Jeezy Connects With Uber To Offer 101 People Rides
Jeezy partners with Uber after one of their drivers, Tanner, drove him 10 hours to make a show on his recent tour
Several weeks after Atlanta rapper Jeezy was rescued by an Uber driver who drove 10 hours so he could make his next show, the Soul Survivor lyricist has announced that he has partnered with the rideshare service.
According to the New York Post, Jeezy was leaving South Carolina to head to Baltimore for an upcoming show at The Lyric Baltimore on Aug. 1 when, due to bad weather, his flight, along with several others, was canceled. After several attempts to get him to Baltimore, nothing was working out for Jeezy. While his team arranged for him to take an Uber to the local airport, Jeezy decided to ask the driver if he would drive him to his next destination; whatever the price, he would be glad to pay.
“I assured him that whatever it was, he’d have it,” Jeezy stated. “Like a real one, he didn’t hesitate and just kept driving.”
After contemplating the trip, he agreed to it and proceeded to drive 10 hours to make sure Jeezy arrived on time for his next show.
He brought the driver, Tanner, on stage that night and thanked him in front of the audience.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, Jeezy takes to his social media and informs his followers that he has connected with Uber for a partnership to help those in need of a ride, including single mothers, entrepreneurs, college kids, whoever needs a ride, in essence. He promises that the rideshare company and he are helping to provide rides for 101 people.
“I’m happy to announce my collaboration with @uber to help provide rides for 101 people in need—people like single mothers, people who have a hard time getting to work… We see you. We’ve got you. Uber is covering the rides; my @streetdreamzfoundation team will be hitting the streets, surprising these people in need.”
From Slavery To Liberation: The Diasporic Legacy Of Black Breastfeeding
The historical pain from slavery still resonates, shaping complex and often painful relationships with breastfeeding in the Black community.
A Traumatic Legacy
For over a decade, Black Breastfeeding Week has served as a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of Black mothers, creating a space to celebrate and advocate for a healthier future. Yet, this annual observance also serves as a poignant reminder of a painful history. The brutal practice of forcing enslaved Black women to act as wet nurses for white children was a widespread and deliberate act of control, one that stripped Black women of their autonomy and commodified their bodies.
This exploitation inflicted a legacy of trauma that continues to affect Black women’s relationships with breastfeeding today. The historical pain from slavery still resonates, shaping complex and often painful relationships with breastfeeding in the Black community.
Enforced Wet Nursing And Familial Disruption
The forced use of enslaved Black women as wet nurses was a heart-wrenching practice that stripped them of their fundamental maternal rights. Enslavers viewed an enslaved woman’s breast milk as a valuable asset to be bought, sold, or rented, with records of these transactions appearing in newspapers across the Americas and Brazil.
To ensure a constant, available milk supply for their own children, enslavers would forcibly separate enslaved mothers from their own infants, sometimes permanently. This cruel act denied the Black children the immunological and nutritional benefits of their mother’s milk, often leading to a reliance on inadequate substitutes like dirty water or cow’s milk, which contributed to devastatingly high infant mortality rates. The emotional and psychological trauma for these mothers, who endured the grief of separation while being forced to nurture another’s child, was immense and lasting.
The Purpose Of Enforced Wet Nursing
The motivations behind this practice were multifaceted and insidious. For affluent white women, hiring a wet nurse was a symbol of social status that freed them from the perceived “drudgery” of breastfeeding. For enslavers, the practice served as a tool of manipulation and control, allowing them to dictate the reproductive lives of enslaved women whose bodies were seen as tools for labor and profit. Enslavers would often time the pregnancies of enslaved women to align with their wives’ due dates, ensuring a lactating woman was always available. Accounts suggest that some enslaved mothers were even beaten to ensure compliance, a horrific form of coercion that contributed to the racist stereotype of Black mothers as unloving or harsh, a narrative used to justify the enslavers’ inhumanity.
The Lasting Legacy Of Breastfeeding
The trauma of enforced wet nursing created a historical wound that has never fully healed. This history contributes to a cultural memory where breastfeeding is painfully associated with exploitation and a lack of autonomy. For some, avoiding breastfeeding became a way to reclaim agency and disassociate from this painful past. This is a sentiment that has been passed down through generations, with some older Black women discouraging younger women from breastfeeding, believing it to be a practice tied to a period of servitude. The advent of infant formula further compounded this intergenerational trauma, as companies aggressively targeted Black communities with marketing campaigns that framed formula as a modern, sophisticated alternative to a painful history.
Today, these historical factors, combined with enduring systemic barriers, contribute to significant disparities. The high labor participation rate of Black women—higher than any other group—means they are often the primary economic support for their families. The financial pressure forces many to return to work sooner, often to jobs that lack paid family leave or adequate lactation accommodations. Despite legal mandates, employers frequently fail to comply, leaving Black workers vulnerable to demotion, harassment, or job loss for simply trying to exercise their right to breastfeed. Furthermore, inequities in healthcare and a lack of culturally competent support from medical institutions compound the problem. The relatively low breastfeeding rate for Black mothers is therefore not a matter of personal choice but a direct result of systemic racism that continues to impact their health and well-being.
The fight for Black maternal and infant health requires more than just promoting breastfeeding. It demands a comprehensive effort to acknowledge and dismantle the centuries of historical trauma and systemic inequities that have made this natural act a struggle.
The lasting effects of forced wet nursing are a painful reminder that for Black women, the fight to nourish their children is not just a personal choice—it is a struggle against a system that has long denied them the very foundation of wellness. The only way forward is to prioritize policies that remove barriers to health and well-being for all.
Snoop Dogg Says He Struggled To Explain Gay Family Scene To Grandson During Movie Trip
Snoop Dogg was left speechless after his grandson asked how two women had a baby.
Snoop Dogg was left uncomfortable after a movie trip with his grandson, after he was unable to answer questions regarding a gay couple in the feature.
According to Hot97, the rapper explained the situation in the since-deleted clip of the “It’s Giving” Podcast. While on the show, Snoop Dogg explained why seeing a gay couple in the animatedmovie Lightyear, a Toy Story spinoff that focused on the fictional astronaut Buzz Lightyear, left him scared.
The children’s film showed a female character starting a family with her wife. The loving scene also showed the same-sex partners sharing a brief kiss. However, Snoop’s grandson inquired about how the two women had a child.
“They’re like, ‘She had a baby — with another woman,'” Snoop recalled the child saying, then adding, “Papa Snoop? How she have a baby with a woman? She’s a woman!’”
The 53-year-old was left speechless by the young boy’s question. Feeling put on the spot, he says the incident left him unprepared.
“I didn’t come in for this s—. I just came to watch the goddamn movie,” explained the entertainer, according to Variety. “It f—ed me up. I’m like, scared to go to the movies. Y’all throwing me in the middle of shit that I don’t have an answer for…”
He added,” It threw me for a loop. I’m like, ‘What part of the movie was this?’ These are kids. We have to show that at this age? They’re going to ask questions. I don’t have the answer.”
The West Coast native also faced heat for his unabashed comments, as some critics felt his response stems from homophobia. However, Snoop claimed that he wasn’t coming from a hateful place. Instead, he asserted that he did not know how to broach the sensitive topic.
“These are kids,” he continued. “They’re going to ask questions. I don’t have the answer.”
Despite what he deems as innocent concerns, the film faced backlash from conservative countries for including the gay-friendly scene. Lightyear’s director, Angus MacLane, defended the scene’s inclusion, which producers also found inspirational.
“The controversy is whether or not you think it’s appropriate for people to love each other,” expressed MacLane. “That’s a thing that’s a controversy? I don’t know where to begin on that one.”
That Time Shaquille O’Neal’s $70K Purchase Was Declined At Walmart
'It was $70,000, so I put my card in it, and it declined. Then, pulled it out, put it again, and it declined again”
You can be extremely rich and still get your credit card declined, as NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal recalled that happening to him while he was still playing in the NBA, and Walmart declined his purchase of $70,000.
According to Benziga, in an interview that aired on The Late Late Show with James Corden over seven years ago, Shaq explained to the talk show host about the incident that led to his purchase being declined while shopping at Walmart. The timing was around the 2007-2008 NBA season when he was traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns.
After the transaction went through, Shaq decided to head to Walmart because once he was traded and had a place to stay, it was unfurnished, so he wanted to buy some things for his new apartment in Arizona. As his place was bare, he didn’t have the patience to wait, so he went shopping. He claimed that the purchase is the largest in Walmart history.
“I have the biggest purchase in Walmart history, $70,000. I got traded from Miami to Phoenix, and I’m the type of guy I have no patience. When I get to Phoenix, they have an apartment for me; nothing is in it,” he told Corden.
As the merchandise was being rung up, he gave his credit card to the cashier, but it did not agree with the register. The card was declined several times.
O’Neal said, “So at the end, it was $70,000, so I put my card in it, and it declined. Then, pulled it out, put it again, and it declined again.”
As he felt bewildered that his card was being declined, he told them he’d be back. Meanwhile, American Express security had contacted him via phone and told him that someone had stolen his card and was trying to spend $70,000 at Walmart.
“So I told them I’d be back, and then the American Express security guard called me, ‘Hey man, somebody stole your credit card and spent $70,000 at Walmart,’ and I said no, that was me,” Shaquille O’Neal added.
They restored his spending abilities, and he was able to make the purchase that day.
Egypt Sherrod And Mike Jackson Offer Financial Guidance Ahead Of Tax Extension Deadline
Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson partnered with TurboTax to share business money management tips ahead of the upcoming tax extension deadline.
Married real estate gurus and serial entrepreneurs Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson have teamed up with TurboTax Business Tax to help small business owners prepare for the Sept. 15 tax filing extension.
Managing taxes is a top priority for small business owners, but the process can often be complex and time-consuming. With the Sept. 15 deadline approaching, Egypt and Mike are reminding small business owners and solopreneurs that TurboTax Business offers easy access to unlimited live experts to help get their taxes filed.
While the process may feel “frustrating” at times, Egypt says, it’s also “rewarding” when you consider the satisfaction of persevering, working for yourself, and supporting the livelihoods of employees if you have a team on payroll.
“Because even though as an entrepreneur you will never have worked harder in your life, at the very least you know that you’re doing it for yourself,” Sherrod tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “That’s the mantra Mike and I often remind ourselves of, even on the hard days, it’s still worthwhile.”
Balancing taxes alongside running a business can be overwhelming, and Egypt and Mike experienced the same challenge firsthand. Between managing their household, guiding clients through building, renovating, and buying homes, and operating multiple businesses, keeping up with taxes and receipts became a chore.
That is, until the Married to Real Estate stars began tapping into the built-in resources TurboTax offers business owners.
“Some of the tools that we have found to simplify our lives and our businesses have been with TurboTax,” Sherrod said. “For many years, we would sit at our kitchen table and just have receipts sprawled out all over the table, categorizing what goes where. Then, of course, we got wise to put it on individual credit cards for each business, but even that is not a simplification.”
Source: Approved Imagery Courtesy of TurboTax Business
Sherrod continued. “Once we put all of our businesses on QuickBooks, it was a dream come true because we could see the financials, we could see the expenditures, projections, everything was well organized. But they also had virtual tax experts that we could see and talk to, or we could hire out the bookkeeping service for them to help keep us organized year-round, 24/7. That was the real difference maker, it like freed up a whole two positions for it in our company.”
As a hands-on contractor, Jackson found great use of TurboTax’s built-in integrations with other business platforms, such as Mailchimp, and for file sharing with clients and vendors.
“What’s great about it as well is that the integration of it all allows the communication process to flow seamlessly between the tax expert and us or any other clients we may have because of the integration with Mailchimp,” Jackson said. “And also, you can file whatever you need to file and send it right through there without having to have several different apps.”
Sherrod points out that TurboTax’s accessibility on both smartphones and desktops gives business owners a central hub for managing their financial information. She also appreciates the platform’s instant projections, which help guide future business growth.
“They always want to be able to see your balance sheets and your P and L,” she added. “Usually, it used to be if they asked us, I got anxiety, like, ‘oh God, time to go through everything.’ Now it’s like, OK, cool. We’ll print it out. So that was really cool for us having those tools, and it’s all cohesive.”
Egypt and Mike stress that financial transparency in marriage is non-negotiable, noting it as a make-or-break factor that will “end the relationship.” It’s something they’ve seen firsthand while interviewing couples on their Marriage and Money podcast.
“When we’re interviewing people, they seem to have been able to come back from everything, including infidelity. But the one deal breaker was that we had two divorced couples who were still friends, and they came on and talked to us. And we’re like, ‘Well, what broke you up?’ Financial infidelity is what breaks people up,” Egypt said.
“You know, just finances, not being able to be on the same accord or having the same core values about money and planning. So it’s super important for us. It’s sort of what we were built on.”
The real estate duo is encouraging fellow small business owners to stay ahead of their taxes and file before the Sept. 15 extension deadline. Visit www.TurboTax.com/business to file today and get a head start on the next tax year.
Missy Elliott Reaches Settlement With Producer Who Claimed To Co-Write Her Early ’90s Songs
Missy Elliot and music producer Terry Williams have finally reached a settlement after a seven-year legal battle.
After years of legal battles, Missy Elliott has reached a settlement with a music producer who claimed to have co-written songs from her early girl group days.
On Aug. 22, Elliott reached an undisclosed settlement with music producer Terry Williams, just days before jury selection was set to begin for a Philadelphia trial, Billboard reported. The lawsuit stems from Williams’ claims that he co-wrote several songs during Elliott’s early years with the group Sista.
According to Williams, he wrote four tracks on Sista’s 1994 project 4 All the Sistas Around Da World and accuses Elliott of later releasing the material without giving him proper credit or compensation. After unsuccessful attempts to link his claims to Aaliyah’s 1996 single “Heartbroken” and having his allegations against Timbaland and several record labels dismissed, Williams was left to represent himself in 2019 when his lawyer withdrew from the case.
“As with many other lyrics, vocal arrangements and melodies Elliott created during this time, Elliott independently wrote the lyrics and melodies for the song ‘Heartbroken,’” a legal document Elliot filed in 2023 states.
Regarding the Sistas songs, “Elliott did not even know of or meet Williams until after the production on the Sista album entitled ‘4 All The Sistas Around Da World’ was completed and the album was publicly released in 1994,” the filing added.
Despite Williams’ legal setbacks, he remained steadfast with his lawsuit, which has now been resolved through a settlement that neither side has disclosed the details of. The settlement comes nearly two years after Elliott filed documents denying Williams’ claims, which she said were unsupported by evidence.
The “Work It” rapper also argued the claims came two decades too late, as he didn’t take legal action until 2018, more than 20 years after the disputed songs were written.
“In contrast to Williams’ unsupported claims”, the 2023 court filing states, “Elliott has produced admissible and compelling evidence that clearly establishes Williams’ lack of a valid ownership interest in the disputed musical works.”
Missy Elliott tried to have the lawsuit dismissed but was unsuccessful, though the dispute ultimately ended with a settlement.
This HBCU Tech Founder Is Leading The Charge For AI-Powered Energy
Eno Oduok also has another business, Naija Comm, to connect African creatives across the diaspora.
As a tech founder, Eno Oduok has a vision for energy management that makes her a trailblazer in the field.
A master’s student at Prairie View A&M, the future HBCU graduate aims to optimize energy through her startup, el powr, a management platform that utilizes AI. Studying business administration, her idea resulted in a third-place win at the HBCU Founders Initiative’s (HBCUFI) 2025 Better Futures Competition, as she explained its purpose for sustainability.
According to a news release obtained byAfroTech, el powr works as a “Fitbit for commercial buildings.” However, power will help commercial buildings and school systems reduce costs and lower carbon emissions through the use of AI.
Oduok says pitching her startup to HBCUFI feels “full circle.” She told the news outlet how the competition’s emphasis on amplifying the ideas within the HBCU community aligns with her brand’s values.
“HBCUFI is an organization that aligns with our values and our mission,” she stated. “It’s one of the few organizations worldwide that truly supports HBCU students, alumni, and founders. But most importantly, invests in them, funds, and fuels them. Being part of this competition felt very full circle for me.”
However, the trailblazer in tech also has her hands in media. Before el pwr, Oduok launched Naija Comm in 2020. The award-winning multimedia company connects and uplifts creatives across Nigeria and the African diaspora.
The venture spearheaded her business portfolio. However, it remains part of her mission to provide access for emerging change-makers and entrepreneurs in diverse industries. Her work even led to her recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in 2022.
The tech founder added, “What began as an idea and a passion project in my sister’s room turned into this award-winning business venture and global community…I didn’t have a space like that growing up, so it’s cool to give that to other people — especially the next generation.”
For her business savviness and ambitions, she points to her Nigerian upbringing. Both her parents nurtured their professions as well as their own passion projects, inspiring Oduok to do the same.
“They were visual representations showing me that you can do both, you can be anything, and that your future is limitless,” she detailed.
She also thanks the opportunities and organizations that highlight her work, such as Alabama Techstars and Girls Into VC. Currently, el powr is gearing up for a massive tech takeover through Pharrell Williams’ “So Ambitious Pre-Accelerator Program.” While growing her concept, Oduok continues to spark change in tech, media, and, of course, the energy sector.
“I want people — especially young people, especially people that come from similar communities that I come from, whether they are a woman, they’re Black — to be like ‘If she could do that, imagine what I could do.’ That means everything to me.”
Natasha Rothwell Manifested Paying Off Student Loans By Writing Herself A $40K Check
Natasha Rothwell remembers writing herself a check as a way to manifest paying off her student loans.
Natasha Rothwell was confident she would one day pay off her student loans, and to manifest that belief, the then-aspiring Hollywood star wrote herself a $40,000 check.
The Emmy-nominated White Lotus star spoke with CNNon August 19 about how she spent her first big paycheck as an actress and screenwriter. Paying off her student loans was her top priority, a goal she had manifested years earlier.
“I wrote a check to myself for like $40,000, because that would pay off my student loans, or a portion of it, and I just carried it around with me in my wallet while I was broke, picking up Metrocards in New York, and hoping one of them could get me home,” Rothwell shared.
“And it was just, I was like, ‘One day, I am gonna be able to cash this check and pay off (my loans),” she continued. “And I just remember, when I was on the phone with Sallie Mae and closing out my account, and I had that check in my hand.”
The Insecure star remembers how emotional the moment was, “because money is emotional,” she added.
“I think especially if you’ve been preoccupied with how you’re going to get it and how you’re going to live, and I had graduated with a theater degree during a recession, so it was scary times, and it just took a lot of faith to make sure that that could happen,” Rothwell explained.
While some might think it might be “pretty delulu to write a check like that to yourself and put it in your wallet,” Rothwell said, the Wonka star admitted to being a firm believer in the law of attraction.
“I think it… it helps a little bit. A little delulu never hurt nobody,” she said.
Rothwell is seeing her dedication to her craft pay off as she received her first Emmy nomination for her role as Belinda in The White Lotus. She is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, one of 23 nominations the hit HBO Max show received.
Black Juvenile Defendants In Allegheny County Face Nearly Double The Fines Of White Defendants, Data Shows
New research highlights the disparities Black juvenile defendants face in fines from Allegheny County judges.
New light is being shed on the disparities in fines Black juvenile defendants face from Allegheny County magisterial district judges.
Between 2023 and 2024, Allegheny County magisterial district judges ordered children ages 5 to 17 to pay over $190,000 in citation fines, WESA reported. During that time, Black juvenile defendants were fined nearly twice as much as their white peers, data from the Pennsylvania Office of Administrative Courts showed.
Reporters investigating the issue observed court proceedings in nearly a dozen Allegheny County jurisdictions, where waiting rooms were often overcrowded and disproportionately filled with students and families of color, even in majority-white districts. Judge Bruce Boni, who serves McKees Rocks and Stowe Township, acknowledged what he called the “baked-in” racial disparities of the criminal justice system, but said the solution starts with examining how schools and police choose to issue citations.
“There’s only so much a court can do because, again, we are responsive [in nature],” Boni said.
Pennsylvania judges can fine students up to $300. Still, Magisterial District Judge Leah Williams Duncan, one of 46 elected in Allegheny County and the only Black woman among them, said she rarely imposes the maximum penalty.
“We’re already addressing students who have behavioral issues or mental health issues,” she said. “And the resources that are at my disposal to assess a monetary fine — just to me, it makes absolutely no sense.”
A deeper analysis of records from 20 Allegheny County school districts found they issued 934 student citations over three years, excluding truancy cases. Among the citations, nearly one in five went to Black girls, despite Black girls making up only one in 20 students in those districts each year.
Highlands High School graduate Olivia was fined $482.60 just before finishing her senior year after receiving a citation for fighting at school. During the 2022–2023 school year, Highlands police issued 105 student citations; 28 of these, or about 27%, were issued to Black girls.
“It feels like being Black at a white school district, you feel targeted about a lot of things,” Olivia said. “They point you out for everything. And every little thing, every little mess up you do, it’s like you’re targeted.”
The disproportionate use of school citations extends beyond Allegheny County. A 2023 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that Black girls were referred to law enforcement at school at three times the rate of white girls. That same year, Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Plan showed that while just one in seven youth in the state are Black, they made up nearly a third of all youth arrests.
Olivia’s mother, Pauline McKnight, arranged a monthly payment plan with the court to cover the $482.60 her daughter owed. The cost forced Olivia to skip prom, a sacrifice McKnight, a fellow Highlands High School graduate, hopes will inspire her daughter and other young Black women to stand together and steer clear of becoming victims of a flawed justice system.
“I really would love togetherness, especially with these girls of color, to try to unite and be one,” McKnight said. “It’s not going to be with the school. It’s going to have to come from little old me, and helping these girls grow and mature and know that we carry ourselves well,” she said.
UMYO Network Is A Community-Based Digital Ecosystem Launched By Black Dad And His 3 Sons
Their mission is simple but powerful
UMYO Network is a groundbreaking digital ecosystem created and owned by African American father Gregory Barnard Cherry and his three sons—Gregory Jr., Isaac, and Isaiah. Together, this father-and-sons team built UMYO as a community-owned platform designed to prepare people for the future of artificial intelligence, automation, and economic disruption. Their mission is simple but powerful: give everyday people—not politicians, corporations, or celebrities—the tools and opportunities to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Gregory’s journey to building UMYO began with hardship and redemption. The son of a reverend and military veteran, he suffered a brain injury at age 10 that left him struggling in school. After losing his brother to violence at 19, he spiraled into destructive behavior that landed him in prison. He now views that prison sentence as a turning point that allowed him to rediscover faith, value life, and redirect his path. His experience forged the foundation for a lifelong mission: to create opportunities for youth and underserved communities that are often overlooked by traditional systems.
Determined to live with purpose, Cherry became a father, ministry leader, and community organizer. In 2010, he co-launched STI740 with former NFL player Telance Sawyer, the first Black-led youth media project that trained young people as creators, producers, and interviewers of national sports content. At the same time, Cherry taught his own sons technology and critical thinking from the time they were five years old. Together, Gregory and his sons began solving community economic issues as a family tech team, which eventually became the bedrock for UMYO Network.
Since 2005, Cherry has warned that automation would wipe out millions of jobs, disproportionately harming Black and underserved communities. UMYO is his solution: a “Wall Street of Technology” owned by the people themselves. Already, the network has launched more than 50 digital hubs to equip communities for the AI-driven economy. By taking the same technology that threatens jobs and reengineering it to create opportunity, the platform empowers people to build their own digital economies instead of relying on failing systems.
UMYO is built on accessibility, with membership starting at just $5.99 per month. Members receive a private digital hub that combines social media, e-commerce, education, and networking into a single platform. They can access financial support, spiritual growth resources, storefront giveaways, and even income opportunities as account executives. Beyond individual benefits, UMYO reinvests profits back into communities, making traditional fundraising unnecessary for HBCUs, nonprofits, churches, and unions.
Ultimately, UMYO is more than just a platform—it is a movement born from the vision of an African American father and his three sons. Gregory Cherry, Gregory Jr., Isaac, and Isaiah have built a family-led legacy that challenges the dominance of corporate tech giants while providing a sustainable path forward for everyday people. Owned by the people and powered by the people, it stands as a model of innovation, resilience, and generational leadership in the fight for economic survival in the age of AI.
Weekly Meetings Now Open:
Every Tuesday at noon CST and Thursday at 7 pm CST, Gregory and his sons host free weekly virtual meetings for partners, leaders, and members. Learn how UMYO works, see the plan of action, and hear how communities are already being transformed. Register here.
