• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 8, 2022

Kandi Burruss Kicked Off Premiere of ‘Kandi & The Gang’ With a Star-Studded Bang in Atlanta

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Kandi Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker and the aunties and her momma who influenced her new Bravo show Kandi & the Gang, kicked off their premiere with a party in Atlanta over the weekend.

The new show follows Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi, her husband, and their staff of family and friends at Atlanta’s own OLG (Old Lady Gang) restaurant as they work to overcome the drama that often challenges them from getting the work done.

But on Sunday it was all play as Kandi’s many celebrity friends showed up and showed out at OLG on Peters street in Atlanta for a star-studded premiere that was truly a block party that had folks doing the electric slide and jamming in celebration for the new show.

Between Shawndreka Robinson’s attitude towards the new General Manager Phillip Frempong, Brandon Black spending more time flirting with Dom’Unique Variety than actually working, and Brian Redmond returning to work as a bartender while promoting his own food business, Kandi and Todd have their hands full.

Not to forget, Kandi’s outspoken Mama Joyce and her two boisterous sisters Aunt Nora Wilcox and Aunt Bertha Jones who also bring their own drama. Kandi explains how she got Bravo on board with the idea of a show around one of her many businesses.

Click HERE to read Kandi’s BLACK ENTERPRISE interview and enjoy the premiere pics below!

Former Kansas City Detective Eric DeValkenaere was convicted for the 2019 killing of Cameron Lamb and sentenced to six years in prison.

DeValkenaere, who was convicted late last year,  received three years for involuntary manslaughter and six years for armed criminal actions, according to ABC7 Chicago. The sentences will be served concurrently. In a news conference following the sentencing hearing, Lamb’s mother, Laurie Bey, called it “a fair decision.”

Last month, defense attorneys for DeValkenaere requested that he remain free while appealing the conviction, which Judge James Dale Youngs granted. Lamb, a 26 year-old father of three, was killed the night of Dec. 3, 2019, when DeValkenaere and his partner responded to a traffic incident involving a red pickup truck.

The officers, dressed in plain clothes and wearing police department vests, entered the home’s backyard where Lamb was parked without a warrant and with their guns drawn. As Lamb backed the truck down into a basement garage, the officers attempted to get him to stop the truck, but according to the indictment, it’s unclear if Lamb heard them.

DeValkenaere then shot at Lamb four times, hitting him twice and claiming he saw him  grab a gun and point it at his partner. However, according to DeValkenaere’s partner, Lamb’s left hand was on the steering wheel, and his fingers were spread apart, and he held up his empty hand before the shooting.

Medical records later showed Lamb did not have full use of his left hand due to an injury he sustained before the shooting. Judge Youngs issued a bench ruling without a jury at DeValkenaere’s request. He said DeValkenaere had no probable cause, no warrant, and no consent to enter Lamb’s property and added the officers initiated the aggression and had no right to use deadly force.

Before the shooting, Lamb allegedly had an argument with his girlfriend that turned physical, and he left the residence but received a call from his roommate asking him to return. Meanwhile, police were investigating a crash in the area and reported Lamb’s red pickup chasing a purple Mustang. A police helicopter then caught the pickup pulling into the residence.

• Money

by Black Enterprise Shop

March 8, 2022

HOW THIS LIFE INSURANCE IS BUILT FOR MODERN PARENTS

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Part of building a successful future is looking ahead and planning for anything that might come your way. This is especially important when your future includes family, and children who you want to be well taken care of. Thinking about covering yourself and loved ones is one thing, but doing it is another. 

When it comes to life insurance, for example, we usually seek it out during the busiest times in our lives, like when we begin raising families, embarking on careers, and securing homes. Whether you’re too busy, or you’re one of the 42% of millennials who refrain from buying life insurance because they don’t think they’ll qualify — there are options for you to consider. One example is Fabric, a digital life insurance provider and platform that makes getting covered easier. 

Working with the busy schedules of young professionals and parents, and flipping the historically slow life-insurance application process on its head, Fabric enables you to get a term life insurance policy in as little as ten minutes, if qualified. It all starts with heading to Fabric’s website and taking a brief, minute-long questionnaire to see how term life insurance can help you and your family. From there, the provider’s easy-to-use digital application can be completed in about ten minutes. Qualified applicants can receive and offer right away then make a payment to start their coverage immediately. Even if you aren’tt approved right away, Fabric will walk you through any next steps needed to get a final decision as quickly as possible. Fabric offers a ton of different options with various lengths, coverages, and rates so you can easily customize your policy to meet your budget and needs.

In addition to applying for term life insurance through Fabric, you can use their fantastic app to do important things like create a will, organize financial accounts, and manage your information from a single space. If you have any questions along the way, Fabric’s fantastic customer service team is available to help.

Fabric’s genuinely valuable coverage and ease of use has led to its praise in a number of highly regarded publications including The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. It’s rated 4.8/5 stars on TrustPilot, and has been celebrated by a ton of users who’ve left 5-star reviews and kind words on Fabric’s website. One such policyholder named Bridget wrote that Fabric is “easy to access and easy to follow. I love it. Can refer a friend with 100% confidence.” 

Join happy Fabric users like this. Take the 60-second quiz on Fabric’s website to find the term life insurance policy that’s right for you. 

This article is designed to provide general information on the subjects covered. By providing your information, you may be contacted regarding the sale of insurance products. (for use with CTAs asking for contact information). Term Life Insurance policies (Form ICC16-VLT, ICC19-VLT2, and CMP 0501 with state variations where applicable) are issued by Vantis Life Insurance Company (Vantis Life), Windsor, CT. Coverage may not be available in all states. Issuance of coverage for Term Life Insurance is subject to underwriting review and approval.

The New York State Archives discovered, buried within 5,000 cubic feet of court records, the 200-year-old proceedings of abolitionist Sojourner Truth’s battle to obtain the freedom of her youngest enslaved son, Peter.

CNN reported that archivist, author, and historian James D. Folts uncovered the 1828 documents, which included eight pages of complete court proceedings, following the abolitionist’s case against her former owner and the Albany Supreme Court.

Truth’s case marked the first time in history a Black woman successfully sued a white man for a family member’s freedom. Folts discloses that the documents can further explain the history of slave laws in New York and exposes the painful realities of slavery throughout all the regions in the United States. He also notes that the documents reveal some of the missing and inexplicable details about Peter’s life, which helps for accuracy purposes.

In the 18th century, New York was a major slave port for the western world. Although Truth was considered a free woman in the 19th century, her five children were still enslaved. Her youngest son, Peter, was an indentured servant at five years old to Truth’s former master in New York, John Dumont, who sold him to Eleazar Gedney of Newburgh, New York, for $20. According to Three Village Historical Society, Truth later discovered that Solomon Gedney had illegally sold her son to his brother-in-law in Alabama.

Upon discovery, Truth sought proper legal counsel and filed a deposition under her former name, Isabella Van Wagenen. The People v. Solomon Gedney proceedings began on March 1, 1828, which cited a Gradual Emancipation act that freed slave children born after July 4, 1799, but indentured them until they were young adults. Peter was born in 1818.

According to CNN, the uncovered documents also revealed that the Alabama owner was prosecuted for kidnapping, but he returned Peter severely beaten, according to court records.

A response from Peter’s owner in New York was also recorded in the documents, alongside the official court order freeing Peter from bondage.

“It’s a document that has been lost. The document is new to historians,” said Folts about the deposition, according to Times-Union.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 8, 2022

Wu-Tang Clan Producer Files Lawsuit Against NYPD for False Arrest After Spending Four Years in Prison

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A producer who has worked with hip-hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan filed a federal lawsuit last week against the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and prosecutors in Manhattan.

In his suit, he alleges that a sex assault accusation levied against him amounted to false arrest and negligence. That charge kept him in jail for four years before he was found not guilty on the top charge.

According to the New York Daily News, Derrick Harris, 52, a music producer who worked with the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan, Alicia Keys, and Busta Rhymes, among others, was accused of assault on Sept. 12, 2011, according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

• Women

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 8, 2022

GUESS Partners with Gyrl Wonder to Honor Women of Color

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GUESS, a global lifestyle fashion brand, teams up with nonprofit Gyrl Wonder to illustrate the power of nurturing young women and girls of color as the next generation of leaders.

In their new advocacy video, GUESS highlights fellow Reginae Butler as she shares how Gyrl Wonder helped her jump-start her career in Public Relations, including a recent internship at GUESS HQ. Gyrl Wonder provides support for young professionals through career guidance and access to resources to make it in the media and entertainment industry.

The new video amplifies the need for more women and girls of color in all industries, especially media. Only 17% of women of color make up entry-level roles in media and entertainment, while only 4% represent C-suite level positions, according to a source.

“Working with the GUESS team and watching Reginae’s dreams literally come to life is exactly why I created Gyrl Wonder,” says Tola Lawal, Gyrl Wonder executive director and founder.

“This partnership affirms our mission to inspire, and our commitment to ensure young women and girls of color have an equal opportunity to thrive in their desired industry. We can’t wait to continue nurturing the leaders of today.”

Since its inception in 2015 by Tola Lawal, an industry vet who has spent 15 years in marketing, branding, communications and leadership within multi-million dollar companies and brands like MTV, BET and Blue Flame Agency, Gyrl Wonder has engaged over 1,200 girls and awarded more than $30K in scholarships to students across the country. Additionally, Gyrl Wonder offers various programs that not only enrich the professional experience of its members but also nurtures their mental well-being.

• Entrepreneurship

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 8, 2022

Entrepreneur Launches First Ever Black-Owned Social Media Networking App in the Metaverse

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Meet Matthew Newman, the founder and CEO of TruSo, an audio-visual social media networking app for the Black community worldwide. It offers a social environment that is as close to face-to-face as one can get — which psychologists say provides “a great way to feel more emotionally connected to other people and creates meaningful interactions.”

In its first month, the app quickly raised more than $30K from individual shareholders who wanted in.

Matthew comments, “At its core, TruSo is the barbershop, beauty shop and brainchild of the Black community. Over the past few years, we’ve seen racism and discrimination creep into social media in a way that attempts to mute Black voices. In contrast, TruSo amplifies Black voices.”

Keeping pace with technology, Matthew announced in early 2022 that TruSo will launch both in 2D as well as in 3D in the metaverse.

“What TruSo is building is perfectly suited for the metaverse — and one thing we don’t want, is for the Black community to be left behind as the world enters this new frontier,” he states.

While most folks are still trying to wrap their minds around the metaverse, a simple way to describe it is as “a shared virtual 3D world, or worlds, that are interactive, immersive, and collaborative” — and interactive and collaborative is what TruSo is all about — not only a social media medium but as a resource for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

In addition to providing an engaging community experience, the app also offers monetization opportunities for the Black community.

Investment opportunities available:

Family, friends and fans are also coming aboard TruSo as early-stage investors — becoming shareholders with as little as $100. Investment opportunities are open for a limited time at StartEngine.com/TruSo.

What people are saying:

“Matthew Newman is an expert at creating ‘experiences’ and now he’s extending that to the metaverse — creating a powerful experience Black folks have never seen,” states TruSo shareholder, spokesperson, and actor Kareem Grimes, who plays “Preach” on the hit CW show “All American.”

NFL Hall of Famer, Terrell Owens agrees that TruSo is trailblazing into new territory.

“What TruSo is building is groundbreaking — that’s why I chose to come aboard.”

Demonstrating the power of community and how supportive the Black community can be of its own, many of TruSo’s early investors signed up after hearing about the app during Newman’s interview on “Sway in the Morning.”

“People know when something is real, and people resonate with TruSo because it’s needed and there’s nothing else out there like it. I believe we’re on the cusp of something great. Others sense it too,” shares iconic media personality Sway Calloway.

Two-time U.S. Olympian, Miki Barber, admits that she didn’t want to “sleep” on the opportunity because she believes TruSo is the next big thing.

“Back in the day, laws prohibited everyday folks from being able to get in on the ground floor as an investor in startups like Microsoft or Facebook. President Obama changed those laws and now a person at any income level can invest. It would be a shame if we slept on this opportunity,” Barber states.

This article first appeared on Blacknews.com. 

• Entrepreneurship

by Jeffrey McKinney

March 8, 2022

Minority Firms in Massachusetts Could Benefit From $75 Million in Grants

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There is promising news for small businesses, including firms owned by minorities and women in Massachusetts, courtesy of a new $75 million grant launched by the Baker-Polito administration.

The fresh small business relief program was announced by the office of Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito to back small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plans call for $50 million to go to businesses reaching underserved markets and historically underrepresented groups. These include minorities, women, veteran-owned businesses, or individuals with disabilities and those who identify as an LGBTQ+ community member. The remaining $25 million will go to firms that did not qualify for prior aid in 2020 from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC).

The $75 million will be centered on small businesses with two to 50 employees. Under both tiers, grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000. The funding can be used to help pay operating expenses, including employee and benefit costs, mortgage interest, interest on debt, rent and utilities. Applicants must also show that business revenues for 2020 were between $40,000 and $2.5 million.

The new effort is part of the plan to spend $4 billion in American Rescue Plan funding that was signed into law by Baker in December 2021. Those interested can gain more information and apply for grants here. The application process is open until April 4.

“We have been proud to support small businesses in every corner of the Commonwealth through the MGCC small business program during the pandemic, but we know that some challenges remain for many businesses,” Baker said.

“With the launch of this new effort, we can build on MGCC’s successful work and direct important federal funding to those businesses with the greatest need quickly and effectively.”

The funding could be a lifeline for some enterprises. Two years after the onset of COVID-19, many small businesses still face challenges such as capital access, finding qualified employees to hire, supply-chain issues, turnover, and retention to name a few.

Another possible threat is rising gasoline prices for a broad mix of small businesses. The challenge is if prices are not constrained soon, entrepreneurs may be forced to pass the higher cost onto customers. That could ultimately reduce their sales and profitability.

• Money

by Atiya Jordan

March 8, 2022

How This Mom Paid Off $137,000 Using Debt Snowball Method

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From student loans and car payments to medical bills and credit cards, wife and mother Brandyn Rodriguez discovered a way to tackle $137,000 of debt despite life’s curveballs.

“Growing up, I wasn’t taught not to go into debt or use a credit card responsibly, or anything like that. I didn’t have financial literacy,” the mother of two from Cibolo, Texas, told Good Morning America.

Her eye-opening journey to debt freedom began when she was a single mother and decided to take a class. She recalled wanting to take matters into her own hands, but it didn’t last long.

In 2014, Rodriguez married her husband, DJ. Two years, later the couple welcomed their second daughter. Motivated by their children, the duo teamed up to follow the debt snowball method and a zero-based budget.

The Debt Snowball Method

The “snowball method,” simply put, means paying off the smallest of all your loans as quickly as possible.  This method gains the momentum to knock out each remaining balance. According to RamseySolutions,

Step 1: List your debts from smallest to largest regardless of interest rate.

Step 2: Make minimum payments on all your debts except the smallest.

Step 3: Pay as much as possible on your smallest debt.

Step 4: Repeat until each debt is paid in full.

“We had 25-plus debts that were listed at the time.…When we started the journey, we were at $90,000 in debt and again, life happens, so we accrued more debt. In the end, we completed $137,000 over 59 months,” Rodriguez explained as she recalled tracking each goal and maintaining realistic throughout the journey.

During this time, the family also focused on zero-based budgeting—income minus your expenses equals zero.

Determined to pay more debt down, Rodriguez worked as a restaurant server, in addition to her day job at the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. Meanwhile, her husband, who works full-time in the energy industry, picked up a second job at a Home Depot.

“It was a lot of tag-teaming, a lot of teamwork to do it,” she explained.

Achieving Student Loan Debt Freedom

Maintaining her momentum, Rodriguez was able to quit her restaurant job after 11 months and 2 weeks. In 2020, the 38-year-old celebrated paying off all of her student loan debt.

“When I hit submit on that final payment, I had ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” playing, and my family was recording me and I danced,” Rodriguez recalled.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brandyn | PositivelyB (@positivelyb)

Through social media, Rodriguez continues to share her debt-free journey along with tips and advice.

“It can be done and I would say dropping the negative mindset around money was the biggest thing for me…Once you drop that mindset and make a plan of action, you can take care of it,” Rodriguez advised.