Eve Shares Adorable Selfie with Infant Son Wilde Wolf
by Jasmine Jackson

April 22, 2022

Eve Shares Adorable Selfie with Infant Son Wilde Wolf

Eve Jihan Cooper, or Eve to her fans, shared an adorable selfie with her nearly 3-month old son, Wilde Wolf Fife Alexander Somers Cooper.

The rapper and actress plays the mother of five as Brianna (a.k.a. “Professor Sex”) in ABC’s musical television series, Queens. Eve and her husband, British entrepreneur Maximillion Cooper, welcomed Wilde Wolf to their now family of seven February 1.

Baby Wilde Wolf is Eve’s first biological child. The American rapper is stepmother to Cooper’s four children: Lotus, 19; Jagger, 18; Cash, 15; and Mini, 13.

Eve had struggled with infertility for years. The 43-year-old “Got What You Need” rapper captioned the photo, “Never been this tired. Never been this happy.”

Eve has her hands full as a new mom, artist, and actress. But family has always been a priority.

In 2020, she left The Talk to focus on family. Nearly one year later, Eve broke the news of her pregnancy on Instagram. The pregnant rapper shared a stylish picture with her hands on her belly.

The caption read, “Can you believe it @mrgumball3000 we finally get to tell everyone!!!!! You all know how long we’ve been waiting for this blessing!!! We get to meet our lil human February 2022.”

Before she became a mom, Eve said she felt shameful and broken because she could not have a child. On an episode of The Talk, Eve said, “As a woman, you just think things happen naturally and I felt like I was damaged.”

“I felt like I was broken. I felt like, oh well maybe I’m not good enough.”

So many women are struggling like Eve was.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that one in five heterosexual women in the United States. can’t conceive after one year of trying. Within that group, one in four women “have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.” Infertility for women happens when a condition affects the ovaries, fallopian, or uterus.

Ovulation and ovarian “age”

Ovulation kits help women track ovarian function and can be a good predictor of fertility. According to the CDC, “the most commonly used markers of ovarian function include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) value on day 3 to 5 of the menstrual cycle, anti-müllerian hormone value (AMH), and antral follicle count (AFC) using a transvaginal ultrasound.”

“A woman with irregular periods is likely not ovulating,” reports the CDC. Disruption in ovarian function might be caused by:

– Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

– Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)

– Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA)

– Improper function of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.

– Premature ovarian insufficiencyexternal icon (POI).

– Menopause.external icon

Fallopian tube impediments

Infertility is also caused by fallopian tube obstruction. Medical professionals evaluate whether fallopian tubes are open, blocked, or swollen by hysterosalpingogram or chromopertubation. The processes involve the injection of dye into the uterus to the cervix or the cervix to the uterus. A radiologist observes the movement of the dye in the body.

Obstructions with fallopian tubes might stem from “a history of pelvic infection, ruptured appendix, gonorrhea, chlamydia, endometriosisexternal icon, or prior abdominal surgery,” according to the CDC’s website.

Meet Some of The Black Entrepreneurs Saving The Planet With Their Businesses
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2022

Meet Some of The Black Entrepreneurs Saving The Planet With Their Businesses

In honor of Earth Day, it’s worth noting some of the many Black entrepreneurs who have created businesses aimed at pouring back into the planet.

Darrell Jobe developed a natural passion for preserving the planet following a number of shirt prison stints. Looking for a way to help the environment, Jobe created Vericool to help brands use environmentally safe product packaging.

“I love animals and if you do, you care about the environment because that’s how they live,” Jobe told NBC News. “All the stuff that went on in my life, that respect for the earth never left me.”

“To get beyond all that and to be able to do something to protect the environment is rewarding.”

Abdul-Matin, author of “Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet,” notes the growing number of Black-owned sustainable businesses and the shift from the stereotype that environmental advocates are typically white and wealthy.

“They represent a movement of human beings that are concerned about how we live the best possible way on the planet Earth — and how we solve problems better than we’ve ever done before,” Abdul-Martin said.

After working as an electrical engineer at a nuclear facility, Tanjuria Willis expanded her consignment shop, eKlozet, through the launch of Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week.

“Sustainable textiles are created with the environment in mind,” Willis said. “The aim is to reduce harm through the production process, fiber properties and environmental impact contributing to the reduction of waste, water conservation, lowered carbon emissions and soil regeneration.”

Willis’ sustainable fashion event showcases models wearing designs  “produced in a socially responsible manner or promotes a circular economy, thereby extending the life cycle of the garment and keeping them out of the landfill,” she said.

Abdul-Martin encourages those who are environmentally conscious to advocate and encourage others to do their part in preserving the planet.

“I would venture to say that most Black folks have a deep tradition that is already connected to the land and connected to the earth,” he said.

“And if they don’t, they may have some relatives or some folks in their families that are. We should care. We should care because it’s absolutely essential. You can’t assume that certain things that happen are part of the natural world or are random occurrences. Human impact is obvious.”

Justice Department Investigation Condemns Mississippi State Prison, Finds Conditions Unconstitutional
by Wendy Medina

April 22, 2022

Justice Department Investigation Condemns Mississippi State Prison, Finds Conditions Unconstitutional

The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that a federal investigation into Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, found the inhumane inmate conditions violated multiple constitutional rights.

Per CNN, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated that the facility violated the 8th and 14th Amendments, including failure to offer acceptable mental health treatment, failure to protect those at risk of self-harm, failure to prevent inmate violence, and practicing extended periods of solitary confinement, which has widely been considered as torture. 

As many as 12 inmates at the penitentiary have committed suicide in the last three years and 10 others have died by homicide, reports the Justice Department.

The federal probe was set in motion in February 2020 after rappers Jay-Z, Yo Gotti, and Jay-Z’s Team ROC filed a class-action lawsuit in the interest of the 227 inmates at Parchman due to the cruel COVID-19 conditions and even prior to the lockdown. 

The filed complaint stated, “The conditions of confinement at Parchman are so barbaric, the deprivation of health and mental healthcare so extreme, and the defects in security so severe, that the people confined at Parchman live a miserable and hopeless existence confronted daily by imminent risk of substantial harm in violation of their rights afforded by the U.S. Constitution.”

The department found countless evidence of systemic violations and a brutal environment for those incarcerated at the facility. The Constitution guarantees the needs of inmates at federal prisons must be met, ensuring humane treatment and safety.

“My heart goes out to the incarcerated men who have suffered without access to clean water, food and healthcare and the families that tragically lost loved ones in the process,” said Yo Gotti in response to the DOJ’s findings.

“I will continue to stand up for the voiceless until they receive justice they deserve. I’m grateful for the U.S. Department of Justice’s thorough report to hold the Mississippi Department of Corrections accountable for the cruel and inhumane treatment of the incarcerated population,” he said.

The department is currently conducting investigations into the Southern Mississippi Correctional Institution, Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and Wilkinson County Correctional Facility.

Warner Bros Discovery to Shut Down CNN+ Streaming Service
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 22, 2022

Warner Bros Discovery to Shut Down CNN+ Streaming Service

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) announced on Thursday it would shut down its CNN+ streaming news service less than a month after its highly touted launch.

The service, which sought to capitalize on the popularity of streaming video and the growth of digital news subscriptions, will cease operations on Apr. 30. The executive who helped design CNN’s streaming strategy, Andrew Morse, also will depart.

“CNN will be strongest as part of WBD’s streaming strategy which envisions news as an important part of a compelling broader offering along with sports, entertainment, and nonfiction content,” CNN Worldwide chairman and chief executive officer Chris Licht said in a statement.

“We have therefore made the decision to cease operations of CNN+.”

Licht said CNN will focus its resources on its core news-gathering operations and building CNN Digital.

CNN launched CNN+ late last month, a mix of familiar faces such as Anderson Cooper and Chris Wallace, original series and new features like the “Interview Club.” But it got off to a slow start, reportedly attracting just 10,000 viewers a day.

Its Mar. 29 debut, ahead of parent company WarnerMedia’s Apr. 8 merger with Discovery, sparked speculation about its fate as a stand-alone service.

Warner Bros Discovery’s global streaming president, J.B. Perrette, said in a statement that the CNN brand and its content will be part of a more comprehensive streaming offering. The company also operates HBO Max and Discovery+, two services the company has said it plans to combine.

funeral
by Wendy Medina

April 22, 2022

Funeral for 12-Year-Old Boy Killed in Drive-By Shooting Held in Brooklyn

Disclosure: This post involves mentions of murder and gun violence.

Twelve-year-old Kade Lewin was laid to rest in Brooklyn, NY, Wednesday. He was fatally shot while eating dinner with his family in a parked car last month.

Lewin was shot in the head while with his cousin Jenna Ellis, 20, and an 8-year-old relative on East 56th Street and Linden Boulevard in East Flatbush. The shooting occurred just after 7:45 p.m. on March 31, the New York Post reported.

Ellis was struck six times, but survived; the 8-year-old girl was not wounded. Lewin was rushed to Kings County Hospital, where he died.

Police speculate that the shooter opened fire from a stolen vehicle with out-of-state plates after coming around the block and targeting the car. According to ABC 7, neither Ellis nor Lewin were the intended target, leading police to believe it was a case of mistaken identity.

No arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation. 

“All I’m asking, please come forward, please, please somebody say something,” Kade’s mother, Suzette Lewin, said. “I’m asking for justice for Kade. Please, I’m asking for justice, please.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams said after the shooting, “This amazing young girl was just taking care of her young family members, treating them to food. Just had them out enjoying the day, the night, pulled over to watch a movie and to eat the food, and in that instant, lost him, lost Kade. Whose child is next?”

Adams, who ran his mayoral campaign on eradicating gun violence, was expected to attend a public viewing prior to the funeral at New Life Tabernacle Church, but canceled at the last minute. The burial took place at Canarsie Cemetery.

“We are calling on you all who are listening and watching to please help us to put Kade to rest,” Kade’s aunt Angela Lewin said. “If you know something, say something.”

The Lewin family have set up a GoFundMe to assist with funeral expenses and Ellis’ medical bills.

Florida Official: Amusement Ride Operator’s Mistake Caused 14-Year-Old’s Death
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2022

Florida Official: Amusement Ride Operator’s Mistake Caused 14-Year-Old’s Death

New analysis has determined that a mistake made by a ride operator led to the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson.

On Monday, officials announced findings from a forensic analysis that determined improper adjustments to a safety feature caused Sampson to fall out of a free-fall ride and plunge to his death last month, HuffPost reported.

Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried said the safety sensors on two seats on the FreeFall ride at Orlando’s ICON Park were “manually adjusted,” allowing the St.Louis teen to slip from his harness and fall to his death.

State Rep. Geraldine Thompson (D) said the adjustments were made “presumably, to allow for larger riders, which should not have happened based on the manufacturer’s guidelines.”

However, Fried notes the adjustments made the ride “unsafe.”

“These misadjustments allowed the safety lights to illuminate, improperly satisfying the ride’s electronic safety mechanisms that allowed the ride to operate, even though Mr. Sampson was not properly secured in the seat,” Fried said.

Thompson noted the FreeFall drop tower manufacturer’s guidelines put a rider’s weight limit at 250 pounds. However, Sampson’s family confirmed he weighed approximately 340 pounds, CNN reported.

The FreeFall ride also passed a safety inspection in December 2021, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services noted. Now that the mechanical adjustments have been determined, authorities will work to find out how and why they were made.

“We are deeply troubled that the preliminary findings of the State’s investigation indicate a sensor on the Orlando FreeFall attraction, which is owned and operated by the SlingShot Group, had been misadjusted after the sensor was originally secured in place,” ICON park said in a statement.

Attorneys for the operator of the Orlando Slingshot say they have “fully cooperated with the State during the initial phase of its investigation, and we will continue to do so until it has officially concluded.”

The FreeFall ride has been closed since Sampson’s March 24 death and will remain closed “indefinitely,” Fried said.

Black Univ of Penn College Students Hit With Eggs, Called Racial and Homophobic Slurs At Off-Campus Party
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2022

Black Univ of Penn College Students Hit With Eggs, Called Racial and Homophobic Slurs At Off-Campus Party

A group of Black students at the University of Pennsylvania was reportedly hit with eggs and homophobic slurs during a Spring Fling party.

On Wednesday, members of the school’s Black student group UMOJA and the Black Student League (BSL) met with the Penn administration to discuss the incident, The Daily Pennsylvanian reports. The complaints come from an April 9 party organized by Black students at a rowhome near the campus.

Approximately 100 students attended the party, with another gathering happening simultaneously at a home adjacent to the one hosting the Spring Fling party. Several individuals inside the adjoining house started hurling eggs at the Spring Fling attendees.

College junior Tyler McCormick attended the party and was hit on the chest with an egg. BSL Interim President Wendell Pritchett called the incident “disgusting,” according to McCormick.

“He said that, as a Black person, he understands that going through this world, you have to have a mask on sometimes,” McCormick said. “It’s really important, especially for Black students, to have space on campus because it feels like we have the biggest mask.”

Organizers and partygoers are unsure about who threw the eggs since it was dark outside during the party. Attendees also claim racial and homophobic slurs were hurled during the egg attack.

“You would think that we would have moved past this, but I guess it just has shown students’ true colors,” College sophomore Tarah Paul, a party attendee, said.

Interim Vice President of DPS Kathleen Shields Anderson claims police are aware of the egging incident. But partygoers complain that the party was only shut down early because of noise and not the alleged racist attacks.

“I think the fact that there was vandalism [the egging] committed and that didn’t — at least to me from where I was — seem to be a consideration of the police’s actions was definitely interesting,” said college freshman Niko Amber.

Malcolm Kenyatta Leaves Lt. Gov. John Fetterman Reeling In Heated PA Democratic Senate Primary Debate
by Derek Major

April 22, 2022

Malcolm Kenyatta Leaves Lt. Gov. John Fetterman Reeling In Heated PA Democratic Senate Primary Debate

The three candidates in the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate Primary took center stage Thursday night in a one-hour debate between U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.

The three men argued back and forth over a litany of issues including the economy, crime and guns, Ukraine, fracking and the COVID-19 pandemic.

But it was Kenyatta who started trending Thursday night when he fervently responded to Fetterman’s claim that as a former mayor he is the only candidate that directly combated gun violence.

“You’re the only Democrat who used a shotgun to chase down an unarmed Black man.” Kenyatta quickly said back.

Kenyatta brought up a 2013 incident where Fetterman confronted an unarmed Black jogger named Chris Miyares while carrying a shotgun. Fetterman, who was the mayor of Braddock at the time, saw the jogger on foot with a facemask and goggles, called 911 and pursued the jogger in his truck.

The Black candidate pressed the Lt. Gov. about the incident quickly, calling him out for the persona he gives off in his advertisements and pressing him to apologize for an incident eerily similar to what Ahmaud Arbery experienced when he was killed in February 2020, setting off the Black Lives Matter movement.

“For somebody who has cut an image as such a tough guy, you’re so afraid of two little words: ‘I’m sorry,’” Kenyatta said.

Fetterman acknowledged the incident saying rumors that he pointed the gun at Miyares “never happened” and when asked by a moderator if he’d do anything differently, Fetterman replied

WTAE reported that Miyares was eventually checked for weapons by police and let go when they did not find any. Kenyatta continued to press Fetterman for an apology saying “It’s certainly not a situation anyone would want to be in.”

Although many Pennsylvanians have heard about the incident, it was the first time that Fetterman addressed the while facing political rivals. The Lt. Gov. said he did nothing wrong and refused to apologize for the incident.

It’s unclear whether the back and forth and the story have put a dent in Fetterman’s lead, but the situation did put him in no man’s land on Thursday and he did not come out of it looking better than he did before. Additionally, Fetterman’s refusal to apologize could lead to even harsher attacks by Republicans in the general debates who will try to make him uncomfortable.

The three men also debated federal cannabis legalization, which Lamb opposed. The Covid-19 pandemic and the possible return of mask mandates, the economy and the performance of President Joe Biden, who Fetterman and Lamb gave a B+ and Kenyatta gave an A-.

Kenyatta and Fetterman did agree on one thing during the night, they both would’ve given Biden a better grade if Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) didn’t singlehandedly set fire to Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda.

Black Woman Receives Valedictorian Title 38 Years After High School Snubbed Her
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2022

Black Woman Receives Valedictorian Title 38 Years After High School Snubbed Her

A Black woman is finally being hailed as her high school’s valedictorian 38 years after the school snubbed her of the title.

Tracey Meares had the highest grades among her classmates and was on the way to becoming Springfield High’s first Black valedictorian in 1984, The Guardian reported. However, Meares was forced to share the title of “top student” with one of her white peers.

On Saturday, the school finally honored Meares following the recent release of the documentary No Title for Tracey. Despite the snub occurring nearly four decades ago, Meares can still remember the pain she felt at the time.

“It was incredibly upsetting when I was 17,” Meares said. “I remain angry about it today, and sad.”

Meares, a top legal scholar at Yale College of Law, can recall school officials at the time, possibly tampering with her school records in an attempt to snatch the valedictorian title.

“I was called to my counselor’s office, and she told me what had happened,” Meares recalled. “She said she put a lock on the file cabinet to keep anyone from getting in there again and tampering with my school record.”

Prior to 1984, Springfield High always had a valedictorian and a salutatorian, as noted by the State Journal-Register. But, as Meares’ graduation approached, school officials opted for “top students” where Meares and Heather Russell, a white student, received the honors. Springfield wouldn’t return to naming valedictorians and salutatorians until 1992.

“Who would do that to a young person?” Meares’ mother, Carolyn Blackwell, asked. “Why would you do that? We didn’t dwell on it because at that time we were, like, let’s celebrate this girl. But who would do that to a young person and every person after that until 1991?”

“It was not an individual act,” Meares’ father, Robert Blackwell, added. “That’s what makes it systemic.”

In addition to the documentary and finally receiving her rightful valedictorian title, the Southern Illinois University Institute for Plastic Surgery announced the “Tracey Meares Representation Matters” scholarship in her honor.

Kamala Harris Demands Action On The Black Maternal Health Crisis
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2022

Kamala Harris Demands Action On The Black Maternal Health Crisis

Vice President Kamala Harris is getting the word out on the Black maternal health crisis during Black Maternal Health Week.

With studies showing how Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women, the VP has deemed it a “national crisis.” Harris took to the University of California on Thursday to call out the United States for having the worst maternal mortality rate among all developed countries, HuffPost reported.

“I do believe that our nation is facing a crisis on the issue of maternal health—it’s real,” Harris said. “We know, for certain women, the risk is much higher.”

The VP noted how regardless of income or education levels, Black women are still three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications; Native American women are twice as likely.

“A big factor which contributes to these outcomes is systemic inequities,” Harris added. “Differences in how people are treated based on who they are…disparities that are often a matter of life and death.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable and occur up to a year after a woman has given birth.

Harris also used Twitter to raise awareness of the fight to improve maternal healthcare.

“Our nation is facing a maternal health crisis,” Harris tweeted. “We must take action to ensure that every woman and every mother in our nation has the care she needs to thrive.”

Harris’ campaign comes four months after she hosted the first federal Maternal Health Day of Action at the White House in December, NBC News reported.

The White House officially recognized Black Maternal Health Week in 2021 with President Joe Biden issuing a proclamation this year. The week in April was founded and is led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance.

The goal of Black Maternal Health Week is “to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the urgent importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons,” lawmakers said in a statement.

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