• Fashion & Beauty

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 21, 2022

Macy’s Celebrates the Brilliant Vision of Black Creatives With the Return of Icons of Style

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Macy’s celebrates Black creatives with the return of Icons of Style, a collaboration with Black visionaries to help move the fashion world forward. GooGoo Atkins, Areeayl Goodwin, Matthew Harris, Jerome LaMaar, Ade Samuel and Stella and Blaise Bennett will create limited-edition seasonal collections throughout 2022 to inspire customers to embrace their personal style. Featuring exclusive designs for brands found only at Macy’s, each creative artfully designed a fashion-forward capsule of must-have items, inspired by their unique perspective and dynamic style.

The first capsule of Icons of Style is available now on macys.com, the Macy’s app and select locations nationwide. Through the brand’s Mission Every One, social purpose platform, Macy’s continues to intensify its commitment to amplify Black brands and introduce more diverse design talent into its assortment; while offering customers an elevated fashion experience. Icons of Style will feature three seasonal must-have collections with later capsules launching in July and October, according to a press release.

“We are proud to announce the second iteration of Icons of Style with a new group of Black visionaries who are bringing their creative excellence to Macy’s and inspiring customers to own their style with one-of-a-kind pieces,” said Durand Guion, vice president, Macy’s Fashion Office.

“We are committed to helping diverse brands grow to scale and amplifying diverse voices to create more choices and robust shopping experiences for our customers while shaping a brighter future with bold representation for all.”

GooGoo for Bar III

GooGoo for Bar III is a celebration of curves and womanhood. GooGoo’s passion for design was born from having to improvise her wardrobe due to limited choices in plus size fashion. Designed with functionality, versatility, and a touch of statement making moments in mind, the plus size capsule features mix and match suiting, bold graphic prints and flirty accents. True to the Bar lll aesthetic, the capsule is the perfect mix of both feminine and modern components.

“I was inspired to create this collection because someone who looks like me needed to make clothes for me. I have a colorful and feminine personality and my clothes represent that,” said GooGoo Atkins.

“My followers have said if you give us a line, we know it will be intended for us. I want my fans and followers to feel like I’ve listened to them, care about them and that my heart and soul is in this.”

HOME by Areeayl for I.N.C International Concepts

HOME by Areeayl for I.N.C International Concepts is inspired by the concept of home and the peace it brings. After the sudden passing of her godmother, Areeayl used her jewelry creations to heal and redefine what home meant now that her world had suddenly changed. The collection features one-of-a-kind keepsake jewelry adorned with intricate detailing, African iconography and gold embellishments for shoppers who love to make a statement.

“My collection is inspired by pieces that symbolize home so I can feel at home wherever I am. I want people when they wear my jewelry to feel grounded, protected, affirmed and special,” said Areeayl Goodwin.

“My pieces are wearable art and allow the wearer to express themselves in a deep and personal way.”

MATEO for I.N.C International Concepts

Extending his love for creative self-expression and bold fashion moments, MATEO for I.N.C International Concepts brings forth the power of the statement bag and heel. Matthew mixes unexpected shapes and dramatic details to spark confidence in every step. Using pops of colors in green and yellow, a nod to his Jamaican heritage, the collection features a breadth of styles that are timeless, versatile, and collectible. Matthew Harris is an alumnus of The Workshop at Macy’s, a first-of-its-kind diverse and women-owned vendor development program.

“It has always been a burning desire for me to create shoes and this was the perfect opportunity to do so,” said Matthew Harris.

“I want customers to feel empowered and beautiful when she wears a piece from MATEO for INC.”

5:31 by JEROME LAMAAR for And Now This

5:31 by JEROME LAMAAR for And Now This is a gender fluid collection with a modern, trendforward look. Jerome effortlessly uses their exceptional eye to combine dynamic use of colors, patterns, and silhouettes into instantly covetable items all geared towards statement making style. True to the And Now This carefree aesthetic, the collection features perfect transitional pieces for an on-trend day to night look.

“This collection was inspired by a balance of masculine and feminine vibes – there are no gender norms in my eyes,” said Jerome LaMaar.

“When the fashion dreamer discovers these clothes, I want them to feel magical, seen, loved and most importantly happy.”

Ade Samuel for I.N.C International Concepts

Ade Samuel for I.N.C International Concepts is for the woman who wants to be the architect of her own look. Inspired by her personal style and love for fashion, the collection features bold, vibrant prints that take form in feminine suiting, blouses and dresses – perfect for the girl who loves an outfit change. From elevated silky fabrics to eye-catching designs, the collection has the pieces to makes her feel beautiful and special every day.

“What inspired this collection was a sense of airiness, color, sophistication and femininity. I wanted to create a chic collection that spoke to me and others who are like minded,” said Ade Samuel.

“I want my consumer to feel sexy, bold, empowered, playful and most importantly themselves.”

Stella & Blaise for Epic Threads

Stella & Blaise for Epic Threads provides a modern take on kids clothing. The capsule features an exciting assortment of mix and match, his and her sets perfect for fashionable fun. Highlighted by vibrant prints, graphic tees and cozy fabrics with pops of blue and purple, Stella & Blaise for Epic Threads is perfect for school, the playground or a play date with friends.

“We want everyone to feel comfortable when wearing our collection all day long,” said Stella and Blaise Bennett.

“Our favorite colors are blue because it is fun and energetic and purple because it is cool and chill.”

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 21, 2022

Tackling Health Disparities and Inequities for Women with Heart Failure: New Program Encourages Black and Latina Women to Demand More From Their Care

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Despite a similar prevalence of the chronic condition, women diagnosed with heart failure have worse outcomes compared to men. A deeper look reveals that among Black and Latina women with heart failure, negative health outcomes are magnified due to significant health disparities and inequities that exist in the management of the condition.

To address this critical unmet need, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) announced the launch of Hear Your Heart, a health initiative that empowers women with heart failure to prioritize their care, according to a press release. Hear Your Heart will provide unique, tailored resources and educational content, including perspectives from others living with heart failure and experts who treat the condition.

Visit HFHearYourHeart.com to learn more.

Women’s experiences with heart failure reveal gaps in care

Although professional guidelines show no difference in recommendations based on gender, recent data reveals that healthcare professionals are less likely to adhere to guidelines in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in women when compared to men, which can lead to under treatment. Moreover, Black and Latina women with heart failure face additional obstacles in treatment. They are less likely to be admitted to specialized cardiology units, which can lead to worse outcomes. Black women with heart failure have a higher mortality rate compared to white women, and heart disease — which includes heart failure — is the second leading cause of death for Latina women. These realities underscore the need for better education and access to improve care. Working together to understand and address these findings is a critical step forward in the treatment of heart failure for women.

Hear Your Heart is specially designed to tackle these notable disparities in heart failure treatment by encouraging proactive, ongoing conversations and providing actionable steps for women living with heart failure, care partners and healthcare providers to help improve outcomes.

“Heart failure affects more than six million people in the U.S. and has a considerable effect on quality of life. The burden of this disease is compounded for Black and Latina women who face unique challenges and barriers that prevent optimal heart failure care,” said Alanna Morris, MD, MSc, FHFSA, FACC, FAHA, associate professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine.

“I am proud to lend my voice to Hear Your Heart in support of a platform to address health equity issues in these underserved communities. It’s time for the women who give so much to their families and communities to be encouraged to listen to what their heart needs, ask for support and take control of their heart failure care.”

Prioritizing heart health and care

Heart failure care can be complicated and overwhelming, and for women who also take care of their loved ones, their own health is frequently deprioritized. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two out of every three care partners — those who provide ongoing support to a loved one — in the U.S. are women, and women who are care partners have a greater risk for poor physical and mental health.

“Individual support will look different for each person, but implementing lifestyle changes, prioritizing mental health and ensuring associated conditions are managed with diligent self-care and medication adherence are just a few important aspects of heart failure care,” explained Dr. Alanna Morris.

“Improved management could also include seeking a second opinion, asking for a referral to a specialist or connecting with a local advocacy group for added support.”

“Proactive and comprehensive heart failure care can lead to better patient outcomes not just for the cardiovascular system, but the renal and metabolic systems as well, given they are interconnected,” said Anita Holz, MSN, CRNP, executive director, Therapeutic Area Head Cardiometabolism, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

“With Hear Your Heart, we are not only providing education and resources to support holistic care, but we are encouraging women with heart failure to reassess their care to determine what areas they can address to put themselves first and feel their best living with the condition.”

Professional representation and education is critical for equitable care

While women living with heart failure can and should be their own advocate, healthcare professionals also have a responsibility to provide equitable, quality care. Research shows that a lack of representation among healthcare professionals can contribute to health disparity and equity issues. Currently, only 37% of physicians are female, and of that 37%, only 2% are Black women. Hispanics make up more than 18% of the population, but just 6% of healthcare professionals. Increased education among current and future healthcare providers dedicated to the unique needs of these women is crucial to addressing the care disparities that currently exist.

Hear Your Heart will grow to include programming and resources for healthcare providers and medical students. Spanish language resources will be available later in 2022.

“Bridging the gap in health disparities for Black and Latina women with heart failure is no easy task, but the Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly Alliance understands health equity efforts must both address the unmet needs of this patient population and support education among the current and next generation professional community,” said Matt Caffrey, associate vice president of U.S. Diabetes/CV Marketing, Lilly Diabetes.

“We are thinking beyond treatments to engage healthcare professionals in this critical issue and look to arm women living with heart failure with the information they need to ensure they are able to advocate for optimal care.”

• Women

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 21, 2022

Dark & Lovely and Storm Reid Host Building Beautiful Futures Masterclass: ‘A Black Girl’s Guide to Mentorship’

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Dark & Lovely, a leader in Black beauty for the last 50 years, is hosting their first-ever Building Beautiful Futures Mentoring Masterclass: A Black Girl’s Guide to Mentorship on Monday, Apr. 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

As part of the event, Dark & Lovely’s Brand ambassador, actress, producer and “artivist,” Storm Reid will discuss the power of mentorship and offer key advice and takeaways for young Black women navigating their academic and career journeys. The virtual event, the first in the Building Beautiful Futures Mentorship Masterclass series, will be hosted by Symone Sanders, author, advocate and host of upcoming show, SYMONE on MSNBC and MSNBC’s streaming platform, Peacock. The Masterclass will also feature NAACP Chief Strategy Officer, Yumeka Rushing, and a musical set by DJ Kiss, according to a press release.

The event is open to everyone and free of charge. To register please visit: https://hopin.com/events/buildingbeautifulfutures.

“Throughout my life, I have been lucky enough to have mentors that have guided me and been a consistently present support to help me get to where I am today,” said Storm Reid.

“I’m so excited to join Dark & Lovely in hosting this event to help share the importance and ability to create a shared community and support system for all of our journeys, especially as young Black females.”

A Black Girl’s Guide to Mentorship will address topics such as: “how to get a mentor,” “how to be a great mentee,” “goal setting,” “time management,” “intention setting” and more, while creating space for attendees to share their experiences and connect. Participants will also enjoy surprise giveaways throughout the session courtesy of Dark & Lovely.

“With the Building Beautiful Futures mentorship masterclass series, we aim to inspire and uplift the next generation of Black female leaders,” commented Erica Culpepper, general manager, Dark & Lovely.

“Now more than ever, young Black women are in need of actionable support that can propel them forward.”

Launched in January 2022, the Building Beautiful Futures initiative was developed to help bring educational and career equity to Black, female college students and young professionals through scholarships, mentorship and career coaching opportunities. As part of this initiative, Dark & Lovely has partnered with the NAACP Youth & College Division to provide four-year scholarships of $10,000 per year for young Black women pursuing four-year degrees.

Applications for the Building Beautiful Futures scholarships are now open through May 20, 2022. Apply at: https://naacp.org/find-resources/scholarships-awards-internships/scholarships/building-beautiful-futures-scholarship.

“The NAACP prides itself in supporting the enhancement of the lives of the Black community,” said Rushing.

“Recent events highlighted in public, such as the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, further push the necessity for higher education among young Black women. Through our partnership with Dark & Lovely, the NAACP Youth and College Division takes pride in aiding the achievements of our scholarship recipients throughout their undergraduate matriculation. I’m honored to be a part of such monumental influence for the betterment of Black women’s success.”

Join Dark & Lovely in the fight to Close the Opportunity Gap by visiting: https://softsheen-carson.com/buildingbeautifulfutures. Also, follow @darkandlovely and @NAACP on Instagram for real-time program announcements and information.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 21, 2022

‘Chopped’ Grand Champion TV Chef Madison Cowan Accused of Owing $70K in Back Rent

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Who wouldn’t want to take two years off from paying rent? This seems to be the case for TV chef Madison Cowan, who has left one New York landlord scrambling financially after failing to pay rent for 28 months.

Brooklyn property owner Gus Sheha has accused the Iron Chef star of owing $73,700 on a one-bedroom Boerum Hill apartment he’s lived in with his family since October 2019, The New York Post reported. Cowan’s rent for his expired two-year lease ran about $2,700 to $2,750 a month.

However, the Food Network’s Chopped champion supposedly stopped paying rent in January 2020. Cowan is accused of taking advantage of the pandemic-led state moratorium on evictions from March 2020 to January 15.

Sheha said the well-paid TV chef has the means to pay his bills.

“He leaves his house wearing a different fur every day,” Sheha said. “How broke can he be? If there was no COVID-19, I would have taken him to court two years ago to get him evicted.”

The landlord shared an Aug. 31 email where Cowan admitted to not paying rent because the pandemic  “negatively impact[ed]” his “income and bottom line.” However, his website boasts his résumé that includes private catered events for A-listers like Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, and Anthony Anderson.

In January, Cowan was sent a 90-day eviction notice once the moratorium was lifted. However, he reportedly has yet to respond.

Sheha knows he faces a lengthy legal process that could take up to a year before Cowan would be forced to leave the apartment due to the housing court system being backlogged.

Cowan is a British-born chef who found fame after being crowned the first Grand Champion of Food Network’s Chopped. Cowan also co-stars in BBC America’s travel series, No Kitchen Required, has judged cooking competitions on Food Network’s Extreme Chef, and has appeared in cooking segments on NBC’s Today Show and CBS This Morning.

• News

by Derek Major

April 21, 2022

Wells Fargo Refuses Black Female Judge In Class Action Racial Discrimination Case

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Lawyers representing Wells Fargo Bank refused to consent to the jurisdiction of a Black female U.S. District Court judge to preside over a class-action racial discrimination lawsuit.

“In a case that is clearly about race and discriminatory practices rooted in the color of a person’s skin, the irony was not lost on us that Wells Fargo would summarily reject the only African American female magistrate in the Northern District of California to hear this case,” Trent Copeland, a partner at Ellis George Cipollone, the law firm representing the plaintiffs, told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“And so coming on the heels of the historic appointment  of the first Black Supreme Court Justice, it seemed to be another insult to an already significant injury that our client and similarly situated plaintiffs feel.”

Earlier this week, the bank filed an objection to Magistrate Judge Kandis Westmore, the only Black female judge currently sitting on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, to preside over the case. Westmore has been a magistrate judge for a decade and served for 13 years as the deputy city attorney for Oakland.

The case has been reassigned to Judge Jacqueline S. Corley in the San Francisco Division.

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%).

Copeland added that this isn’t the first time Wells Fargo has been under fire for racial discrimination, with claims dating back to 2012.

“Remember in 2012 when Wells Fargo was ordered by the Justice Department to pay more than $180 million to settle federal claims that it unfairly steered Black and Latino homeowners into subprime mortgages,” Copeland said. “In 2018, the City of Sacramento accused Wells Fargo of a long-standing pattern and practice of illegally lending in minority and low-income communities.’ This is the same company and bank that was ordered to pay $3 billion to settle a civil and criminal investigation associated with creating phony and rampant credit cards and bank accounts, most of which were African American customers.”

Wells Fargo emailed a statement to Black Enterprise related to the situation.

“These allegations are offensive and patently ridiculous. Wells Fargo has simply exercised its option to place this matter of great significance before an Article III District Court Judge, as is customary in nationwide class actions,” Wells Fargo spokeswoman Jennifer Langan said in a statement. “In fact, the firm of the attorney who issued this statement similarly declined Magistrate Judge Westmore’s jurisdiction in a different case in February 2021; presumably for procedural reasons.”

• Health and Wellness

by Jasmine Jackson

April 21, 2022

Harlem Pilates Founder: ‘It’s So Gratifying to Know You’re Doing Exactly What You Should Be Doing’

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Tiffany Mason, founder of Harlem Pilates, was absolutely buzzing and could hardly sit still when I spoke to her for an upcoming episode of the Get a Real Job podcast. It makes sense when you consider that she runs an exercise studio devoted to getting people moving and also that she was just named a winner of the Make It Awards.

Harlem Pilates is one of four winning businesses that Squarespace and the New York Knicks are giving a $30,000 grant, a one-year subscription for Squarespace, use of select Squarespace marketing inventory, including a yearly Unfold Pro subscription, and a feature segment on MSG Networks.

“It is so exciting,” she told Entrepreneur.

“And honestly, I’m still processing it.”

Entrepreneur spoke with the inspiring Mason about the launch and growth of Harlem Pilates and got her inside tips for any entrepreneur who is about to pitch their business to competition judges or investors. These are highlights from that conversation, which have been edited for length and clarity.

It all starts with passion

“Before I started this business, I was an executive assistant working for an advertising agency. And as much as I loved my job, what I really love to do is help people. So there was a bit of a void there for me. The passion was lacking. So I decided to try to launch Harlem Pilates. But I didn’t just jump in. I founded the company two years before we even started looking at brick-and-mortar spaces. I kept my job and did a lot of careful planning. My apartment at the time was basically a one-bedroom with a big closet. So I moved all my personal stuff to my closet and was going to make the larger space the studio. But when we had our first class at my apartment, I was like, this is so much bigger than what I’m downsizing it to be. That’s when I started to take it seriously. I moved a little bit faster with the paperwork and started to look at funding options. Then I started to meet with brick-and-mortar spaces and here we are!”

Having a unique vision

“I definitely think that being a woman of color gives me a perspective of certain things that particularly black women are looking for when they go to these spaces. But at the same time, we’re available and cater to all people. I’m very intentional about all of the little things in the studio, such as the soaps, the lotions, the scent, the feel, the colors, the music. We have a very clean, minimalist feel because I have had experience with spaces where pictures were up and I just couldn’t identify with them. This way, everyone feels welcome.”

Pitching your business

“My biggest advice is to never count yourself out. When I first thought of applying for the Make It Awards, I thought there was no way they were going to notice my little application. We’re just this small little studio in the middle of upper Manhattan. No way! But you can’t disqualify yourself. I was looking for ways to fund Harlem Pilates without going into debt and learned about this contest and tried. Now, I love paperwork — that’s my strength! And I think that helped me stand out.”

Support all around you

“The $30,000 award is based on the fact that Anthony Casalena, the founder and CEO of Squarespace, was loaned $30,000 by his dad to get his idea up and going. That story really resonated with me because when you have someone — a family member, friends, the bank — invest in you and believe in what you’re doing sometimes, it fuels your passion to figure out the rest.”

Empowering your business and the community

“The most powerful marketing tool for us has been word of mouth. Good things travel fast! You know, people across the street who grabbed their coffee after dropping their kids off at school might see the sign and peek in the door and then they become a client. And then they tell another parent at the school about it, and then they come in. It is very old school, but word of mouth has helped us tremendously. And that sense of community building is what I plan to use the award money for. We’re going to offer scholarships for people who may be experiencing financial difficulties to access a class for little to no cost. We want them to feel empowered and be around community members, so they don’t feel so alone.”

Getting results

“When our classes end, my clients get a great workout and they’re kind of beaming. And I’m beaming with them and I didn’t even do the class! The energy in the room is something that can’t really be explained, but it definitely can be felt. There’s a lot of gratitude. There’s a lot of alignment as it relates to like me just feeling like I’m exactly where I should be, that I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing.”

A former Real Housewife of Atlanta has filed a lawsuit claiming executives allowed racial comments and innuendos that created a hostile work environment while filming the television series.

On Wednesday, reality TV star NeNe Leakes, who is no stranger to controversy, sued the production companies and the network behind the reality TV show, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Page six reports.

In the paperwork filed, Leakes stated the network enabled and tolerated a hostile and racist work environment.

Leakes filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Atlanta. She said she complained to television executives about years of racist comments from her fellow castmate, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, who is white. No action was taken against Zolciak-Biermann, yet Leakes claims she suffered the consequences.

The defendants named in the lawsuit are NBCUniversal, Bravo, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives from the companies, and Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen.

The 54-year-old Leakes was on the show for seven seasons between 2008 and 2020.

In a written statement from her attorney, David deRubertis, he stated,

“From the day the series began filming, NeNe was the target of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen and other executives.”

The lawsuit states that her complaints are partially why Leakes was forced off the show in 2020 before its 13th season.

Although her former co-star isn’t named in the lawsuit, Leakes claims during the first season in 2008, the cast was planning to go to a barbecue. In response, Zolciak-Biermann said “words to the effect of: ‘I don’t want to sit around with NeNe and eat chicken.’” That statement, “perpetuated an offensive stereotype about African-Americans,” Leakes alleges.

The lawsuit also states that in 2012 during the fifth season, Zolciak-Biermann, once again, made “racially offensive and stereotypical” comments about the new home of fellow housewife Kandi Burruss. She remarked that Burruss’ neighborhood was in a “ghetto” and perpetuated a racial stereotype in an offensive statement about whether the former Xscape singer needed a swimming pool.

Leakes’ contends that her complaints fell on deaf ears to the show’s executivefs. They “did not terminate their relationship with Zolciak-Biermann, nor take any other meaningful action to put an end to her racially-offensive behavior,” yet, they rewarded her with a spinoff show, she said.

Emails sent to representatives of the defendants and Zolciak-Biermann seeking comment were not immediately returned to the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Earlier this month Leakes took to social media to claim that she was being harassed and blackballed for speaking her “truth.”

Stop harassing me, my business and my family! Stop having me followed, stop blacklisting black women for speaking the truth, stop paying off attorneys to not file discrimination claims! STOP IT

— NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) April 12, 2022

• Politics

by Derek Major

April 21, 2022

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Says City Government Will Not Work With Wells Fargo Over ‘Persisting Track Record of Discrimination’

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the city government would not open any new accounts with Wells Fargo Bank over its discriminatory lending practices and numerous racial discrimination lawsuits.

Wells Fargo has faced racial discrimination lawsuits from employees and customers, including Black and Hispanic homeowners. Additionally, a Bloomberg News investigation found the bank approved Black homeowners seeking to refinance mortgages during the pandemic at a much lower rate than White homeowners.

“In light of this persisting track record of discrimination, New York City will not be opening any new depository accounts with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as we continue to investigate these troubling findings,” Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander wrote in a joint statement.

In the joint letter to Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf, Adams and Lander cited the bank’s “checkered history” of mortgage business going back to the 2008 housing crisis.

The announcement comes less than a month after Adams was seen at a Wells Fargo promotional event for a credit card targeted at renters with Pennsylvania Senate Candidate Mehmet Oz and actress and model Cara Delevingne.

Bloomberg’s investigation showed the bank approved 47% of Black homeowners’ completed applications for refinancing their homes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Wells Fargo approved 72% of applications completed by White homeowners.

Adams isn’t the only politician targeting the bank. According to CBS News, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are demanding answers on Wells Fargo’s discriminatory mortgage-refinancing practices toward Black homeowners.

The bank, which has made efforts to appeal to Black Americans by giving millions to help support small Black businesses, investing in Black banks, and hiring actress Regina King for promotional spots, denied the allegations.

“In 2020, Wells Fargo was the largest bank lender for home mortgages to Black families. This is consistent with the company’s performance over the last decade (2011 – 2020), in which it helped as many Black families purchase homes as the next three largest bank lenders combined. Any suggestion that our home lending practices are discriminatory is meritless.”

Last week, Mayor Curtis Hayes, a Black recipient of an NAACP diversity award, signed a proclamation delegating April Confederate History Month in Livingston, Tennessee.

During the announcement, mayor Hayes was joined by six white members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV).

According to the Daily Mail, there is no party affiliation on record for Mayor Hayes.

While the SCV’s website condemns racism while commemorating the history of the Confederacy, it is clear that the Confederacy fought loud and proud in support of slavery, sought to continue slavery, and left the U.S. after the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. Southern states saw slavery as a material interest and were heavily dependent on a plantation system of enslaved Africans to pick cotton. The Confederacy suspected President Lincoln would free the slaves, which he ultimately did.

Tennessee joins a larger body of states already commemorating the Confederacy. According to News4Jax, Apr. 26 legally remained Confederate Memorial Day in Florida last year. Georgia removed the holiday from its official state calendar in 2016 after the Charleston, S.C. church shooting—though it remains a state holiday.

Forbes reported state offices closing in observance of Confederate Memorial Day in Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi in 2021. Gov. Tate Reeves removed the Confederate battle symbol from the Mississippi state flag in 2020. Yet, the Republican governor observed the Confederate holiday this year.

The declaration came amid efforts to retire other Confederate emblems in the U.S. Former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam brought down a 21-foot statue of Confederate Army Gen. Robert E. Lee in 2020. The monument was removed shortly after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. A time capsule was also replaced and filled with artifacts, including a Black Lives Matter sticker and an outdated vial of a COVID-19 vaccine. Gov. Northam said, “This was a long time coming, part of the healing process so Virginia can move forward and be a welcoming state with inclusiveness and diversity.”

While 73 Confederate symbols were removed in the U.S. in 2021, 723 remain.

A lifelong resident of Overton County, Mayor Hayes was elected in 2006. At the time of his re-election, the mayor made note of his ability to understand the people, according to Overton County News. 

“Growing up here helps me understand our ways, our needs, and our special place. I always try to do what’s best for the people, and that’s why I have a ‘People-First, Open-Door Policy’ at the City,” Mayor Hayes said.

The Livingston mayor received the NAACP Cookeville Diversity Award on Oct. 23, 2021. Livingston Enterprise reports he did not expect the award. Mayor Hayes stated, “I never would have thought in a million years, first of all, that I would be in a position where I am currently.”