• News

by Atiya Jordan

April 4, 2022

Black Georgia State Professor Calls Police On Two Black Students Who Arrived To Class Late

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A Georgia State University student took her concerns to TikTok after a Black college professor called the campus police on two Black classmates for arriving to class late at Perimeter College.

College student Bria Blake puts the professor on blast and further explains the incident in a TikTok video on Wednesday, March 30. As of Monday, April 4, the video has reached over 159,000 likes and more than 5,000 comments expressing outrage over the incident.

@briaisok please don’t scroll passed this. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #SmellLikeIrishSpring #fypシ #fy ♬ original sound – Bria❤️

In the video, Blake identifies the professor as Carissa Gray, whom she recalls asking two of Blake’s classmates, Taylor and Kamryn, to leave after they showed up to the English class just two minutes late. According to Blake, Taylor said that they, as students, “paid to be here” and refused to leave. The professor then left the room and brought back with her two “armed” police officers, who threatened to charge the students with trespassing if they did not leave the classroom, Blake said.

Blake recalls that the police allegedly tried to forcibly remove the students by holding onto Taylor’s belongings until they agreed to leave.

In a statement, Georgia State University said it is “looking into this matter and how it was handled by the faculty member,” according to NBC News.

“Campus police arrived after being called by the faculty member and immediately de-escalated the situation between the students and faculty member, the school continued, “Clearly, no crime had been committed, so there were no arrests.”

As per Blake, when the students filed a complaint with the campus Student Life department, they were informed that police had been called on students for “something irrational” before. Both students wept in fear of not knowing what could happen to them due to the incident.

The University’s student code of conduct states that an instructor is allowed to call for campus police to remove a student whose behavior “poses an immediate threat to the safety” of themself, the instructor, or other students, as per the news outlet.

However, according to a Georgia State University representative, it is abnormal for faculty to summon the campus police over tardiness or other disrespectful behavior. In fact, the policy is meant to help de-escalate any extreme behavior.“

“Time and time again, we’ve seen the police being weaponized against Black people,” Blake said in the video. “Calling the police on two students for being two minutes late to class is extremely unreasonable and dangerous.”

With the memory of last week’s controversy still on the minds of audience members, The Roots’ member Questlove had a response to make sure to avoid any semblance of that incident repeating itself at last night’s GRAMMY presentation.

According to E News Online, Questlove spoke about the incident from last week when his Oscar win was marred when Will Smith struck Chris Rock on stage right before the drummer received his coveted honor for Outstanding Documentary Feature for his documentary, Summer of Soul.

During the 2022 GRAMMYs presentation on April 3, Questlove was onstage inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to reveal the winner for Song of the Year. While on the microphone, Questlove said,

“Alright, I am going to present this award and I trust that you people will stay 500 feet away from me,” he said before saying, “Just joking.”

He did acknowledge that this moment is special and memorable for whoever wins.

“And you know, this is now a special moment for someone. And we’re going to make a memory for them tonight.”

Questlove wasn’t the only one who made a quip referring to the Smith/Rock controversy.

As this year’s GRAMMY host, Trevor Noah started the show referencing how the awards show would be compared to last week’s Oscar presentation. Even stating that they will be “keeping people’s names out of our mouths,” referring to what Smith shouted as a warning to Rock.

“Don’t even think of this as an award show,” Trevor said. “It’s a concert where we are giving out awards, we will be listening to music, dancing, sing, keeping people’s names out of our mouths, and we are going to give people awards all throughout the night. So let’s get straight into it.”

Before the show’s airing last night, it was revealed that Questlove’s Summer of Soul documentary won the award for Best Music Film.

• Women

by Atiya Jordan

April 4, 2022

Thank You For Your Service: Betty Reid Soskin, 100-Year-Old National Park Service Ranger, Retires

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For Betty Reid Soskin, America’s oldest active national park ranger, it is now time to retire her uniform and enjoy the fruits of her long-standing devotion to Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park.

According to a press release, Reid Soskin, who celebrated her golden 100th birthday last September, retired on Thursday, March 31, from The National Park Service.

 

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“To be a part of helping to mark the place where that dramatic trajectory of my own life, combined with others of my generation, will influence the future by the footprints we’ve left behind has been incredible,” Reid Soskin said.

Before stepping into her park ranger role, the Detroit native served as an NPS consultant and was an integral participant in the formation of The National Historical Park. In Richmond, California, Reid Soskin’s career as a park ranger began in 2004 at 84, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported.

She led public programs and tours to highlight the untold voices of Black history, which were often overshadowed by the telling of a white woman’s story. According to PEOPLE, Reid Soskin also often shared her unique backstory during World War II, which included working at a segregated union hall as a file clerk and later becoming a political and community activist and songwriter during the civil rights movement.

The Detroit native’s retirement signifies her dedication to not only The National Park Service but to educating the masses on her personal experiences and the efforts of women from diverse backgrounds who worked on the World War II Home Front.

“The National Park Service is grateful to Ranger Betty for sharing her thoughts and first-person accounts in ways that span across generations,” said Naomi Torres, acting superintendent of Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park. “She has used stories of her life on the Home Front, drawing meaning from those experiences in ways that make that history truly impactful for those of us living today.”

On her last day, Reid Soskin provided an “interpretive program to the public” and spent time visiting with coworkers at the park, where she has made many memories, as per the release.

“Betty has made a profound impact on the National Park Service and the way we carry out our mission,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “I am grateful for her lifelong dedication to sharing her story and wish her all the best in retirement. Her efforts remind us that we must seek out and give space for all perspectives so that we can tell a more full and inclusive history of our nation. Congratulations, Betty!”

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 4, 2022

Black-Owned Beauty Brand Herb’N Eden Receives $1.2M Investment to Leverage Growth Opportunities and Create Jobs

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Herb’N Eden, an all-natural bath and beauty company, based in the Metro Atlanta area, has closed a $1.2 million investment for business growth.

Quinton and Terran Lewis founded Herb’N Eden in 2015 to bring natural skincare products to the forefront of the market. Mercantile Venture Capital led the investment with participation from The Core Venture Studio.

In a rare instance for the GRAMMY’s presentation on Sunday, two artists tied to win a Grammy.

At this year’s GRAMMYs, recording artists Silk Sonic (Anderson. Paak and Bruno Mars) and Jazmine Sullivan tied for Best R&B Performance at the 2022 GRAMMYs. The winning songs for the artist, both ballads, were Silk Sonic’s Leave The Door Open and Sullivan’s Pick Up Your Feelings.

Sullivan is a first-time winner at The GRAMMYS as she also took another one home for best R&B album. The song, Pick Up Your Feelings is on the album she won the second GRAMMY for, Heaux Tales.

According to USA Today, Sullivan couldn’t contain her excitement as she stated, “I’ve been wanting to win a Grammy since I was a kid. After losing so many times, I kind of gave up, like maybe it’s not for me, and I’ll just make my music. It’s surreal to hold these babies right now.”

Sullivan has been nominated for a GRAMMY award 15 times, finally striking with not one but two this year.

Meanwhile, this year, Silk Sonic was nominated in four categories and made a complete sweep.

This milestone wasn’t lost on Silk Sonic group member Anderson. Paak.

As he is celebrating his second major GRAMMY, he took the sweep in stride. “We’re really trying our hardest to remain humble at this point,” .Paak says. “But in the industry, we call that a clean sweep.”

The two solo acts who came together for this laidback, retro-sounding group also snagged the GRAMMYS for Record and Song of the year while taking the prize for R&B song and R&B performance for the first single they dropped as a group, Leave the Door Open.

A complete list of nominees and winners of The GRAMMYS is listed on the GRAMMYS website.

• Sports

by Kia Morgan Smith

April 4, 2022

Tiger Woods Says He Will Make a ‘Game-time Decision’ On Playing Masters

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(Reuters) –Tiger Woods will make a “game-time decision” on competing at next week’s Masters, the five-time champion said on Sunday as he continues his recovery from the serious leg injuries he suffered in a car crash in February 2021.

Woods said six weeks ago that he had a “long way to go” in his recovery but speculation mounted with each passing day that his return could come at the April 7-10 Masters as he refrained from removing his name from the field of competitors.

“I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice. It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete,” Woods said on Twitter.

I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice. It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete. Congratulations to 16-year-old Anna Davis on an amazing win at the @anwagolf and good luck to all the kids in the @DriveChipPutt.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 3, 2022

Unlike regular PGA Tour events, the Masters does not set a deadline for players to commit or withdraw from the tournament, which means Woods could wait until his Thursday tee time before making a final decision.

Woods was also listed on the pre-tournament news conference schedule that was released on Sunday and will meet the media at 11:00 a.m. ET (1500 GMT) on Tuesday at Augusta National.

Woods‘ single-car crash resulted in a three-week hospital stay in Los Angeles where he faced the possibility of having his right leg amputated. He was then confined to a hospital-type bed for three months at his home in South Florida.

The 46-year-old Woods has not played on the PGA Tour since the November 2020 Masters. His only event since the accident came last December when he finished runner-up alongside his son in a 36-hole exhibition played on a flat course with no rough.

Playing at Augusta National, however, represents one of the more taxing walks on the PGA Tour given its undulating terrain that all but assures golfers will hit from any number of uneven lies during the week.

But Woods is no stranger to playing through pain, something he famously proved at the 2008 U.S. Open where he prevailed in a thrilling playoff at Torrey Pines while competing on what was essentially a broken leg.

Woods capped one of the most remarkable comebacks in professional sport when, at the age of 43, he won the Masters in 2019 after enduring years of surgery and personal problems that convinced many the best golfer of his generation was done.

Former world number one Rory McIlroy had said it would be “phenomenal” for the sport to have Woods return to competition at Augusta.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto and Rohith Nair in BengaluruEditing by David Goodman, Pritha Sarkar and Toby Davis)

• Lifestyle

by Black Enterprise Shop

April 4, 2022

Boost Your Design Productivity With This Bootcamp Bundle

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A designer’s mind never sleeps.

From thinking about new designs for graphics to pondering ways to enhance and spruce up existing designs, there’s always something to consider. There are several tools out there aimed at assisting in these efforts, but few pack as much into a one-stop shop as this offering.

The Designers Productivity Bootcamp Bundle is what you’ve been looking for. For a limited time, it’s available for $25. That’s a savings of 98% from its MSRP ($2000). Ten courses are included in this bundle. Individually, each course costs $200. No matter what you’re designing, there’s a course for you in this bundle.

Productivity begins with a strong base, and the “How to Be Productive: 7 Easy Steps” is a great base to have. Nine lessons aimed at teaching how to approach logically and effectively are included, and they’re tailored to different individuals. Learn how to establish and maintain productivity, learn productivity tools outside of work, among other tools.

For designers looking to grow their client base, the “Email Marketing: Build Your Amazon KDP Sales & Email List with ConvertKit” course teaches how to build an audience with lead magnets, email sequences, and autoresponders for increased book sales. Create a professional landing page without the need for a website, learn simple steps to use email marketing to build your KDP audience, among other skills.

If you’re into creating book covers for your clients or yourself, the “Book Cover Design Masterclass: Design a Book Cover for Amazon KDP in Canva” is perfect for you. By the end of the course, you won’t have to deal with difficult freelancers who never understand your requirements and create exactly what you need.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find another productivity tailored for designers as concise and packed with information as this one. Purchase it today and take your design efforts to greater heights.

Prices subject to change.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced he would be appointing over a dozen academic leaders, celebrities and athletes to his board of advisors for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), reports CNN. 

The move comes on the heels of the administration’s American Rescue Plan, a $2.7 billion investment towards HBCUs in their “commitment to shared prosperity and equity for all Americans,” per a White House press release.

Among the 18 members selected to serve on the board were actress Taraji P. Henson, NBA star Chris Paul and United Airlines President Brett Hart. Until last year, Paul had been the National Basketball Players Association’s president since 2013 and served on the executive committee for the past 12 years. 

Five HBCU presidents were also nominated, including those leading Alabama State University, Dillard University in New Orleans, Norfolk State University in Virginia, Prairie View A&M University in Texas and Virginia State University.

According to the White House, this set of “qualified and diverse individuals to the Board – will allow the administration to build on that financial commitment with continued institutional support.”

Last Monday, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) asked for Congress to “[make] no reductions in their annual appropriations process this year,” regarding Biden’s 2023 budget proposal, which promises funding for HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCUs), minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and community colleges.

These organizations are seeking for Biden to keep his word of supporting HBCUs, as that was a key campaign promise when running for president. 

Henson and Paul will be joined by Makola M. Abdullah, Javaune Adams-Gaston, Paige Blake, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Willie A. Deese, Patrick Cokley, Monica Goldson and William F. L. Moses, among others.

Henson will also utilize her mental health non-profit, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, to provide support for Black students enrolled at HBCUs, following her commitment to offer free therapy sessions to Black communities impacted by COVID-19. 

• Celebrity News

by Yolanda Baruch

April 3, 2022

Denzel Washington Said He Prayed With Will Smith: ‘Who Are We To Condemn?’

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Denzel Washington publicly spoke about the Will Smith and Chris Rock on-stage altercation at this year’s Oscars on Saturday during T.D. Jakes International Summit, according to Variety.

Jakes invited Washington to the event to discuss his career and faith. The conversation then turned to slapgate, “I got to ask you right now, Pastor Washington, you stepped in the middle of World War III, we were looking at Ukraine, and it happened at the Oscars when Will, who I love, smacked, Chris who I love, you came in as a senior statesman into that situation…what happened…to these legends, these icons [who] got into a fight,” inquired the revered pastor of the Oscar-winning actor.

Leaning back in his chair on stage, the “Macbeth” actor sheepishly smiled and then explained, “Well, there’s a saying, ‘When the devil ignores you, then you know you’re doing something wrong.’ The devil goes, ‘Oh no, leave him alone; he’s my favorite.’ Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe it’s because he’s trying to do something right. And for whatever reason, the devil got ahold of that circumstance that night,” Washington said to Jakes, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Video footage captured Washington, Tyler Perry, and Smith’s publicist speaking with the distraught movie star during the commercial break after shouting a profanity-laced rant at comedian Chris Rock for a distasteful joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

The actor would not elaborate on what the three men discussed, but he did say he could not pass judgment on Smith’s uncharacteristic unhinged moment.

“Fortunately, there were people there. Not just me, but others. Tyler Perry came immediately right over there with me. [Said] some prayers. I don’t wanna say what we talked about, but for the grace of God go any of us. Who are we to condemn? I don’t know all the ins and outs of the situation, but I know the only solution was prayer, the way I see it,” Washington said to Jakes, Variety reports.

Washington also told Jakes that he could not remain in his seat without addressing Smith, “I couldn’t have sat in my seat. No way I could have sat in my seat,” he said. “That’s just not who I am.”

• News

by Wendy Medina

April 3, 2022

Not Hearing It: Highest Court in Texas Denies 3rd Request for Appeal for Ex-Officer Amber Guyger, Who Murdered Botham Jean

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​​Disclosure: This post involves mention of murder.

Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was convicted to 10 years in prison for the murder of Botham Jean, a 26-year-old Black man who was an accountant and a Harding University alumnus.

Last August and November, Guyger was denied two appeals where she claimed there was not sufficient evidence of murder. Last Wednesday, the state’s highest criminal court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, for the third time denied her appeal for the murder conviction, reports the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. 

In September 2018, Guyger maintained that she believed she had entered her own home, one floor down from where she entered Jean’s apartment. Her attorneys claimed Guyger was acting in self-defense when she shot and killed Jean in his own apartment, believing he was an intruder.

In 2019, she was tried and sentenced to a Gatesville, Texas, prison where she is to serve her conviction. 

After the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas in Dallas upheld the conviction in the summer of 2021, she then took her request to the Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin, where the court insisted that in criminal law, the self-defense argument doesn’t fit the circumstances of Jean’s death.

This prompted the killer cop to seek a third appeal from the highest court of the state. 

Seven of the nine judges of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals voted to deny her petition for a discretionary review, leaving Judges Kevin Yeary and Michelle Slaughter the only ones to file a dissent.

They believe if Guyger is allowed to bring her request to the Court of Criminal Appeals, she would “consider and finally resolve” the terms of her sentencing, per the Dallas Morning News. After this third request, she has exhausted all possibilities for overturning her sentence.

Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot said in a statement, “We are pleased that the sentence is finalized at this point and will be carried out according to the law.” 

At the time of the original appeal, Creuzot’s office stated, “When, intending to kill, you shoot an unarmed man in the chest while he’s sitting on his couch eating ice cream, that’s murder regardless of where you think you are when you do it.”

Guyger is currently incarcerated at Mountain View Unit in Coryell County. She will be eligible for parole in 2024.