Parents Blame Pensacola Police After Baby’s Face Hit The Ground Following Violent Search Warrant
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 Insiderreports 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 Taylorin 2020
Angela Lewis, Star of FX’s ‘Snowfall’ Talks New Explosive Season and Black Maternal Health Crisis
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.
Tap Into AWS Cloud Computing With This Nine-Course Bundle
Cloud technology over recent years has evolved from a niche tech word used in computer professional circles to an active noun. Everyone from adolescent gamers to CEOs of multimillion-dollar corporations uses the technology in some form or fashion. While cloud computing is a staple in today’s society, it’s still an emerging technology that’s being implemented and reconfigured every day. There’s never been a better time than now to learn about it.
Amazon Web Services has become a major player in the cloud-computing space, and it won’t relinquish its stronghold on the technology any time soon. Learn how to master AWS with The 2022 Amazon Web Services Database Bundle. For a limited time, it’s available for just $29.99. That’s a savings of 98% from its MSRP ($1,800).
Nine courses are included in this bundle. Individually, each costs $200. By the time you reach the end of this bundle, you will be proficient enough to be certified in various platforms of AWS.
The “AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Course” offers the best introduction to the technology and how you can use it to your advantage. It’s filled with hands-on examples, and it blends practical work with theoretical training. There are more than 180 lectures, and the course currently has a rating of 4.6 stars.
Cloud migration is a popular and relevant topic in information technology circles, and the “AWS Cloud Migration for IT Professionals” not only teaches the benefits of migrating to the cloud but hands-on knowledge to design and implement migration strategies that will help you and your organization. This course has a rating of 4.2 stars out of 5.
Other highly-rated courses include “Mastering Jenkins CI with Amazon AWS: Build DevOps Pipeline”, “AWS Certified DevOps Engineer”, “AWS Machine Learning Using Python 2022”, and additional information-filled offerings.
A career in AWS is nearly future-proof, as businesses and organizations turn to the cloud for their data needs. Purchase this bundle today for $29.99 to invest in your professional future.
It’s Black History Month — Here’s How to Show Black Employees You Care
Black history is more than just slavery and the civil rights movement. It’s being made as we speak.
All too often, when it comes to Black history, we look only to the past, acknowledging extraordinary leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass. While it’s important to honor the shoulders we stand on, now is the perfect time to acknowledge and appreciate how the leaders of today are making a big impact in the business world. Whether an employee is a top-level executive or simply a staffer, this month — and year-round — you can and should show appreciation for your Black employees in the following ways.
Highlight their contributions
In business, we know that leaders are often depicted as white and male, but the proportion of African-American leaders in all sectors of the business world is rising. Turning the spotlight on modern-day Black leadership and paying attention to their contributions is a powerful way to acknowledge Black excellence in your business.
Consider spotlighting (with permission of course) Black leaders in your company. Showcase what impact their leadership has had on the business, what they’re working on now and what they plan to accomplish in the coming year.
If you don’t have a ton of Black leaders in your business, work hard to change that, but in the interim think about what other Black employees are doing good work that’s often unrecognized. Offer to share their accomplishments, accolades and achievements company-wide — not just this month, but throughout the year.
No matter how big or small a Black staffer’s role may be, all employees can benefit from seeing present-day Black excellence living and breathing throughout the organization. Representation matters, and for many Black staffers, there’s a hunger to see people who look like them recognized for their contributions at a company-wide level. Highlighting Black excellence can be a powerful way to foster an environment of belonging and appreciation all year long.
Remove the burden on Black employees to plan Black History Month
In your organization, who typically manages Black History Month programming? Is it the chief diversity officer? The HR department? Or a lone Black employee? Whoever it may be, it’s worth acknowledging that the weight of planning Black History Month is heavy, and often falls on the shoulders of those who are most impacted, like women and people of color. It’s time for a shift in that paradigm.
Instead of tapping the lone Black employee in the office, whose job may not be in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) department at all, consider consulting with that employee instead. By that I mean get their feedback on what they would like to see or experience during Black History Month. But not without doing your own homework first. Gather feedback from Black employees that can inform Black History Month without expecting them to execute the activities. Ask if they would like to see a certain speaker keynote at a company event or if they would appreciate a private luncheon with other Black employees. Would a day off be appreciated instead of a busy day of activities?
Additionally, there’s a unique opportunity for leadership (whether they identify as Black or not) to be initiators of programs that center Black excellence. They can learn to acknowledge the contributions of Black employees in a way that puts those employees in control of choosing what appreciation looks like for them. The ultimate goal is to help Black employees feel supported without overwhelming them with the burden of doing all the work.
Encourage non-Black employees to educate themselves
Black history is happening right now. Every month, there’s a new book being released by a Black author, a Netflix special directed by a Black creator, and a conference with a Black keynote. It’s time that non-Black employees take the initiative to educate themselves without putting the burden on Black employees to be educators.
For example, one of my friends, Minda Harts, published a book called “Right Within: How to Heal from Racial Trauma in the Workplace” that shows women of color and people who manage women of color how to navigate workplace trauma in a thoughtful way. This book is a great self-education tool to learn how to support Black employees who may be experiencing workplace trauma.
Another fabulous Black mind is that of Issa Rae. She’s the writer and producer of “Insecure“ and “Awkward Black Girl.” She uses media and storytelling to tell Black stories in a modern way. Your employees and millions of others can access her work on several platforms.
Finally, a connection I have on LinkedIn, Madison Butler, shared a post highlighting a list of 2,000 plus Black speakers available nationwide. Whether it’s Black History Month or not, there are hundreds of speakers across disciplines that are ready to share their expertise and insights. All they need is an invitation from your organization with a commitment to pay them what they are worth.
All this to say, if your business and its employees wish to educate themselves on the present-day Black experience, the resources are abundant.
Partner with Black-Owned businesses and organizations
From retail brands to consulting firms, there is a plethora of businesses that are looking for allies and partners. Using your business’ resources and directing them towards Black-owned businesses isn’t an act of charity; it’s an act of solidarity. Oftentimes, what Black businesses lack isn’t a quality product or service — it’s opportunity and partnerships. Making the conscious choice to redirect funds that would otherwise be spent with a non-Black business can build solidarity, enhance Black resiliency and increase economic opportunity.
Invest in your Black employees’ growth and development
If your company has Black employees who have great potential but for some reason aren’t climbing the corporate ladder, there could be a discrepancy in opportunity. One way to find out if your company has systems that disadvantage Black employees is to dig deeper and look under the hood of the business.
One good example is about one of my larger national clients who decided to look deeper at what’s holding their Black executive staff back from advancement and a sense of belonging. This client conducted a survey that underscored how the lived experience of African-American women in their company was vastly different than other groups of workers. They wanted to bridge the gap, so they did something they’ve never done before: They invested a significant amount of money into an executive coaching program for their most senior Black women leaders. They put those leaders into a cohort where they each received executive coaching, monthly recurring sessions, peer-to-peer support, and more. My consultancy was a part of their leadership program, and we helped the executives create monthly learning experiences that addressed pressing issues like overcoming impostor syndrome, homing in on personal branding, and implementing a radical self-care routine.
Investing in your Black staff is a worthwhile endeavor. Explore where your business may be leaving Black employees wanting more and choosing to invest in their success and advancement as the year goes on.
Going beyond Black history and centering Black excellence in the present day can look different for every organization, but the ways mentioned above are good places to start. When thinking through this concept, return to the question: What can my business do that’s meaningful to Black employees? Consider how encouraging non-Black employees to educate themselves, seeking feedback from Black staffers, and investing in the success of Black employees can make a measurable difference. If your organization truly cares about Black history, focus on meaningful strategic steps that can lead to more opportunity and acknowledgment for the Black people in your organization.
Nick Cannon Admits His New Song Was About Realizing The Love He’s Lost And Taking Ownership
While Nick Cannon realizes that getting back with Mariah Carey is virtually “impossible,” he does admit that he’s had time to think back on his relationship slips and his new song is a nuanced ode to taking ownership for his past mistakes.
Cannon is now “clarifying” the intent of his latest single, Alone which he released earlier this week on Valentine’s Day. Cannon admits on his show that while he knows rekindling his relationship is a hard no with the superstar singer, the song is about taking ownership of the break-up.
“The song is really about reflection. You know you realize, ‘Man, I really messed up! I had probably the greatest situation. I had my dream girl, and I messed it up!'”
The song uses a sample of Mariah’s song, Love Takes Time off her 1990 self-titled debut album.
One line in the song states, “As much as I want you back/ It’s probably better where you at.”
“Music is therapeutic for me,” Cannon said.
Another line in the song, “I say I’m cool when I know I miss it/I’d trade it all for the case if I could have you back/If I could go back where we started at.”
“The song wasn’t really about trying to get her back. It was taking ownership of what I did as a man and owning my flaws and expressing it through song.”
The single is actually the first song off of Cannon’s forthcoming project entitled, Raw N B The Explicit Tape. It will have 12 new tracks that is scheduled to be released this week on Feb. 18. It will have featured artists such as K. Michelle, Brandy, and even Mariah Carey.
“With someone being so controversial, always in the blogs, and the tabloids every day, I thought, ‘Let me continue to use music as a therapeutic method to speak my truth and share what I’m going through.’ When people are going through some of the more challenging times in their life, that’s when they make the best music,” he said.
We’re glad Cannon understands that he had a good thing, but sad that he waited so long to come to that realization.
Ethnically Diverse Investors in 2022: Optimistic, Confident, and Engaged
Despite heightened market volatility and the uncertainty driven by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,
ethnically diverse investors are confident and engaged in their financial futures, and hopeful about the
year to come.
According to recent Fidelity research, ethnically diverse investors expressed more
optimism for 2022, with 81% of respondents saying they’ll be better off this year than last (vs. 67% of
white respondents.
They’re also planning to change the way they invest, with 60% of respondents saying they’ll invest differently knowing that the market experiences ups and downs (vs. 41% of white respondents).
We’re seeing a doubling-down of these trends within younger demographics as well. In Q4 2021, we found that twice as many Black young customers (26%) aged 18-35 are confident in their ability to start
investing or will invest more outside of their retirement 401(k) than their white peers (13%)
And, more Black people 18-35 (33%) planned to invest in stocks for themselves than white investors (21%).
There is often talk about the lack of resources in Black communities, but this data uncovers another side
of the story. Black people, and in particular young Black people, are excited, eager, and prepared to take
hold of their financial futures. This story emerges at a particularly interesting time as we enter year
three of the COVID 19 pandemic, which has inarguably had an outsized impact on Communities of Color.
So…why the sunny disposition among these communities? Over the past two years, our country has
experienced a racial reckoning in the midst of these unprecedented times.
And while we collectively agree companies have a responsibility to do more to address the systemic issues that uniquely impact ethnically diverse investors, the past two years have also shone a light on the economic influence these communities can wield. They’re feeling acknowledged, recognized, and seen for that power, and now, they’re taking note by taking control of their financial futures.
Last year, I joined Fidelity’s newly formed Customer Inclusion Team which helps ensure our products
and services are relevant for everyone. We’re committed to creating a financial services system that
works for all, including Black people.
This #BlackHistoryMonth—both in my day job and as a young, female Black investor myself— I’m celebrating the power of the Black community. I look forward to seeing what Fidelity’s Customer Inclusion Team can accomplish, and I can certainly be counted among those who are optimistic about the collective financial future of the Black community.
Nakia Tull is Head of Black Segment, Customer Inclusion Team, Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC
900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917
Fidelity Distributors Company LLC,
500 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917
National Financial Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC
245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110
Woman Makes History, Launches 1st Black-Owned Accredited School That Teaches How to Start a Holistic Practice
Meet Renee Hughes, the founder and CEO of Holistic Champions, the first-ever Black-owned internationally accredited school of Aromatherapy that virtually teaches entrepreneurial-minded students how to start their very own holistic practice. As a Certified Professional Coach, Aromatherapist, and Holistic Coach Mentor, Renee specializes in psycho-aromatherapy and teaching profitable practice-building techniques with live workshops and training sessions.
Her online academy has become the go-to for holistic professionals who want to scale their naturopathic businesses with organic, heart-centered business-building techniques.
Renee comments, “I have used my more than 10 years of experience in the industry to build programs that profoundly impact my students’ lives and create ripple effects throughout their communities. I want them to be able to live up to their potential and remove the barriers to their ability to connect to others fully.”
She says that she was able to achieve this through her company’s signature program called The Mood Makeover Method. This program is an emotional detox and nourishment system that helps their students connect to themselves and those they love in a more meaningful way. This helps to rebuild trust, love, and forgiveness.
Ultimately, the goal of her academy is to help aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in the naturopathic health industry to become Certified Aromatherapists and teach them how to build profitable businesses.
For more details about Renee and/or to enroll in the school, visit HolisticChampions.com
About
Launched in the year 2019, Holistic Champions is accredited by The National Association of Aromatherapy (NAHA), the governing body of holistic aromatherapy in the U.S. As an academy, it is a recognized member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists and also a recognized member of the International Clinical Aromatherapy Network (ICANN).
It is also the only known institution that uses the business model of teaching both aromatherapy and business building in one curriculum.
For press inquiries, contact media@aromaspecialist.com
This article was originally published by BlackNews.com.
Bobby Brown Visits Grave Site of Daughter, Bobbi Kristina and Ex-Wife Whitney Houston
R&B star Bobby Brown recently went to visit the grave of his late ex-wife Whitney Houston and their daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. His emotional visit was followed by cameras for his upcoming television series.
“When the cameras were following me, I didn’t want to let anything get in between my life and what I was doing,” Brown said, according to BET.
“So, I just wanted the cameras to follow me wherever I was going. That day I happened to be going to the gravesite.”
“We also did our best to make that moment his moment,” said his wife, Alicia Etheredge-Brown, who accompanied him during the visit.
“It was very emotional for both of us.”
The cameras were following the two as part of the upcoming A&E series “Bobby Brown: Every Little Step”. It captured the genuine moment between Brown and his ex-wife who died 10 years ago on Feb. 11 and his daughter who died nearly 7 years ago.
Brown said filming the series was therapeutic for him as he looked back on all the good and bad times.
According to A&E, the 12-episode series will give fans “an exclusive look at his life with wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown, and their children as he focuses on new business ventures, new music as well as the 2022 reunion with New Edition on The Culture Tour.”
Another 2-part documentary “Biography: Bobby Brown” follows his “journey to superstardom and the fallout from his personal struggles with sobriety and the tragic deaths of his two children and first wife, Whitney Houston.”
Remember Her? Documentary On Famed ’90s TV Psychic Miss Cleo In the Works
Millennials are set to take a trip down memory lane as famed TV hotline psychic Miss Cleo is set to be the subject of documentary, Deadline reported.
Entertainment studio XTR and production company Majority have teamed up with the film’s award-winning director, Senain Kheshgi, to tell the full story of Miss Cleo’s controversial pay-per-call tarot reading service that came crashing down following a billion-dollar fraud investigation.
Miss Cleo’s advertisements were seen on television screens across the country during the ’90s and early 2000s. The famed fortune teller posed herself as a Jamaican shaman but was actually an Los Angeles native named Youree Dell Harris.
The sometimes actress and playwright was reportedly hired to take on the role of the gifted psychic that lured people to “Call me now for ya free reading!”
“Claiming to be a shaman from Jamaica, Miss Cleo’s charisma and famous imperatives enabled the Psychic Readers Network, a pay-per-call service, to charge callers seeking answers over $1 billion for advice,” XTR said.
“But in 2002 it all came crashing down when the Federal Trade Commission accused the network and its owners of deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices, bringing Miss Cleo’s reign as queen of clairvoyance to a dramatic end.”
While the famed psychic passed away from cancer in 2016 at the age of 53, Kheshgi has been interviewing “subjects throughout Miss Cleo’s past” for the documentary.
“Youree Harris may have been an accomplice or perhaps a victim in the Psychic Reader’s Network fraud but she also had talent and personality, which for women doesn’t always translate into access or wealth,” Kheshgi said.
“Her story is an example of how brown and Black women have historically been marginalized and exotified in society and popular culture. The enduring image of the dark, mystical woman still continues to perpetuate this stereotype.
“As a woman of color and a director who wants to explore stories from diverse perspectives, I am moved by how Youree found a way to navigate her life on her own terms.”
An official release date for the film is unknown as production continues.
IOC: Sha’Carri Richardson and Kamila Valieva’s Doping Cases ‘Very Different’
After Sha’Carri Richardson called out the double standards she feels are taking place during the Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) explained how her doping case and Kamila Valieva’s are “very different.”
Richardson took to Twitter earlier this week to question why 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was cleared to continue competing in the Winter Games after she failed a pre-Olympics drug test, The New York Post reported.
The American track and field star, who was banned from competing in the Tokyo Olympics last summer after testing positive for marijuana, questioned the decision and asked for “a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mine.”
But on Wednesday, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams addressed Richardson’s “double standard” claims and explained why the two doping cases aren’t the same.
“You can’t talk about double standards in relation to Russian and American athletes, each case is individual,” Adams said, according toYahoo Sports.
“Richardson’s positive doping test was discovered on 19 June, and the result was received before the start of the Olympics. She was suspended for a month. There is nothing in common between these two cases,” he continued.
Valieva failed a drug test in December after testing positive for a banned heart medication. However, the results weren’t revealed until last week. The teen was allowed to continue competing in the Winter Olympics and won gold for the Russian Olympic Committee.
While the medals were never awarded due to the doping case, many are upset Valieva was still allowed to compete. On Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cited Valieva’s status as a “protected person” (a minor) in making the decision in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code to allow her to compete despite testing positive.
“This Games, which has not concluded, concerns an issue in December. She is in the center of a lot of speculation,” Adams said showing sympathy for Valieva. “It must be very tough for her.”
“We of course are in touch with the team, her welfare is the team’s first priority, and obviously we are very careful of that but there’s only so much that we can do.”
