by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2022

Beyoncé’s MUA Teaches Makeup Looks for Any Moment in 30-Day MasterClass

MasterClass has teamed up with makeup artist to the stars Sir John for a 30-day masterclass on “How to Create Makeup Looks for Any Moment.”

Starting on May 20, Sir John will teach a structured curriculum where members will learn meaningful skills through hands-on experience, step-by-step demonstration, and an engaged community. In the 30-day class, Sir John will teach MasterClass members 12 simple makeup techniques to create three of his most sought-after looks, including the “no makeup” look, the “everyday” look, and the “icon” look.

“My philosophy is not about how the makeup looks on you, but instead it’s about how the makeup makes you feel,” Sir John said.

“I’m going to teach members the importance of viewing beauty from the inside out and how the makeup techniques I use can help them understand and appreciate their own specific beauty. Everyone is welcome here—this is a party for one and all!”

Members will get guidance from Sir John on identifying their skin type and breaking down the products and tools to help them customize a routine that is right for their complexion. The master makeup guru will also teach members how to shop for brushes and products on a budget regardless of their skin type and makeup style.

“Sir John uses makeup as a tool for empowerment,” David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass, said. “Drawing on a decades-long career as a makeup artist to icons like Beyoncé, Zendaya, and Karlie Kloss, his session teaches members of all genders and ethnicities core techniques to enhance their beauty, not cover it up.”

Through the three looks Sir John will teach, members will learn 12 versatile skills to help their beauty shine through, including how to achieve the perfect base, contour, apply cream blush, and accent the lips—all from Sir John’s signature “Boy Beat” look. Enrollment begins April 21, ahead of the class’s May 20 launch.

Colin Kaepernick Says Nike’s Value Increased By $6 Billion Following His Kneeling Protest
by Derek Major

April 22, 2022

Colin Kaepernick Says Nike’s Value Increased By $6 Billion Following His Kneeling Protest

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played since 2017, but according to Nike, he still has a significant impact on the league.

Kaepernick appeared on the I Am Athlete podcast hosted by former NFL players Chad Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder, where he said Nike greatly benefited from his likeness and anthem protest.

“When I first took a knee, my jersey went to No. 1,” he said, according to The Jasmine Brand. “When I did the deal with Nike, their value increased by $6 billion. So if you’re talking about the business side, it shows beneficial. If you’re talking about the playing side, come in, let me compete. You can evaluate me from there.

“The NFL is supposed to be a meritocracy,” Kaepernick continued. “Come in, let me compete. If I’m not good enough, get rid of me. But let me come in and show you.”

Last month, Kaepernick held a showcase at the University of Michigan spring game after being invited by Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh. He’s also had several workouts since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, but no NFL team has made an effort to sign him.

One option the former quarterback could choose is the USFL, which is in its first season after the original league disbanded in 1986, thanks to former President Donald Trump, who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. Trump won the suit, but instead of getting an NFL franchise, which was his original intent, he won all of $3.

The USFL, which will play its second week this weekend, got great numbers on television as more than 3.5 million people watched one of the weekend’s three games (the fourth game was postponed due to weather).

As he waits for his next turn in the league, Kaepernick is still fighting police brutality and conducting business. He recently partnered with former U.S. Open Champion Naomi Osaka’s KINLÒ functional suncare brand formulated specifically for people with melanated skin.

Hack Into Your Daily Productivity With Focuster
by Black Enterprise Shop

April 22, 2022

Hack Into Your Daily Productivity With Focuster

Although it’s an old cliché, the most valuable asset we possess is time. When managed successfully, the benefits are priceless. When not, well, impacts can snowball causing a mad dash for deadlines or priorities.

Focuster Productivity App offers a great way to boost productivity and maximize your free time. For a limited time, it’s available for just $59. That’s a savings of 87% from its MSRP ($480). Your one-time purchase entitles you to lifetime access to this product.

According to Focuster, one’s waster hours each month translates to “about $1,800 a month in lost revenue per person.” This product is designed to help you work more efficiently, allowing you to accomplish more in less time.

With the help of this software, you have many deployable tools and services at your tips: a calendar, smart reminders, progress trackers and so much more.

The streamlined interface design is geared to boost focus, increase productivity, prioritize tasks, and eliminate distractions. The instant calendar rescheduling function automatically updates your priorities. There are smart reminders to keep you focused throughout the day. Track your progress with an activity bar that lets your view your day at a glance, completed tasks, pending tasks, and time left to finish them.

Twenty-seven verified reviewers have rated this 4.5 stars.

“It is wonderful. It’s just like a personal assistant with your calendar. It automatically puts your tasks into the calendar to fit your free time. If you can’t finish some tasks, it automatically puts these into the next day. You can prioritize some tasks than others,” writes verified 5-star reviewer Anh L.

Other features include priority-based auto-scheduling, daily planning, real-time calendar updates, recurring actions, and calendar sync for a single Google account.

Whether you’re a student looking to squeeze the most out of your day or a busy professional looking to boost productivity, the features and tools in the Focuster Productivity App have just what you’re looking for. Purchase it today.

Prices subject to change.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 21, 2022

Angela Yee Hosts New Show About Financial Literacy ‘Money Pie’

Radio personality Angela Yee is lending her talents to a new show to teach millennials and Gen Z all about financial literacy.

Dubbed “Money Pie with Angela Yee,” the YouTube show was made in partnership with the saving and investing app Acorns to normalize conversations around money and share diverse success stories. The series welcomes some of the biggest names in entertainment to have honest conversations about money, so everyone gets a little more comfortable talking about it on their come up.

Each week, Yee will lead conversations with celebrities and industry professionals who will provide exclusive takes on financial literacy. Celebrity guests include comedian and TV Host Nick Cannon, rapper Remy Ma, and Vice President of Roc Nation, Lenny S, to name a few.

Viewers will receive unique approaches to money management while Yee and her guests offer their insight and relatable stories.

“Talking candidly about money is critical for our communities to grow their financial well-being,” Yee told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“We all have unique stories with money, investing, and saving, and by normalizing these conversations, we have the ability to inspire people to start small, no matter where they are.”

The Breakfast Club host is passionate about financial education within Black and Brown communities and has placed it at the core of her ventures. With Money Pie, Yee hopes to help people build the confidence to take control of their financial future by making money more palatable.

Some of Yee’s past financial literacy-based work includes hosting a finance podcast, Color Full Lives with My Fab Finance’s Tonya Rapley.

“I wanted to be able to empower myself and empower others through conversations like these,” Yee told Essence in 2018. “I used to worry about things like retirement and thinking I had to wait until I had a husband to buy a house. I was able to go ahead and become a homeowner on my own.”

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Pardons Anyone Convicted Of Cannabis Possession In The Last Eight Months Of 2021
by Derek Major

April 21, 2022

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Pardons Anyone Convicted Of Cannabis Possession In The Last Eight Months Of 2021

One year after pardoning 15,000 people for cannabis possession charges, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has again pardoned residents of their cannabis convictions.

Last April, Woodfin announced he was pardoning criminal convictions for possession of cannabis from 1990 through 2020. This year, Woodfin pardoned anyone in Birmingham convicted of misdemeanor possession charges in the last eight months of 2021.

According to the New York Times, Woodfin urged other mayors and governors to follow suit, saying marijuana criminalization is still being felt by people, mostly Black and Hispanic people, whose lives are dramatically affected by low-level convictions.

Recreational cannabis use in Alabama is currently illegal, and medical use didn’t become legal until Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation creating the Alabama medical marijuana program last year, ending a three-year legal battle. Many of the state’s Republican lawmakers still oppose full legalization, but mayors have executive power to grant pardons in the state. Woodfin also added he plans to continue the cannabis pardons yearly as long as he’s in office.

“This is not one of the ones I’m thumbing my nose at the state,” Woodfin told reporters. “It’s the right side of history.”

Eighteen states and Washington D.C. have fully legalized cannabis use, including New Jersey, which had its first day of recreational sales for 13 dispensaries on April 21. Northjersey.com noted the dispensaries that opened early on the first day did so with music, balloons, and excitement from the people who waited in line.

States where recreational use is still illegal include Wyoming, South Carolina, Kansas, and Idaho.

A spokesman for Woodfin told reporters it’s unclear how many people the blanket pardons would affect. Woodfin also added that the Birmingham Police Department, which continues to arrest residents for cannabis-related charges, said it is “not something the police actively wants to do” but is enforcing state law.

Normani Talks ‘Take Me Out to The Ball Game’ Remake and New Music for the Summer
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 21, 2022

Normani Talks ‘Take Me Out to The Ball Game’ Remake and New Music for the Summer

Normani put her Black Girl Magic on full display for her new partnership with Cracker Jack and its Cracker Jill program.

Speaking exclusively with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Normani shared the process for recording her reimagined rendition of the baseball classic, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” which introduces Cracker Jack’s new face, Cracker Jill, aimed at celebrating the tenacity and grit of women and girls in sports.

Normani touched on the importance of women in sports while also sharing her pride in serving as a mentor and role model for girls and women across the globe. Normani’s partnership with Cracker Jack celebrates the timeless snack adding a new face to its roster for the first time in over 125 years.

Cracker Jill was created by an expert in color theory and a trailblazer for Black artists, Monica Ahanonu, who brought the new character to life through a variety of strong, determined, and vibrant displays of Jills. The new faces represent five different female representations on a series of special-edition bags available at ballparks across the country and at CrackerJill.com while supplies last.

The five Jills were inspired by the top-five most represented ethnicities in the U.S., per data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The new faces also highlight the overarching Cracker Jill program and what it means for women’s representation in sports.

Normani’s involvement in the Cracker Jill campaign comes hot off the release of her single “Fair.” Speaking with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Normani teases what’s to come from her highly-anticipated debut album and the next single she’s blessing fans with for the summer.

Normani promises that Summer 2022 will be “lit,” and her new banger will be another anthem to get the girls through the summer.

Press play below for the full discussion and to find out when Normani plans to release her next single.

by Wendy Medina

April 21, 2022

Former Lakers Stars Coming Out Against ‘Winning Time,’ the Hit HBO Series

HBO’s new scripted series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, revolving around the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, has got the former stars feeling some type of way. 

Magic Johnson is protesting the series, instead offering an Apple TV+ alternative They Call Me Magic; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took to his blog to criticize how the storyline is not only “deliberately dishonest, it’s drearily dull;” and Jerry West, that team’s g is angered over his portrayal, demanding a retraction and apology.

It seems as though the dramatized series has struck a nerve with the former NBA champs. 

The Los Angeles Lakers of “Winning Time.” (Image: HBO) 

While the series has received positive reviews from viewers and critics alike, the living players have been entirely vocal about their disdain for Winning Time.

“First of all, you can’t do a story about the Lakers without the Lakers. The real Lakers,” Johnson, who is portrayed by newcomer Quincy Isaiah, said in a recent interview with Variety. “You got to have the guys. There’s no way to duplicate Showtime. I don’t care who you get.” 

The 1987 MVP was very adamant about not tuning in, questioning the show’s authenticity and claiming that HBO did not reach out for his or his teammates’ involvement. 

Abdul-Jabbar, depicted by Solomon Hughes, penned his thoughts on his Substack to bash the series’ writing and its failure to captivate interest, in stark contrast to reception from fans. 

“The characters are crude stick-figure representations that resemble real people the way Lego Hans Solo resembles Harrison Ford. Each character is reduced to a single bold trait as if the writers were afraid anything more complex would tax the viewers’ comprehension. Jerry Buss is Egomaniac Entrepreneur, Jerry West is Crazed Coach, Magic Johnson is Sexual Simpleton, I’m Pompous Prick.”

He goes on to attack the underdeveloped characters, the plot, and producer Adam McKay’s use of breaking the fourth wall, where the characters address the viewer directly. 

“It never held my interest enough for me to care, let alone be outraged,” the 19-time NBA All-Star writes in his 1,700+ word blog post.

On Tuesday, West, played by Jason Clarke, sent a letter from his legal team to HBO demanding a “retraction and an apology” for how the series “falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic.”

The ex-Lakers executive claims “great distress to [him] and his family” due to “a baseless and malicious assault” on his character, per the letter. 

Many fans took to Twitter to express the irony of the backlash. 

https://twitter.com/FatherNitty/status/1514791972644433922?s=20&t=-clq3uP36H3YN5rxjQ7rNw

Winning Time is based on Jeff Pearlman‘s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. It airs Sundays on HBO Max. 

 

Black Couple Reaches $150,000 Settlement After Being Racially Profiled Inside Their Own Store
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 21, 2022

Black Couple Reaches $150,000 Settlement After Being Racially Profiled Inside Their Own Store

Two Black business owners in California have been awarded $150,000 two years after they were racially profiled inside of their own store.

The city of Tiburon, California, reached a settlement with Yema Khalif and his wife, Hawi Awash, on Tuesday. Tiburon also agreed to take strides toward making Marin County more inclusive, ABC 7 reported.

The $150,000 settlement was in response to an August 2020 racial profiling incident. Khalif and Awash were working in their store late at night when police came in and asked them to prove they were the store owners.

Police only backed down after a white neighbor shouted out confirming the couple owned the store. Bodycam footage of the encounter sparked outrage on social media. The police chief and an officer resigned as a result.

“We are not begging, we are demanding to be treated with love, with dignity and with respect,” Khalif said.

Along with the settlement, Tiburon plans to form a community advisory board where members will help vet candidates for the Tiburon police department. Khalif and Awash have already secured spots on the board.

“This isn’t about just me and Yema,” Awash said. “It’s about every single Black and Brown person that comes into the Tiburon community, that comes into the Belvedere community.”

The Tiburon Police Department has also agreed to increase its racial bias training to avoid similar incidents from occurring in the future.

“We are doing something that is substantial that will help Tiburon and that will hopefully be an example for the rest of the U.S.” Awash said.

The couple was joined by Marin County activist Paul Austin who believes his house appraisal was lowballed because of his race.

“Marin County, there’s so much more work we can do in order to make this place a true melting pot,” Austin said.

The couple plans to donate part of their settlement to a charity that helps educate orphans in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Florida Bride and Caterer Arrested After Feeding Wedding Attendees Marijuana-Laced Food
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 21, 2022

Florida Bride and Caterer Arrested After Feeding Wedding Attendees Marijuana-Laced Food

A Florida bride and caterer are facing felony charges after feeding unsuspecting wedding guests a menu of cannabis-infused bites.

Danya ‘Shea’ Glenny, 42, and caterer Jocelyn Bryant, 31, were arrested and charged with reckless tampering, culpable negligence, and possessing marijuana, WESH reported. The charges stem from Glenny’s February 19 wedding where guests called 911 in a panic after eating the food and falling ill.

“I thought I was having a heart attack,” guest Miranda Cady told WESH.

“My heart was racing and before I went to bed that night, I actually slept in my car right on-site.”

One man told operators that he “felt like he had drugs inside him.” Other guests told first responders that the menu had been laced with marijuana.

“He’s like, ‘Are we stoned right now?'” Cady recalled. “And everyone was just kind of looking around each other laughing and we absolutely were.”

“We were high as a kite, out of our minds.”

Several guests complained of having stomach pains and vomiting, while others were too incoherent to give proper statements to the police. Upset attendees said they would press charges if someone had laced the food.

When police responded, Glenny initially told them there wasn’t marijuana in the food. But now, two months later, Glenny has fessed up to feeding her wedding guests a cannabis cuisine.

“I always respected her energy, her vibrance, her enthusiasm, and was really excited to celebrate with her,” Cady said.

But she had no idea that her support for Glenny’s eccentric lifestyle would result in unknowingly consuming marijuana wedding food. Glenny and Bryant were arrested on April 18, The Miami Herald reported.

“I don’t know why, I think that is the biggest question on all of our minds in speaking with some of the family members. We want an explanation,” Cady said.

Some guests are still holding their loyalty to Glenny and are refusing to speak out.

“I know so many of my friends wouldn’t want me speaking [to the media] but I think it’s so important that people stand up for what’s right and you have to respect other people’s free will and boundaries and to have a choice in something like that,” Cady said.

Jada Pinkett Smith Says Family is Focusing on ‘Deep Healing’ After Will Smith Oscars Slap
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 21, 2022

Jada Pinkett Smith Says Family is Focusing on ‘Deep Healing’ After Will Smith Oscars Slap

Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook Watch show, Red Table Talk, returned Wednesday, and somewhat addressed the controversy surrounding her husband Will Smith’s Oscars slap attack against Chris Rock.

“Considering all that has happened in the last few weeks, the Smith family has been focused on deep healing,” the show’s title cards read.

“Some of the discoveries around our healing will be shared at the table when the time calls. Until then…the table will continue offering itself to powerful, inspiring and healing testimonies like that of our incredibly impressive first guest.”

During the half-hour episode, with singer and actress Janelle Monáe, Pinkett Smith made no mention of the now-infamous slap. Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years. The interview was filmed prior to the 94th annual Oscars’ March 27 taping, CNN reported.

While he can still get nominated and even win, he will not be able to attend to receive the award. Smith shocked the world when he walked on stage during the live show to slap Rock for making a GI Jane joke about Jada’s shaved head.

Smith issued the now infamous slap moments before he returned to the stage to accept his first Academy Award for his performance in King Richard. He had been nominated twice before in his illustrious career.

Prior to the Academy issuing the ban, Smith resigned from the Academy on April 1, ABC 11 reported. Smith released a statement saying he agrees with the Academy’s decision.

Pinkett Smith has remained silent on the slap and its fallout despite her vague references to “healing” on social media and now on her show. Chris Rock has also been silent and has only lightly touched on the incident during his live stand-up shows.

Apparently, the comedian is looking to get “paid” to sit down and openly discuss the embarrassing attack.

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