• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 18, 2022

Florida Woman Uses PPP Loan to Pay Hitman to Kill Miami TSA Officer

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A woman in Florida is accused of using funds from a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) assistance loan she received from the government to pay a hitman to kill another woman.

According to The Miami Herald, Jasmine Martinez utilized the money she received to help keep her small business running to hire someone to kill a woman. She has been arrested along with Javon Carter and Romiel Robinson. The three suspects are being held on charges related to the killing of Le’Shonte Jones and the attempted murder of Jones’s 3-year-old daughter. The crime took place on May 3, 2021.

Authorities stated the hitman hired to kill Jones was a Miami federal airport officer. Martinez paid the airport officer part of the funds she received from a PPP loan. Court records show the Florida woman withdrew over $10,000 of the $15,000 PPP loan she received last April. According to The Miami Herald, Martinez took the money out of her bank several days before the killing. The money was supposed to be used for her single-employee beauty salon.

On May 3, Carter, the alleged hitman, approached Jones as she stepped into her apartment in South Miami-Dade. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration officer was shot multiple times before dying. Jones was shot outside the Coral Bay Cove apartments after finishing a shift at Miami International Airport. Her 3-year-old daughter was injured in the shooting.

It’s been speculated that Jones was killed because she was a prosecution witness in a criminal case. The mother was a victim in an ongoing robbery case that involved Martinez. According to The Miami Herald, the two had several run-ins with each other over the years.

Attorneys for Martinez and Robinson claim their clients weren’t involved in the killing.

“Jasmine has always denied any involvement in this since the first time law enforcement approached her last summer,” said Fallon Zirpoli, Martinez’s defense attorney.

Robinson’s attorney, Jonathan Jordan, stated, “Romiel is and has been in custody well before this incident unfolded. This loss of life is tragic but Mr. Robinson had nothing to do with it. We look forward to reviewing all of the evidence and maintain he is innocent of these allegations.”

The suspects could face the death penalty as the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office plans to seek grand jury indictments for first-degree murder.

• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

February 18, 2022

Wendy Williams Celebrates Her Father’s 91st Birthday In New Instagram Photos

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Amid reports about her mental well-being and an ongoing lawsuit, Wendy Williams is taking time to celebrate her father.

The 57-year-old TV personality took to her new personal Instagram account to mark her father, Thomas Williams Sr.’s, 91st birthday with a couple of “relaxing” photos.

She captioned the post, “Daddy’s 91st birthday! Enjoying it in the most relaxing way possible.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by WendyWilliamsOfficial (@therealwendywilliamsonline)

The birthday reunion comes after Williams hired her ex-husband’s legal team, Lashan Thomas of Miami Entertainment Law Group, to handle her lawsuit against Wells Fargo to regain access to the alleged millions of dollars in her accounts, the Sun reports. It is reportedly the same group that represents Kevin Hunter’s businesses.

Earlier this month, she filed a temporary restraining order after the bank filed a letter in court, claiming it has strong reason to believe Williams “is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.”

In a statement to ET,  Thomas, Wendy’s lawyer, said, “Wendy wants the world to know that she strenuously denies all allegations about her mental health and well-being.”

“During this hiatus from the show, Wendy has employed holistic health professionals to help her reach optimal health during her treatment of Graves’ disease and thyroid concerns,” the statement read in part. “Wendy wants you to know she is fine; she is of sound mind.”

Since posting her father’s birthday photos, some of Williams’ Instagram followers have expressed genuine concern for her mental health progress.

“So glad to see you on here taking control of your narrative Wendy,” one user wrote.

Another added, “Yes Wendy on the MEND.”

She also received comments on wanting to see her back on the show. “You look beautiful, Love this for you, but please come back to your purple throne #youaremissed.”

“is 2022 the last season of the wendy show?? we need answers,” one user asked.

“Wendy is back, y’all!,” someone else said.

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Derek Major

February 18, 2022

There Are 2,755 Billionaires In The World But Only 15 Are Black — Here’s the List

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There are 2,755 billionaires in the world, but only 15 are Black and of that 15, only two are women and nine are American.

Forbes tallies a list of the world’s billionaires annually using a snapshot of financial information including stock prices, exchange rates and more.

15. Tyler Perry ($1 billion)

Perry may have made his bones acting in small stage plays, but today he is a titan in the movie and acting industry. The actor, producer, director, and screenwriter has appeared in dozens of movies of his own making including Temptations: Confessions of A Marriage Counselor and numerous Madea movies. Perry has also appeared in big-budget movies including Gone Girl and Alex Cross, but he also owns Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Perry also owns Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

14. Jay-Z ($1.4 billion)

The Brooklyn-born rapper became the first person in hip-hop to hit the billionaire mark in 2019 thanks to a diverse portfolio that includes liquor and clothing and a small stake in the Brooklyn Nets when they first moved to the borough.

13. Strive Masiyiwa ($1.5 billion)

12. Michael Lee-Chin ($1.6 billion)

11. Michael Jordan ($1.6 billion)

The six-time NBA champion still carries many of the sponsorship deals he had as a player including Hanes, Gatorade and Upper Deck trading cards. Additionally, he’s been the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise since 2010 and still has the world’s most coveted basketball shoe lines of any athlete before or since he retired for the last time in 2003.

10. Rihanna ($1.7 billion)

Her last album dropped in 2016, but the recording artist’s Fenty clothing line. which sells lingerie, underwear, makeup and beauty products has changed both industries, forcing large companies who previously ignored Black women, women of color and their full figures to take them and their more than $2.5 billion in spending power seriously as they have her quickly becoming a multi-billionaire

9. Kanye West  ($1.8 billion)

The musician has jumped into the fashion industry head first and is making bank. the college dropout sports a multi-year deal to design sneaker brand Yeezy for Adidas. West also has a multi-year deal with Gap.

8. Alex Karp ($2.1 billion)

7. Oprah Winfrey ($2.7 billion)

Orpah has spent more than two decades building a media and entertainment empire and her name on the billionaire’s list proves it. The former talk show host owns a state in Weight Watchers, has a partnership with Apple and has donated more than half a billion dollars to various causes in America and Africa including the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

6. Patrice Motsepe ($2.9 billion)

5. David Steward ($3.7 billion)

4. Abdulsamad Rabiu ($4.9 billion)

3. Robert Smith ($6 billion)

Robert F. Smith became a billionaire through the private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, which he founded in 2000. Smith made headlines last year when he promised to pay off the student debt of the 2021 Morehouse College graduating class.

2. Mike Adenuga ($6.1 billion)

1. Aliko Dangote ($11.5 billion)

Dangote is currently the richest Black man on Earth. Dangote, who was born in Kano, Nigeria, is worth more than $10 billion according to Forbes and is overseeing the construction of what will be one of the world’s largest oil refineries, which is expected to end the country’s dependence on foreign refined oil. Once completed, the refinery is expected to produce 650,000 barrels of refined oil per day.

• Business

by Derek Major

February 18, 2022

Derek Lewis Becomes The First President of PepsiCo’s New Multicultural Business and Equity Development Organization

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Soft-drink giant PepsiCo has announced it will create a new North American organization dedicated to accelerating efforts to help address inequalities for historically underserved businesses and communities.

It is part of PepsiCo’s racial equity initiative announced in 2020 that will invest $570 million over five years to increase Black and Hispanic representation and create more financial opportunities for both.

The new Multicultural Business and Equity Development Organization will be led by Derek Lewis, the first president of PepsiCo’s Multicultural Business and Equity Development. Lewis has been with the soft-drink company for more than three decades, and in his new role, he will address end-to-end business inequalities.

Derek most recently served as President of PepsiCo Beverages North America’s South Division and played a role in the company’s broader diversity and community engagement agenda, including leading the creation and expansion of Pepsi Stronger Together – PepsiCo’s series of grassroots initiatives bringing tailored programming support to communities across the country.

In addition, Derek oversaw the “She Got Now” internship program providing career opportunities for HBCU female students and the Historically Better Gala honoring Black trailblazers.

Specific business operations through the new organization will include accelerating retailer business development in multicultural communities; expanding existing successful programming, including Pepsi Dig In and the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program, all aimed at supporting Black and Hispanic communities and leveraging the scale of PepsiCo to drive investment in and support of diverse suppliers and partners.

The equity focus of the organization will include rebranding and national expansion of the successful Pepsi Stronger Together community engagement program; elevating PepsiCo’s efforts to be an employer of choice for diverse cohorts and supporting the company’s employee resource groups to build a unified company that celebrates and thrives on the diversity of each employee.

“To take the next step in its Racial Equality Journey, PepsiCo is calling on one of its top executives to lead an organization embedded in the company’s two largest businesses with a focus on providing new educational opportunities, building up small businesses and creating rewarding job opportunities in an effort to support underserved businesses and communities,” said Kirk Tanner, CEO, PepsiCo Beverages North America. “This is a significant move, which we believe will increase engagement and impact internally with employees and externally with consumers and enable greater progress for the future.”

PepsiCo Chief Sustainability Officer Simon Lowden said in June 2020 that the company more than doubled its spending with Black-owned suppliers.

• Sports

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 18, 2022

Howard Women’s Lacrosse Team Heckled With Racist Slurs at Presbyterian College

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Officials at Howard University and Presbyterian College are working together to investigate racial slurs the HBCU’s lacrosse team say they faced at the college last week.

On Friday afternoon, Howard’s lacrosse team was arriving at Presbyterian’s Bailey Memorial Stadium in Clinton, South Carolina, when the team says they were verbally assaulted by a group of white boys tailgating, NBC News reports.

“Our first steps onto the field, we were greeted with, ‘F— Howard! You’re not welcome here!’ They said, ‘We don’t want you here!’ They told us to go home,” Howard Lacrosse Coach Karen Healy-Silcott said.

“They shouted, ‘If it ain’t white, it ain’t right!’” Healy-Silcott added. “We were looking at each other, wondering if we were actually hearing this.”

Healy-Silcott says the team was completely shocked but went to the locker room and helped to encourage each other by reminding themselves of lacrosse’s history with Indigenous people.

“It was a really terrible day. But they persevered and were able to play, and I’m really proud of the way we responded as a team,” she said.

Presbyterian College has since posted to Facebook to call out the “hateful, inappropriate and racist” comments made to Howard’s lacrosse team an hour before their game.

Howard University Athletics Director Kery Davis responded to Presbyterian’s statement in a separate Facebook post.

“I am deeply troubled that some of our student-athletes were subjected to slurs and abusive language before the women’s lacrosse match on Friday vs. Presbyterian College,” Davis said.

“Howard does not condone such disgraceful behavior in any form, and the use of harmful language such as this runs counter to the values of this institution, which celebrates respect, diversity and inclusion on its campus.”

Eric Clakeley, the Presbyterian College women’s lacrosse team coach, sent out a tweet apologizing to Howard’s lacrosse team.

“We apologize to the Howard University women’s lacrosse coach and her players, and we deeply regret the experience they had on our campus,” Clakeley wrote.

We apologize to the Howard University women’s lacrosse coach and her players, and we deeply regret the experience they had on our campus.

We respect and support Coach Healy-Silcott and the Howard Women’s Lacrosse team. We wish them well for the remainder of the season. https://t.co/h2fr0QDsiP

— Eric Clakeley (@CoachClakeley) February 13, 2022

The latest attack comes one month after Howard was one of seven HBCUs to receive bomb threats from what the FBI determined to be “tech-savvy” juveniles across the country.

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 18, 2022

Mary J. Blige Scheduled to Perform at this Year’s 2022 NAACP Image Awards

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R&B singer and actor Mary J. Blige has hit quite a winning streak lately!

BET announced, along with the NAACP, the nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer and two-time Academy Award-nominated actress and producer Mary J. Blige will be the scheduled performer of this year’s 53rd NAACP Image Awards.

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! 🙌🏾 @maryjblige will take the stage at the 53rd annual #NAACPImageAwards on Feb 26 8/7c! pic.twitter.com/MZjMgT9nt7

— BET (@BET) February 17, 2022

It was also revealed that the 53rd NAACP Image Awards would be hosted by seven-time NAACP Image Awards winner Anthony Anderson of Law & Order and black-ish fame. The televised show will air on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET.

Esteemed actor Samuel L. Jackson will be given the NAACP Chairman’s Award and the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, will be presented with the Social Justice Impact Award.

Also announced were the presenters for the show, which will be televised live. The list includes Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, LL Cool J, Michael Strahan, Morgan Freeman, Paula Patton, Questlove, Simu Liu, Tiffany Haddish, Zendaya, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and NAACP Board Chairman Leon W. Russell.

There will be awards that will not be a part of the televised live show on Feb. 26, but those categories will be announced February 21–25 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on naacpimageawards.net and the NAACP Image Awards YouTube channel.

The virtual show will be shown nightly and hosted by actor and comedian Affion Crockett. The presenters during those days include Aida Rodriquez, Asiahn Bryant, Clint Coley, Cory Hardrict, Courtney Nichole, Demetrius Shipp Jr., Derrick Johnson, Karen Boykin-Towns, Khleo Thomas, Lauren Wesley Wilson, Leon W. Russell, Lori Harvey, Luke Lawal, Jr., Marcel Spears, Matt Cedeno, Melissa L. Williams, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Wisdom Cole.

Members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, Texas House Democratic Caucus, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus will receive the Roy Wilkins Civil Rights Award. The honorees exemplify the spirit of Wilkins, who led the NAACP during the pivotal years of the modern civil rights movement. The award winners embrace the organization’s work fighting for justice, protecting voting rights, and encouraging full participation in the political process.

The Activist of the Year award will be presented to Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches and a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. The Youth Activist of the Year will be presented to Channing Hill, NAACP Chapter President of Howard University. 

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

February 18, 2022

Breakout Photographer Captures 40 Remarkable Black Men in ‘Gifted’

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Jaimie Milner released her must-have coffee table book “Gifted” on Feb. 1. 

Through unseen images, raw unfiltered full-length interviews, and thought-provoking perspectives, “Gifted” showcases the voice of black men today. Featured in the book are remarkable men in the arts, business, politics, and finance including Kris Bowers (“Bridgerton”), David Oyelowo (“Selma”), Michael Strautmanis (Obama Foundation), Hisham Tawfiq (“The Blacklist”), Chris Lyons (Andreessen Horowitz), Nate Parker (“American Skin”), Dean Garfield (Netflix), Steven Caple, Jr. (“Creed II”) and more.

“Gifted” is the product of the 10+ year journey of photographer Jaimie Milner. At Walt Disney Studios in 2009, Milner was an intern — one who was used as a reference for ‘Tiana,’ the black princess in the film “The Princess and the Frog.”

She quickly learned her prince was not black and her realization gave rise to an internal conversation about how black men are portrayed in the media.

“I didn’t see people like my father and friends reflected anywhere in the media,” said Milner.

“I wanted to show that these men exist — men that cared, that were smart.”

The book features 40 remarkable Black men and asks these men five thought provoking questions:

— Who are you?

— In your opinion, what is the myth and truth of Black men?

— How do you feel about the state of Black men today, and what would you like to see change?

— As a Black man, what do you need in your life to succeed?

— How do Black women aid in the progression of Black men?

Each of their answers offers an inside look into the minds and hearts of these men on a range of topics that will be of interest to readers looking to grasp a deeper understanding of Black male identity.

“In 2010, I began photographing and interviewing black men out of a curiosity. I wanted to know their dreams, their fears and over time that curiosity evolved into a desire to share what I found. The project now serves as a platform for their multitude of truths. Gifted features remarkable men in the Arts, Business, Politics, and Finance.”

“Through this project, my hope is not to change the views of others, but to ignite pride through positive imagery that reminds black men of the undeniable talent and influence they possess.”

“Gifted” is currently available for order. 

Featured Gifted Men Include:

Y’lan Noel, Chris Lyons, Nate Parker, Jason Madison, Charles Harbison, David Oyelowo, Hisham Tawfiq, Spree Wilson, Kenny Leon, Danny Simons, Frohawk Two Feathers, Brandon Bell, Kris Bowers, Dustin Warren, Phil Upchurch, Charles Dickson, Jonathan Richards, Michael Strautmanis, David Sutphen, Jim Shelton, Dean Garfield, Robert Watt, Morgan Cooper, Bradford Young, Brandon McCaskill, Tutu Sweeney, Mark Greenfield, Lorenzo Diggins, Melvin Gregg, Steven Caple, Jr., Terence Nance, Michael Mctaggert, Metebrafor Agindotan, Ignacio Quiles, Hank Willis Thomas, Robert Marriott, Amani Olu, Stanley Lumax, Scott Tucker and Norman Maxwell.

• News

by Derek Major

February 18, 2022

Parents Blame Pensacola Police After Baby’s Face Hit The Ground Following Violent Search Warrant

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Pensacola Police have announced an internal affairs review of the execution of an early morning warrant in which a one-year-old baby was injured.

Business Insider reports the incident began when SWAT officers with the Pensacola Police executed a search warrant at the home of Corey Marioneaux Jr. in connection to a Jan. 22 shooting. However, local police said Marioneaux Jr., a 24-year-old man, was not a suspect in the search.

ABC affiliate WEAR-TV reported the officers executed the warrant on Feb. 3 at 5 a.m., knocking several times before kicking in the door and entering. Marioneaux Jr. was asleep with his two children Caion and Cylen.

Marioneaux Jr., a licensed gun owner, according to family members, opened fire against the police, believing someone was breaking into his home.

No officers were injured in the shooting, but Marioneaux Jr. was arrested and charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement official and was later released on $50,000 bond.

Pensacola Police said in the aftermath of the incident, the baby fell out of the backseat of a police cruiser while investigators waited for Marioneaux Jr’s relatives to arrive. According to a police statement, an investigator was unaware the child was leaning against the car door, and when they opened it, the baby fell out onto the street.

“I get out my car like, ‘Where’s my baby? Where’s my baby?'” Moiya Dixon, the mother of the two children, told Local 12. “And I get my baby and I see his face — and it’s almost unrecognizable compared to how he looked when I left him last.”

A picture of the boy shows him with a swollen lip and nose, scratches, and several bumps on his forehead.

“The child was checked by EMS for injuries. Both children were later released to family members,” Pensacola Police said in a statement.

Marioneaux Jr. does not have a criminal history, and Pensacola Police have said he is not a suspect in the January shooting that led to the warrant. The family is now wondering why the police came to their house and how their son was injured. The incident seems eerily similar to the no-knock warrant that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor in 2020

FX’s hit crime drama series “Snowfall” is back for another season following the explosive end of season 4 and actress Angela Lewis is dishing on the season 5 plot.

Carrying on the legacy and vision of the late Academy Award-nominated writer and director John Singleton, “Snowfall” follows the story of Franklin Saint, the leader of a family-run drug operation.

Actress, mother, and activist Angela Lewis plays the role of Aunt Louie Saint, a hardened, tough-as-nails drug-addict with ambitious dreams to escape the world of South-Central LA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C45FHE3ekxw

Season 4 ended with Aunt Louie getting shot and deciding that she and her husband, Uncle Jerome, are ready to take the empire over themselves.

Speaking with BLACK ENTERPRISE about the new season, Lewis teased what viewers can expect from her character.

“We’re dealing with the fact that they’re all making so much money and it is creating more problems,” Lewis said. “And those problems put a strain on the on the family dynamic.”

“Snowfall” is set in Los Angeles during the crack epidemic of the 1980s. After seeing how much power her nephew gained in the short time he’s been selling the drug, Aunt Louie is ready to get her piece of the pie.

“Louis is really stepping forward, you know, as a leader, and she is not taking no for an answer,” Lewis said.

“And she is also fighting for her relationship with Jerome with the two of them when things are good, it’s also good. And when they clash, it’s, you know, it’s like, rams.”

“I think that we’re gonna see them fighting for their individual dreams to come to fruition and still be able to find each other in all of that. That’s powerful.”

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lewis credits her drive and success to the city of Detroit and the public-school education she received attending Cass Tech High School. She received a degree in Theater Performing at the University of Michigan, and soon after moved to New York City to pursue her acting career.

After a few roles in off-Broadway stage plays, Lewis landed her first television role on the HBO critically acclaimed drama series “The Big C” as the role of Laura Linney’s nurse. Now living in LA with her husband and young daughter, Lewis spends her free time giving back to causes she’s passionate about.

Currently, Lewis is working to raise awareness of the Black maternal health crisis and breaking stigmas around the resources available to expecting mothers.

“There are just too many of us who are dying, and unnecessarily and after having giving birth to my child, I realized I was just welcomed into this world of beauty and simultaneous trauma,” she said noting it was “another space where Black women are traumatized and left out of the pool of resources that are available to us to women.”

Tune in to “Snowfall” when it premieres on FX on Wednesday, February 23.