic homeowners’ higher fees and improperly placing them into subprime loans. In 2018, Wells Fargo was accused of preying on Black and Latino homeowners.

Wells Fargo spokeswoman Jennifer Langan shared a statement with BLACK ENTERPRISE responding to the press conference.

“We are deeply disturbed by allegations of discrimination that we believe do not stand up to scrutiny. We are confident that we follow relevant government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) guidelines in our decision-making and that our underwriting practices are consistently applied regardless of a customer’s race or ethnicity. These unfounded attacks on Wells Fargo stand in stark contrast to the company’s significant and long-term commitment to closing the minority homeownership gap,” Langan said.

“In 2020, Wells Fargo was the largest bank lender for home mortgages to Black families and this is consistent with our performance over the last decade (2011 – 2020), in which the company helped as many Black families purchase homes as the next three largest bank lenders combined.”

MSNBC’s Joy Reid Calls Ron DeSantis’ Use of Black Children to Hold Anti-CRT Signs ‘Extra Sick’
by Derek Major

April 25, 2022

MSNBC’s Joy Reid Calls Ron DeSantis’ Use of Black Children to Hold Anti-CRT Signs ‘Extra Sick’

MSNBC host Joy Reid criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) after a photo showed Black kids holding anti-Critical Race Theory (CRT) signs as he signed the “Stop Woke” bill into law.

On Friday, Rei retweeted Florida Senator Shevrin Jones attacking the governor after a picture showed four Black children holding the signs. None of the Black children in the photo look particularly happy to be at the presser or holding the signs.

https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1517680801403580417

In her retweet, Reid compared the presser and photo to child abuse adding “I would really like to hear the back-story on who these kids were and how they wound up at a DeSantis event. Given how anti-Black DeSantis is, using Black children this way is extra sick.”

Reid also reached out to her Twitter followers Friday to find out where the children were from and on Saturday updated that sources informed her the children were from a Miami charter school and may not have known in advance why they were at the presser.

DeSantis’ Press Secretary Christina Pushaw tweeted additional context to the photo, saying all attendees were informed of the bill’s contents, and the people onstage chose to stand there.

“I was working at this event and helped with the set up. My colleague talked to all the kids beforehand & told them what the issue was & what bills @GovRonDeSantis was signing.”

In addition to his war on CRT, DeSantis has made headlines for his efforts to revoke Disney’s self-governing status in retaliation for opposing the controversial “Parental Rights In Education” bill he signed last week.

The bill states “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

According to CNBC, Disney’s self-governing status revocation will mean Orange and Osceola counties would have to provide the local services currently provided by Disney’s Reedy Creek Division. And, the $105 million in revenue from Disney would disappear, meaning county and local taxpayers would be on the hook for part or all of the added costs.

 

Black Entrepreneur Who Almost Died as a Teen Signs Major Grocery Store Distribution Deal for Her Line of Low-Sodium Seasonings
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 25, 2022

Black Entrepreneur Who Almost Died as a Teen Signs Major Grocery Store Distribution Deal for Her Line of Low-Sodium Seasonings

Meet Emily Avonya Jefferson who had a severe reaction to a medication that almost took her life when she was 16. She was hospitalized for several days due to this reaction.

Her road to recovery was long, in which she had to go through physical therapy to help her walk again as well as speech therapy. Today, she is the 23-year-old owner of Avonya’s Blends, a Black-owned brand of unique seasonings that are all-natural, low-sodium, and contain no artificial preservatives or anti-caking agents.

She launched this company in April 2020 after a year of research and development. A few years ago, Emily started having allergic reactions to a number of different seasoning blends, but she didn’t know what she was allergic to because they didn’t list all of their ingredients on their labels. They only listed two or three ingredients followed by the word “spices.” Because she is a major foodie and loves to cook, this created a challenge for her as this limited the number of things she could use to season her food. From this problem, a lightbulb went off and the company was born.

Emily launched Avonya’s Blends with two signature seasonings. The first is Annie’s Season-All which is named after and inspired by her late grandmother Annie Mae Carlton, who she says used to season all on almost every dish she made. The second seasoning is Sentry’s Seafood Seasoning which is named after her late father James “Sentry” Dixon. He was a commercial fisherman who knew all things seafood and is where Emily believes she gets her love for cooking.

Her company prides itself in having high-quality seasoning blends but also having integrity and transparency, so we list all of our ingredients on the labels so you know exactly what it is that you’re eating. The first year and a half of business consisted of Emily hand bottling all seasonings herself, but after securing a manufacturer in mid-2021 who was able to mass-produce her seasonings, she landed a deal with Lowes Foods grocery store. This southeastern grocery chain has stores throughout both North Carolina and South Carolina.

Although the brand is now making traction by having its seasonings sold in store chains, the company is still selling via its official website at AvonyasBlends.com

This article first appeared on Blackbusiness.com. 

Navy Vessel Named After First Black Marine Aviator Frank E. Petersen Jr. Will Be Commissioned in May
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 25, 2022

Navy Vessel Named After First Black Marine Aviator Frank E. Petersen Jr. Will Be Commissioned in May

A ship named after the first Black aviator and general officer in the Marine Corps will be commissioned on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

According to a press release from the Navy, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), will be commissioned, honoring Petersen Jr., the first African American Marine Corps aviator and the first African American Marine Corps officer to be promoted to brigadier general. He died on Aug. 25, 2015.

Following the vessel’s commissioning, Frank E. Petersen Jr. will be homeported at Hawaii’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

A 2002 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Cmdr. Daniel Hancock is the vessel’s commanding officer and guides the core crew of 32 officers and 297 enlisted personnel. The ship, which is nearly 510 feet long and has a beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 33 feet, was constructed by Ingalls Shipbuilding in a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots due to having four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines and two shafts.

On March 2, 1932, Peterson was born in Topeka, Kansas, and was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1952. He had previously served two years in the U.S. Navy. Petersen also served during the Korean War in 1953 and 15 years later in Vietnam in 1968. The aviator flew more than 350 combat missions and had more than 4,000 hours in various military aircraft.

On Feb. 23, 1979, Petersen was promoted to brigadier general, making him the first African American to hold that rank in the Marine Corps.

Petersen retired as a lieutenant general on Aug. 1, 1988, after serving as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff. His commands include Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212, which was deactivated on March 11, 2008, and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314. He also served as the commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

During his military career, Petersen’s awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with valor device, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

His actions were recorded in the Congressional Record as part of the archives of the House of Representatives on July 28, 2014.

by Atiya Jordan

April 25, 2022

Will Smith Makes Public Appearance In Mumbai To Meet With Spiritual Guru

Following the infamous Oscars slap, Will Smith resurfaced in Mumbai, India, Saturday to meet with a spiritual guru.

According to MEAWW News, the 53-year-old actor is visiting the country to attain peaceful advice from spiritual leader Jagadish “Jaggi” Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru, who Smith and his family first met in 2020 in Los Angeles.

Smith was seen exiting a car near Kalina University, where Sadhguru’s ashram is located. The actor’s sudden visit shocked many as he was greeted by excited fans, with whom he snapped a few photos

(Photo: The Siasat Daily)

In 2020, Smith admitted following Sadhguru for quite some time before documenting one of his meetings with the 65-year-old Indian mystic at his Los Angeles residence. The yogi, owner a non-profit spiritual foundation called Isha, offers the science of inner wellbeing to every human being.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Will Smith (@willsmith)

During the 2020 meeting, Smith recalled getting interest in the yogi after reading Sadhguru’s book Inner Engineering. “I wanted my family to meet spiritual people, to start interacting with people who are not hooked on the material world,” he said at the time.

In one of Smith’s vlog-type Instagram clips, Sadhguru is seen pulling up to the Smith’s residence in a motorcycle while the actor and his daughter, Willow, greeting him.

“In any area of life, those who are most successful are always the most miserable people because they get to the top of the world and the top of the world doesn’t feel like the top of the world,” Sadhguru tells the group.

“What happened yesterday they’re suffering today. Are you suffering life or your memory? You’re just suffering your memory,” he tells Smith, adding, “What may happen tomorrow you already suffer. You’re suffering your imagination!”

Meanwhile, Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, returned with Red Table Talk on Facebook Watch. She said she will address the Oscars incident sometime in the future.

 

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 25, 2022

Stephen A. Smith Lambasts Brooklyn Nets Ben Simmons After Finding Out He Will Not Play Game 4

Brooklyn Nets basketball player Ben Simmons has apparently tested the patience of popular, vociferous ESPN hot take artist Stephen A. Smith.

The First Take host ripped into Simmons, who hasn’t played one game this season after becoming disgruntled with his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, and landing with Brooklyn during the season.

Basketball fans throughout the world have watched Simmons through his struggles in Philadelphia, which included passing up an open lay-up in a critical playoff game last year, and sitting out this season. Now that he is with the Nets, Simmons still hasn’t hit the court and the team is facing elimination, down 3-0 to the Boston Celtics. Game 4 is tonight in Brooklyn.

Smith’s frustration boiled over after news surfaced that Simmons wouldn’t play in Game 4. .

“I feel bad for anybody who was his teammate,” Smith while discussing the matter during halftime of Sunday’s Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets playoff game.

“He quit on LSU (Louisiana state university). He quit on the Philadelphia 76ers. And now, he ain’t showing up for the Brooklyn Nets. We can point to all the excuses, all the rationale behind it that we want to. I do recall, despite him not playing, he still filed a grievance to collect $20 million that he has not earned.

“This is one of the most pathetic situations I’ve ever seen in my life,” Smith continued. “He ain’t going to war. He ain’t going into the octagon. He’s not going into the boxing ring. It’s pulling teeth to get this man to play basketball. It’s pathetic. It’s sad. And at the end of the day, when the NBA gets in the collective bargaining table, and they go after the players in terms of a pay-for-play stipulation in the collective bargaining agreement, it’s going to be called the Ben Simmons Rule.”

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