Illinois Car Dealership Agrees To $10 Million Settlement For Charging Black Customers More
by Derek Major

April 5, 2022

Illinois Car Dealership Agrees To $10 Million Settlement For Charging Black Customers More

An Illinois-based car dealership has agreed to a $10 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and the Ilinois Attorney General’s office after charging Black customers more for financing during purchases.

According to an FTC release, Ed Napleton Automotive, located in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, agreed to the settlement Friday after a complaint was filed against nine dealerships owned by Napleton Automotive in Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.

The complaint alleged the dealership group charged thousands of customers “hundreds or thousands of dollars” for additional charges, including “payment insurance” and “paint protection,” without informed consent. According to the FTC release, the complaint adds Black customers were charged up to $190 more in interest and $99 more in similar add-ons for “similarly situated” non-Latino white customers.

The FTC release states the dealerships would add the fees after hours-long negotiations and “sneak junk fees for add-on products and services into customer contracts,” despite customers declining the add-ons.

“Working closely with the Illinois Attorney General, we are holding these dealerships accountable for discriminating against minority consumers and sneaking junk fees onto people’s bills,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in the release.

“Especially as families struggle with rising car prices, dealerships that cheat their customers can expect to hear from us.”

Ed Napleton Automotive was founded in 1951 and has 51 dealerships across eight states. Dealerships in Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were not involved in the settlement. Napleton dealerships involved in the settlements included five dealerships in Illinois, four in Florida, one in Pennsylvania, and one in Missouri.

In a statement Friday, a spokesman for the Napleton group denied all wrongdoing despite the allegations and settlement.

“The Ed Napleton Dealership Group has resolved disputed claims made by the Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois Attorney General’s office,” spokesperson Tilden Katz said. “We made this decision to avoid the disruption of an ongoing dispute with the government. As a result, we reluctantly determined that it was in our best long-term business interests to resolve these matters.”

According to the FTC, a survey showed 83% of buyers from the dealerships named were charged junk fees for add-ons without authorization.

Here We Go Again: August Alsina Subtly References ‘Entanglement’ With Jada Pinkett-Smith in New Music
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 5, 2022

Here We Go Again: August Alsina Subtly References ‘Entanglement’ With Jada Pinkett-Smith in New Music

Fresh on the heels of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock for joking about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, the actress is being referenced by her former “entanglement” partner.

August Alsina recently released a song called “Shake The Room,” where he seemingly makes a subtle reference to his infamous “entanglement” with Jada.

“Well, of course some s – – t is bound to go down when you tangled up with the world’s favorite,” Alsina sings in a clip posted to his Instagram page.

 

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Alsina’s vocal reference to being “tangled up with the world’s favorite” seemingly references Jada’s 2020 confession of being in an “entanglement” with August while separated from her husband, Will Smith.

“From there, you know, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August,” Pinkett Smith said.

After Will encouraged her to clarify what she meant by “entanglement,” Pinkett Smith admitted, “It was a relationship, absolutely.”

Her confession came one month after Alsina revealed the affair during an interview with Angela Yee, saying he “gave years of his life” to Jada in a romantic relationship.

Just last week, Will and Jada made nationwide headlines after Smith slapped Chris Rock during the live broadcast of the Academy Awards. Smith was upset with the comedian for making a joke about Jada’s shaved head.

While Smith initially laughed at the “GI Jane” joke, once he saw that Jada was offended, he stepped on stage and physically assaulted Rock in front of everyone. Since the slap, Smith has had films paused as he continues to face criticism from Hollywood, Rolling Stone reports.

While Smith was defending his wife when attacking Rock, many were confused why he showed so much emotion to the comedian than he did when August Alsina admitted to sleeping with his wife. Now to add more fuel to the fire, the singer is still making records about his romantic history with Will’s wife.

Chris Rock might not be the only one Will wants to keep his wife’s name out his “muthaf**king mouth!”

Keep My Wife's Name Out Your Fucking Mouth Will Smith to Chris Rock

MoCaFi Launches One-Stop App To Help Black Americans Become Homeowners
by Jeffrey McKinney

April 5, 2022

MoCaFi Launches One-Stop App To Help Black Americans Become Homeowners

Hoping to assist in closing the racial wealth gap, Mobility Capital Finance Inc. is offering a new one-stop personal finance app to help Black Americans buy their first home.

Calling itself a financial platform for economic empowerment, the firm, known as MoCaFi, is uniting with FinLocker and TransUnion to launch the Blueprint app. It allows people to monitor their assets and liabilities, simulate steps to gain a strong credit score, and create a favorable financial profile to obtain a mortgage.

Per a news release, the app is geared to help would-be wealth-builders improve their spending, budgeting, credit health, financial knowledge, and gain access to capital. People can use the app to build credit, connect to their bank account to manage finances, reduce debt, and create budgets. The app can help users save for a down payment and closing costs and track their progress to become mortgage-ready.

The app’s timing is perhaps fitting, given buying a home remains a challenge for many people of color. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the homeownership rate for Black households was just 43.1% in the fourth quarter of 2021. That rate compares to 74.4% for white households.

Wole Coaxum, the founder and CEO of MoCaFi, spoke about the alliance with FinLocker and TransUnion.

“Through our partnership, we will empower customers with the financial tools and educational resources to improve consumers’ financial literacy and prepare them to qualify for a mortgage. As a result, we are giving all Americans an opportunity to achieve the dream of homeownership.”

MoCaFi reported it’s also partnering with top mortgage lenders to offer first-time home mortgage aid to eligible Blueprint by MoCaFi customers. New homeowners can keep using the app to check their home’s value and equity and maintain credit and positive financial habits to become successful homeowners.

Brian Vieaux, president and COO at FinLocker, added, “FinLocker and TransUnion’s partnership with MoCaFi aims to address the disparity in wealth and access to financial services of underserved consumers with the convenience of a mobile app that will guide them on a personalized path to become successful homeowners.”

Joe Mellman, senior vice president and mortgage business leader at TransUnion, said, “By providing more transparency around the conditions typically required by loan originators, better financial literacy on building credit and offering access to tools that share greater insight into individual mortgage readiness, together we can better assist more consumers on their path to successfully buying a home.”

For more details on the app, click here. 
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 5, 2022

Michelle Materre, Film Historian & Leader for Women in Independent Film, Dies at 67

The community of Black and independent filmmakers is mourning the loss of Michelle Materre, a champion of the independent film industry who passed away from cancer last month at age 67.

Materre passed away at a hospital in White Plains, New York, on March 11, a Facebook post from The Black Documentary Collective read.


The acclaimed film historian was well known and respected for her unwavering dedication to ensuring diverse stories were told through film.

Her three decades of work impacted future generations of independent filmmakers and helped award-winning films see the light of day. While running her film distribution and marketing company, ​​KJM3 Entertainment Group Inc., from 1990 to 2001, Materre directly managed the release of 23 independent films, as noted by The New School Free Press.

Some of the projects under her belt include Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed by Shola Lynch, Channel Thirteen/WNET’s national series The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow, and Black Women in Medicine by Crystal Emery. Materre also curated Creatively Speaking, a film series dedicated to women filmmakers and people of color.

“During this period, filmmakers were typically producing totally on their own, without limited support and resources from institutions and grant-making agencies – indeed getting the work produced ‘one way or another,’” Materre shared in Black Camera: An International Film Journal in 2019.

“Yet, this work lives on and remains relevant today, fulfilling the mission of the Creatively Speaking Film Series to capture the often-buried voices, harsh realities, and boundless creativity of historically marginalized and underrepresented filmmakers of color.”

The New School professor leaves behind a community of students and supporters celebrating her life by remembering all she contributed to the independent film community.

“Michelle will be remembered as a tireless advocate and champion of films by and about women and people of color, a beloved teacher, an engaged university citizen, and a cherished colleague,” the New School wrote in a lengthy statement.

Emmy and Peabody award-winning director Neema Barnette, the first Black woman to direct a network sitcom (What’s Happening Now!), penned a Facebook tribute to Materre, honoring her for being a trailblazer for diversity in the field.

“After a friendship that spanned over 35 years, I said goodbye to my sista friend Michelle Materre. A force to be reckoned with, Michelle’s love for Third World cinema and her lecture series Creatively Speaking has helped hundreds of young visionaries make their films. A staple at The New School, Michelle taught and mentored hundreds more,” Barnette wrote.

“There will be celebrations of Michelle’s life and we will make sure her work continues. Michelle was a true warrior Queen who fought battles with bravery and hope. Rest in Power Michelle, because you know how much you were loved.”

Black Construction Firms in Detroit Expected to Benefit from New $10 Million Pilot Program
by Jeffrey McKinney

April 5, 2022

Black Construction Firms in Detroit Expected to Benefit from New $10 Million Pilot Program

Construction in Detroit has reached its highest level in decades in recent years. The trend is projected to continue as work on major projects like hotels, housing, and a colossal skyscraper have either begun or are expected to start in upcoming years.

However, Black contractors in the Motor City are reportedly missing out on the boom. Insufficient financing is the largest reason why. Another snag is no digital presence or resources to gain existing contracts and the inability to competitively advertise, bid, and finish projects successfully.

But, the Rocket Community Fund, Community Reinvestment Fund USA (CRF), Invest Detroit, and Barton Malow Builders are collectively supporting and co-hosting an announced $10 million pilot program to benefit Detroit-based contractors, including largely Black contractors.

Providing Black Contractors Resources To Gain New Business

The Motor City Contractor Fund (MCCF) aims to help contractors obtain new projects ranging from small residential developments to massive commercial undertakings. Access to financing, partnerships, technology, and business advisory services will be among the offerings to contractors. The initial pilot cohort is based on referrals from each MCCF co-hosts and supporters. Organizers report future cohorts will be open to the public.

There will be two cohorts for the pilot this year to help boost the number of contractors in Detroit, especially Black contractors, with 10 participants each. The free cohort sessions are expected to last three to six months, and each participant will also get a $5,000 grant.

The ante is high for Detroit’s Black contractors with the spending power construction activity brings. For instance, insiders report Detroit experienced roughly over $5 billion annually in commercial real estate development alone since 2018 before slowing down in 2020 and 2021, largely due to COVID-19. Real estate development is projected to regain its pre-pandemic pace this year.

The program is part of a $500 million philanthropic investment in Detroit made in March 2021

between the Rocket Community Fund and the Gilbert Family Foundation.

Laura Grannemann, vice president of the Rocket Community Fund, which is investing the first $1 million into the program’s administration and operations, talked about the fund’s significance as development keeps rising rapidly across the city.

“Detroit-based contractors have historically been overlooked, but the Motor City Contractor Fund will increase access to financing for local contractors, empowering them to grow their business and create more jobs for Detroiters.”

Arranging Needed Financing To Help Entrepreneurs 

The initiative is essential as there are only 66 certified contractors in Detroit, including 48 or over 70% that are minority or BIPOC. And there are 1,300 accredited construction contractors in Metro Detroit. Observers report that suggests only 5% of contractors in Metro Detroit are based in the city, meaning much of the construction spending and wealth is leaving Detroit and the Black community.

The in-depth pilot program will offer lending to Black contractors, so they won’t have to worry about depending on traditional lenders where they are often denied financing or face institutional racism. Research shows they often face higher interest rates on loans, deterring their growth and success ability.

CRF will carry $8 million on its balance sheet to ensure the first cohort’s participants have access to critical financing in the program’s first phase.

The program calls for Black contractors to get intense training, including understanding OSHA requirements and performing social media marketing. Organizers say small contractors in Detroit, mainly those run by entrepreneurs of color, have been unable to compete with larger and non-minority rivals due to financing and cash flow. Minority-owned firms purportedly invest less than $30,000 on average after the first year of operation, versus $45,000 for non-minority businesses.

Offering Opportunity To Potentially Work On Larger Projects 

Organizers say another potential game-changer for Black Detroit contractors is they may gain a chance to do work for Barton Malow, one of the largest commercial construction firms based in Metro Detroit. The firm is now the construction manager of Hudson’s Site, an estimated $900 million skyscraper project in downtown Detroit.

BLACK ENTERPRISE was told Barton Malow plans to provide bid opportunities for MCCF participants for current and future projects.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan reflected among his statements on why smaller companies should be among those taking part in the city’s rebuilding.

“Detroit is seeing its largest construction boom in more than a half-century, and that means there should be greater opportunity for our city’s smaller and minority-owned construction contractors.”

“Unfortunately, for reasons that go back generations, they have multiple barriers to that work.”

For more details about the program, visit here and the MCCF here

Meet the 8-Year-Old Photography Sensation Capturing Snaps of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies
by Atiya Jordan

April 5, 2022

Meet the 8-Year-Old Photography Sensation Capturing Snaps of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies

Storee Elle Walton, an 8-year-old photography sensation, turned a hobby into a full-fledged professional venture. From NBA games to weddings, the young girl with the camera is a star.

Walton’s appearance at the March 26 game against the Milwaukee Bucks was her first Grizzly game. According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, she stood on the baseline at FedExForum with a Nikon camera around her neck while players took an interest in getting captured by the budding photographer.

 

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“When I was at the game, the players made me feel like I was famous,” Walton told the outlet. “It makes me proud to be a little girl with a camera. It’s unbelievable that I can do all this and see these new people.”

Grizzlies shooting guard De’Anthony Melton was one of the lucky players to be photographed by Walton.

“Can I see them?” Melton asked after posing for more shots.

Since the age of 1, Walton inherited her passion from her grandfather, professional photographer Thurman Hobson Jr., whom she affectionately calls “grandman.” Hobson served as her chaperone at the game.

“Some of the stuff she shoots, I look at it, and it totally amazes me she’s able to capture the images that she is at such an early age using professional equipment,” Hobson said, who has been the main photographer of the family for more than 50 years.

 

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Walton aspires to be a “noted, famous photographer.” By 4 years old, the third-grader was earning paid gigs for her talents. According to The Commercial Appeal, when she was six years old, Walton has even photographed multiple Southern Heritage Classic football games and celebrities. Her portfolio added at least 10 weddings last year.

Her mother, Tanyel Hobson-Walton, is proud of her daughter.

“She’s taken on what my dad loves so much,” Hobson-Walton said. “It started out as a hobby for her, but now she’s getting a lot of jobs because of her professionalism. She’s a kid first, but when she comes, she comes as a professional.”

She added: “If she commits to a job, she carries it out, and that for me, I can say that I’m most proud about.”

 

 

Three Charged in Death of Mississippi Teen Shot, Raped, and Dumped On Side of The Road
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 5, 2022

Three Charged in Death of Mississippi Teen Shot, Raped, and Dumped On Side of The Road

Three adults are in police custody on capital murder charges related to an 18-year-old girl being kidnapped, raped, shot, and left for dead along the side of the road in Mississippi.

On Friday, the Jackson police department held a press briefing confirming that Dewitt Anderson, 34, Cedric Banks, 37, and Kaymia Blackmon, 19 were all in police custody, WLBT reports. Amya Carey was identified as the body at the coroner’s office on March 24.

“They were the last ones that were seen with her, and so that is where our investigation started,” Jackson Police Department Deputy Chief Deric Hearn said.

Carey’s body was riddled with bullets near Clay Street on Feb. 15. A family member says the teen was picking up her friend, Blackmon, who was with her boyfriend, Anderson.

Eventually, Anderson’s brother, Banks, joined the group and they went to several locations during the night. Blackmon, Anderson, and Banks had all reportedly tried to engage in sexual activity with Carey but she turned down their advances.

After turning down the trio, Carey got into a fight with Blackmon and that’s when Anderson picked up a gun and shot the teen. While critically injured, Carey was placed in the backseat of her car where someone raped her.

Carey was shot two more times before her body was dumped out of the car and left on the side of the street.

“She was severely wounded,” Hearn said. “They placed her in a car and as they were driving to Forest Avenue, where they dumped the body, they had sex with her in the car.”

On March 30, Blackmon and Anderson were taken into custody for questioning, where they recounted the night’s events. All three suspects appeared in court on Thursday, March 31 where they had their bond denied, WJTV reports.

It remains unclear if the suspects have obtained legal representation.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 5, 2022

Paula Patton Gets ‘Fried’ By Black Twitter When She Seasons Chicken AFTER Placing It in Oil

Cooking tutorials online have become increasingly popular. But it’s probably safe to say, everybody who takes up recording cooking vids can’t actually cook.

At least that’s the consensus Black Twitter came to when actress Paula Patton found out the hard way that her fried chicken cooking demonstration was going viral for all the wrong reasons!

Last month, the “seasoned” actress took to Instagram to “show” people how to prepare and then cook her mother’s “famous” fried chicken, and it went downhill from there. Patton starts the video by zooming in on a bag of white flour as she informs her audience that it’s “Fried Chicken Day!” She shows the chicken and the ingredients for the coating of the chicken.

 

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The Precious actress then proceeds to wash the chicken parts in cold water for a mere few seconds. Soon after, she places the chicken into a Ziploc bag of — get this — just white flour. When she finishes “coating” the wings, she tells the viewing audience that there are 138 chicken wings in the sorted bags. After putting oil in the frying pan, she placed the chicken wings, sans seasoning, into the pan.

The moment was giving blandness, given that the chicken was seasoned AFTER it was doused in grease.

Patton then proclaims, on camera, that after placing the chicken in the pan, she’ll start to add the seasoning. She proceeds to “dust” the chicken pieces with Lawry’s seasoning, pepper, and paprika.

As most people who have had the pleasure and/or duty to cook, this was NOT a good look, and social media made SURE to let the former Mrs. Robin Thicke know that she indeed was no Food Network star.

Although this was posted on March 5th, it started trending recently as social media users across many platforms commented on how ridiculous her “method” of frying chicken was.

Fix it, Baby Jesus…

Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Gives Business and Life Lessons at N.C. A&T Speaker Series, Building Black Businesses
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 5, 2022

Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Gives Business and Life Lessons at N.C. A&T Speaker Series, Building Black Businesses

Business mogul, Earvin “Magic” Johnson spoke to a capacity-filled audience, sharing his personal story of business development and practical knowledge, at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University’s Harrison Auditorium, Mar. 29.

Johnson delivered a keynote presentation for the Chancellor’s Speaker Series, “Building Black Businesses.”

Nearly as soon as he took the stage, Johnson admonished attendees to understand one thing above all else. “If you don’t dream it, you can’t become it,” he said, according to a press release.

“See yourself in that [CEO] position. Here it is 40 years later, and I am that CEO.”

His exclamatory statement referenced his own story of working as a young janitor of a company, but envisioning himself as the CEO.

Throughout the evening, Johnson referenced the power of investing in urban America by way of increased housing and retail opportunities as well as job creation.

“A lot of money leaves our communities because somebody else owns the businesses. We need our own businesses,” he said.

In addition to numerous other ventures, Johnson thrived with Magic Johnson movie theaters and Starbucks franchise stores located in urban areas. Knowing his customer base was key and continues to be key to his success.

“What’s the number one thing our people like to do?” he asked the engaged crowd.

“We like to do things with our families. So, I built [movie] theaters in our communities. It changed the game.”

While building a business is important, Johnson says making sure the customer service and technology are just as important for continued success.

“I’m all about striving for excellence every single day. If you’re about excellence, business will be there. You must be first in class. If your customers understand that about you, they will become your brand ambassadors,” he said.

“I over deliver to my customers and clients and if you over deliver, you’ll get the customer you want.”

In addition to developing and building business acumen and proficiency, Johnson encouraged attendees with one final message to embrace a policy of “us,” not “me.”

“My whole thing is about opening the door for other people to come through,” he said.

“I want to make sure I help create other millionaires who are successful and can run their own businesses.”

This story first appeared on ncat.edu.

Peruvian Comedy Show Faces Social Media Wrath For Wearing Blackface, Parodying Will And Jada Pinkett Smith
by Atiya Jordan

April 5, 2022

Peruvian Comedy Show Faces Social Media Wrath For Wearing Blackface, Parodying Will And Jada Pinkett Smith

The shocking blow that Will Smith delivered to Chris Rock for mocking Jada Pinkett-Smith at the 94th Annual Oscar Awards has prompted parodies worldwide.

A Peruvian comedy show, JB on ATV, faces public wrath for its recent segment of actors imitating the acclaimed Smith couple in blackface. Rock was also included in the sketch.

According to reports, Peruvian comedian Carlitos Vilchez, who portrayed Will, posted photos of him and his costar, Dayanita, playing as Jada on Instagram. Social media doesn’t hold back while highlighting the topic of racism within the Latin community. The images are now-deleted, but Twitter users have since then reposted and circulated them for more people to see.

According to some Twitter users, the comedy show has a history of using blackface to portray characters in skits, like Encanto.

 

Other users, who hail from Latin culture, described personal experiences dealing with racism or colorism in their own families.

The full video of the sketch can be seen below:

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