Kevin Hart Gifts Nick Cannon a Condom Vending Machine
The recent baby-making exploits of Hollywood entertainer Nick Cannon continue to make headlines. Now, someone has gifted the 41-year-old actor with a vending machine… full of condoms.
On Tuesday, Cannon, who has seven children by four different women in addition to a baby on the way, took to Instagram to show off the present he recently received.
“Looks like somebody just sent me an early Valentine’s Day gift!! Vending Machine full of Magnums🤦🏾♂️❤️”
For those wondering who the culprit was, he revealed himself by snatching the photo Cannon took and posting it on his account. It was no one other than superstar comedian Kevin Hart who revealed that he sent the gift to Cannon.
“kevinhart4real I see u got my gift @nickcannon ….GOTCHA B*TCH!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂….Now u don’t have an excuse because the condoms are free 🤦🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️☺️☺️ #PrankWars”
Cannon recently announced that he is expecting his eighth child with real estate agent and Wild N’ Out model Bre Tiesi a few months after the death of his seventh child, Zen. On his daytime talk show last week, Cannon said he “sincerely apologizes” for revealing the news in the way he did. He also apologized to everyone it affected “for any extra pain or confusion” that the announcement caused.
According to People, Cannon publicly announced the upcoming birth of his eighth child last week, which set off an immediate reaction from Zen’s mother, Alyssa Scott. She took to Instagram to tell her followers that she is “at peace” and “will not judge” anyone, seemingly directed at Cannon after his baby announcement. Cannon ended up apologizing and expressed remorse for the way he announced the baby news.
“I misspoke and probably went too much into detail on Monday expressing my feelings, and it probably felt like I was making some comparatives when talking about the passing of my son Zen and then also talking about the new child I’m expecting. I didn’t need to do that because those are two completely separate moments in my life, and they both deserve the respect,” he said.
Judge in Chauvin Trial Likely Signed Warrant that Led to Police Shooting of Amir Locke
Amid outrage over the recent police shooting of 22-year-old Amir Locke, it’s being reported that the judge from the Derek Chauvin trial might’ve been the one who signed off on the no-knock warrant that led to his death.
A spokesman for the Hennepin County District Court confirmed that Judge Peter Cahill was the signing judge last week who reviewed and signed off on applications for search warrants, NBC Newsreports. Officers fatally shot Locke last Wednesday during a no-knock warrant search that he wasn’t even named in.
The community in Minneapolis has been protesting Locke’s death following the unrest over George Floyd’s murder and the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright.
“The warrant granting authority to search the apartment is not publicly available so the Court cannot comment whether Judge Cahill specifically signed that application,” the spokesman, Matt Lehman, said.
Cahill is no stranger to the media spotlight after he was selected as the judge to preside over former officer Derek Chauvin’s trial that ended with his conviction on charges of second-and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
“Judge Cahill cannot comment on this particular application or any application for a search warrant because the Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct (Rule 2.10) prohibits judges or Court staff from commenting on active or pending cases,” Lehman said.
Locke’s family has since hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump to seek justice in Locke’s death. Crump has been at the forefront of recent civil rights cases, including representing the family of Breonna Taylor. The latter was also killed during a botched police raid on her apartment in March 2020.
“Like the case of Breonna Taylor, the tragic killing of Amir Locke shows a pattern of no-knock warrants having deadly consequences for Black Americans,” Crump said.
“This is yet another example of why we need to put an end to these kinds of search warrants so that one day, Black Americans will be able to sleep safely in their beds at night.”
Locke was sleeping on the couch in the apartment where police conducted the raid. His mother, Karen Wells, said he was preparing to relocate to Dallas to be with her. Bodycam footage released last Thursday shows Officer Mark Hanneman kicking the couch and jolting Locke awake before the 22-year-old grabs the nearby gun that he legally owned, HuffPostreports.
Hannaman fired three gunshots at Locke, killing him about nine seconds after police entered the apartment. Locke’s parents say his death was an “execution.”
California Threatens to Sue Tesla Over Racial Discrimination, Harassment Allegations
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing warned Tesla it has grounds to file a civil complaint over racial discrimination and sexual harassment charges.
USA Todayreports the electric vehicle company said it received the notice Jan. 3 in a annual regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“The DFEH gave notice that, based upon the evidence collected, it believes that it has grounds to file a civil complaint against Tesla.” Tesla disclosed in its filing.
Tesla’s diversity track record has been under suspicion for years. In October, the majority of Tesla’s investors voted to release detailed information on the racial demographics of its workers. Tesla previously announced that 83% of workers are men among its corporate leadership roles, and 59% are white.
Meanwhile, Black Americans make up 10% of Tesla’s workforce, but just 4% are in leadership positions, 12% new hires, and 10% promotions.
Additionally, the electric vehicle company had been forced to pay millions as a result of racial discrimination lawsuits.
In 2017, a California civil rights group filed a lawsuit against Tesla, alleging the company did not adequately respond to racial harassment complaints from an African American employee.
Last year, Melvin Berry was awarded more than $1 million after the company failed to stop his supervisors from calling him the N-word. Berry also claimed when he confronted a supervisor about his frequent use of the N-word, he was forced to work longer hours with heavier equipment.
A federal court also ordered Tesla to pay Owen Diaz, a former Black employee who accused the automaker of ignoring racial abuse he faced while working there, $137 million.
According to Diaz, the Tesla plant he worked at between 2015 and 2016 was a culture where employees drew swastikas and racist terms in bathroom stalls and left derogatory drawings of Black children around the plant. Despite repeated complaints, Diaz said Tesla did little to address the situation or the behavior of its supervisors.
Additionally, Tesla’ Inc.’s head of human resources and one of its highest-ranking Black employees, Valerie Capers Workman left the company last month to join the career network firm Handshake as its chief legal officer.
Black Republican in Arizona Says His Daughter is the Target of Racist Attacks
A Black Republican in Arizona believes his daughter is receiving racist text messages as part of a smear campaign over his refusal to support overturning the 2020 presidential election.
Arizona State Rep. Walter Blackman made history when he became the first Black Republican elected to the Arizona legislature, HuffPostreports. But Blackman now believes that he and his family are victims of a racist smear campaign from the right-wing media over his refusal to support claims that state lawmakers could “decertify” the 2020 presidential election.
Blackman, who is currently running in the GOP primary for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, claims after an interview last month where he shut down the idea that lawmakers could overturn the election, his daughter received a text message calling him the N-word.
“Your [N-word] dad is RINO,” the text read, in reference to the acronym for “Republican in Name Only.”
The state rep believes the racist text resulted from right-wing media outlet The Gateway Pundit posting an article saying the “RINO” rep “Claims Decertification Is Impossible.” Blackman’s wife even took to Facebook bashing the outlet for promoting a false narrative that subjected the family to racist attacks.
“It is illogical and crazy to think I would send this vile text message to my daughter or know anything about it,” Blackman said. “I have been in contact with the state police who are investigating the origin of these messages.”
“While their investigation is ongoing, they have determined that the text messages did not in any way, shape, or form originate with my cell phone. This is what happens when your opponents can’t run a campaign on the issues, they resort to disgusting smear attacks with a word that has no place in our Republican Party or society in general.”
The reporter behind the article shared a video dialing the number the text message came from, and it went back to Blackman’s voicemail. However, Blackman released a video on Monday showing the number was disconnected.
Denzel Washington is Still the Most Oscar-Nominated Black Actor of All Time
The Oscars are weeks away, but we already have a winner!
On Tuesday, the nominations for the 84th annual Academy Awards were announced and the most nominated Black actor in Oscars history is stillDenzel Washington.
For his work as Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth, the highly sought-after thespian earned his 10th nomination. This marks Washington’s seventh nomination for best actor in a big screen career that has spanned more than 40 years.
Washington gained his first Academy Award nomination for his supporting role inCry Freedom in 1987 and then won his first Oscar after being nominated for his supporting role in Glory in 1989. The multi-faceted entertainer received his first nomination for a starring role when he played the iconic civil rights leader in the Spike Lee-directed Malcolm X in 1992.
After getting an additional nomination for his leading role as the wrongly accused and jailed Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter in The Hurricane in 1999, he finally won his first Academy Award as a leading actor for Training Day in 2001, directed by frequent collaborator Antoine Fuqua. His leading roles in Flight(2012),Fences(2016) andRoman J. Israel, Esq.(2017) led to more Oscar nominations.
The actor also received a Best Picture nomination for the big screen adaptation of August Wilson’s classic play,Fences, which he directed and produced.
This year, Washington faces fellow Oscar winner Javier Bardem(Desi Arnaz inBeing the Ricardos), Benedict Cumberbatch(Phil Burbank inThe Powerofthe Dog), Andrew Garfield (Jon intick, tick…BOOM!) and Will Smith(Richard Williams inKing Richard).
Smith’s Academy Award nomination is his fourth overall and third in this category.The former rapper turned actor is also nominated for Best Picture this year, as he produced King Richard.His previous nominations werefor his leading roles inAli(2001) andThe Pursuit of Happyness(2006).
Serena Williams Applauds ‘King Richard’ Scoring Six Oscar Nominations: ‘Everyone Can Dream’
The 94th annual Academy Award nominees have been announced!
King Richard—the biographical drama inspired by the life of tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams’ father—scored six nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Song.
Upon hearing the news, Williams couldn’t wait to share her excitement.
“I woke up to this. Our film is really nominated for an OSCAR!!!!!!!” the tennis great captioned a photo from the film on Instagram.
“This is CRAZY!!!!!!! From Compton to Wimbledon to Academy awards,” Williams added. “Everyone can dream. And your dream can come true. Ok I am definitely crying this morning. Congrats to the entire film and crew.”
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, one of the film’s executive producers, went on to thank and congratulate the entire film and crew.
Will Smith, who plays the Williams sisters’ father, Richard, received a Best Actor nomination for his role. As a producer of the film, he also shared another nomination in the film’s Best Picture category with Tim White and Trevor White.
Aunjanue Ellis scored a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Oracene Price, mother of the Williams sisters, in the film.
Williams also extended her gratitude to Beyoncé, who earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for “Be Alive,” a ballad she wrote for the King Richard soundtrack. According to The New York Times, the song was co-written with songwriter Dixson and plays during the end credits while featuring footage of the real Williams family.
“Congrats to EVERYONE I did not “@” as I am so emotional,” Williams added.
Georgia Senate Approves Clarence Thomas Monument, Several Black Lawmakers Disapprove
Clarence Thomas, the nation’s second Black Supreme Court justice, is closer to having a privately funded statue erected in Georgia despite objections from several Black state senators.
Following a heated debate, Georgia’s Republican-controlled Senate voted 32 to 21 Monday to approve the statute. It will now head to the state House for consideration, according to WJCL. The monument, if approved, will be placed near the state capitol in Atlanta.
Among the discord is that people are usually honored with a statue at the capitol after their death. Some opponents of Thomas’ monument said lawmakers should at least wait to erect the statue until his retirement, the Associated Press reported.
“You put a statue up to him, you don’t want to be pulling it down later if things go badly if the person goes astray,” Atlanta Democratic State Sen. Nan Orrock said.
Former President Jimmy Carter, 97, has a statue located on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol, a rare occurrence. State Sen. Ben Watson, a Republican from Savannah who co-sponsored the bill for Justice Thomas, argued that Carter’s prominence as a Georgia native and former president justified the honor—and the same goes for Thomas, who was born in Pin Point, Georgian, and grew up in Savannah.
“I didn’t agree with everything that President Carter did. He is a great Georgian and a president we should be proud of,” Watson said. “I would hope that you would feel the same way about Justice Thomas. He is a wonderful person.”
Since 1991, Thomas has served as one of the most conservative Supreme Court justices. He has been an instrumental figure in trying to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that extended abortion rights across the country.
Thomas has also opposed affirmative action, as well as a central part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. His opposition sparked pushback from Democratic state Sen. Nikki Merritt.
“It’s not that we have a problem that he is a conservative or a Republican,” Merritt, who is Black, said. “We think he’s a hypocrite and a traitor.”
She added, “It seems like white America keeps wanting to promote Justice Thomas, but we see more evidence where time and time again he subverts the struggles of Black Americans.”
Dream Detroit Skating Academy: Michigan’s First Black Female-Owned Skating Club Launches
Last month, the first Black-owned female figure skating club graced the city of Detroit with a grand opening and welcoming arms for youth in the figure skating world.
Angela Blocker-Loyd and Candice Tamakloe, skating directors of Dream Detroit Skating Academy (DDSA), pioneer Motor City’s only Black-owned female skating club and the state of Michigan’s only Black-owned figure skating club. The academy, which offers a high-quality and rigorous figure skating program, provides a variety of beginner and advanced classes, as per the Detroit Free Press.
Image Credit: Ryan Garza – Detroit Free Press
The program provides affordable and accessible lessons to low-income youths. Classes consist of group and private figure skating lessons at the Adams Butzel Recreation Center-Jack Adams Memorial Ice Arena to youth ages four and up.
Blocker-Loyd’s figure skating journey began at 9 years old, while being the youngest skater and among the few Black skaters at the Berkley Ice Arena and Recreation Center. Tamakloe took her under her guidance, and the rest is history. Among the few competitive Black skaters in the metropolitan Detroit area, the pair were moved to fill a need in the community—lack of representation.
Photo Credit via Instagram: @Dream.Detroit
“There has never been a skater at the national or international level to come out of the city of Detroit,” Tamakloe told the news outlet. “We want to bring that quality back into the city.”
The Dream Detroit Skating Academy aims to breathe new life into the city. The website speaks to Tamakloe’s determination. “Exposure facilitates many of our youth’s interests. Interests are the seeds that inspire dreams and dreams fuel our drive for success. Unfortunately, figure skating is an opportunity to which few Detroit youth are exposed, but Dream Detroit is working to change that.”
And so, Blocker-Loyd and Tamakloe decided to be the change they wanted to see. In doing so, they built a figure skating community with “hopes to instill, in its students, a sense of self-worth, community, curiosity, and most importantly, the confidence to explore opportunities beyond the scope of their familiar environment,” as per the website.
Inspired by Langston Hughes, the academy’ motto:
“Hold Fast to Dreams. For if Dreams Die, Life is a Broken Ice Skate that Cannot Glide.”
Enrollment details are provided on the academy’s website.
HBCU Alumnus Donates Liver to Former Norfolk State University Roommate
Over 20 years later, two former college roommates are still showing up for one another in more ways than one.
Dr. Richard Koonce and Steven Robinson were students at HBCU Norfolk State University and working as bartenders when they met. As their relationship blossomed into a genuine brotherhood, Koonce introduced his former roommate to the woman who would become his wife, Natalie Robinson. The old pals hadn’t seen each other in over two decades, but Facebook, texts, and occasional phone calls kept them connected.
More recently, the two HBCU brothers became reacquainted under more trying circumstances.
Nearly two years ago, Koonce, an adored basketball coach in Sandusky, Ohio, was diagnosed with primary schlerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic and incurable liver disease that leads to scarring of the liver and the deterioration of the bile ducts. Koonce had been receiving treatment from the Cleveland Clinic when he opted to go the living donor route instead of a deceased donor’s liver.
It was during a family trip to Sandusky that Robinson decided to visit Koonce, who finally shared his health struggles. After realizing they had matching blood types, Robinson, a NewJersey native and president and creative director of Lucid DGTL Design Studio, tells BLACK ENTERPRISE he immediately looked into how he could get approved to help his brother “get on the road of a healthy recovery.”
With the enthusiastic support of his family, Robinson was also approved to be a donor. He has since traveled to Cleveland and undergone extensive testing, including cardio exams, liver biopsy, MRI, and more to ensure clearance for the transplant surgery.
The liver transplant surgery will take place on Valentine’s Day, February 14. He said that his unconscious decision of the date could be “another loving brother moment.”
“It’s about all of the people you don’t realize who have love for you until you’re facing hardship or a crisis, and those people step up to show you how much you mean,” Koonce says.
“The date of Feb. 14 is representative of all those blessings and more! Ultimately, it’s simply about the most important gift that we can ever give each other, and that is love,” adds Koonce, who credits Steve’s love and God for his most recent blessings.
A GoFundMe page has been organized by Koonce’s colleague and friend to help with the costs both families have mounted and will continue to face with procedures and follow-up appointments.
Meet the Social Entrepreneur at the Forefront of the Ghanaian Renaissance
Meet L. Nzingha Samuel, the social entrepreneur behind the “Ghanaian Renaissance” who has created her own neighborhood in Kumasi, Ghana.
In 2019, Ghana’s “Year of Return” campaign and the continued racial unrest in America prompted thousands of Black Americans to trace their roots and come home to Ghana. But Samuel had already committed herself to consciously bridging the gap between communities in Kumasi, Ghana, and Atlanta by creating programs and initiatives to support Ghana’s socio-economic development.
After investing in several properties in Ghana, Samuel has made it her mission to assist her friends, family, and colleagues in building homes there as well.
As part of her work in Ghana, Samuel helped develop a sister-city relationship between the Honorable Mayor Anthony S. Ford of Stockbridge, Georgia, and Honorable Mayor Christian Adu-Poku of Kumasi, Ghana, and provided over 100+ tools and supplies to local schools and hospitals around Ghana.
Speaking with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Samuel shared her inspiration to invest in Ghana.
“I have been traveling to Ghana for almost 20 years now, and mainly to Kumasi, where my godfather lives. I would live at his compound for 1- 2 months and fell in love with the rich culture and heritage, friendly people, and the beauty of Ghana. I also met my fiance during those trips—I’ve known him for 19 years now. He chose to settle in Kumasi, so we decided to build a home there together.”
“When racial unrest began causing major issues in the U.S. several years ago, I decided to create another pipeline for Blacks throughout the diaspora so we could have a sense of ownership and belonging. Ghana also sponsored the “Year of Return” in 2019, so it became a perfect storm inspiring me to settle in my “home” country and establish my family there.”
“For many of us, Ghana also provides a cultural compass, leading us home — regardless of where we may have come from originally. We know at some point we all graced the African shores.” – L. Nzingha Samuel
“I also realized my international travels and community development experience could really make a difference in the space. Once my close friends found out I was building there, they also purchased land and began to build. The community expanded rapidly by word of mouth. Now, there are over 15 families in our community, spanning over 20 plots of land (which is about 5 acres) throughout the area.”
“Additionally, I brokered a sister-city relationship between Stockbridge, Georgia, and the Afigya-Kwabre district where I reside in Kumasi, Ghana. This relationship added another layer to the pipeline I am creating between our people throughout the diaspora and Kumasi, Ghana.”
What are some of your hopes for bridging the gap between communities in Kumasi and Atlanta?
“It started with Atlanta and Kumasi, but it has branched out from there! We currently have a resident from Jamaica that is building a home, and we are receiving inquiries daily from other places around the United States. People from all over are looking to join the community!”
“I hope to create a second phase of the community later this year and expand the offerings within both. I would like to create a co-op space where community residents can invest in farmland and grow their own food. I am also looking to build a neighborhood co-working space in addition to small stores and shops so that residents can have access to native Ghanian foods and produce as well.”
“I am also working on an ecotourism project in Kumasi; an immersive art installation bringing stories and folktales from throughout the diaspora to life; a sports academy for athletes to be seen by international scouts, and an aviation project in the area. I have also been actively working with the local community and community members from the diaspora to build the entire area into a sustainable and multifunctional destination for the greater global community to experience.”
What was the process like when creating a neighborhood in Kumasi?
“It was a pretty easy process for me because my fiance is Ghanaian and was born and raised not far from the location. He speaks the language and understands the system, so the barriers to entry were very low. Plus, soon after I began building there, I fostered a relationship with local government officials, so I also have their support.”
“You have no idea who your neighbor is or where they are from in the community! Everyone builds their home in the same area, but we live amongst the people sprinkled throughout. We work with Ghanaians in the neighborhood to facilitate change and develop the area. We are truly becoming one family again. It is not a utopia, but it can be whatever we make it—collectively.”
What are some stigmas you hope Black Americans can break through your initiative?
“I hope Black Americans can work through a lot of our emotional traumas through this process. We have an opportunity to unplug, decompress, and contribute in ways we haven’t had space to do before.”
“We also have an opportunity to simply “matter” by virtue of our very existence as opposed to having to explain why we should “matter” to anyone else. We know everyone won’t move to Ghana, and we also know we have a lot of work to do within our own communities at home.”
“We are hoping to impact our collective consciousness by building relationships with our brothers and sisters abroad that can impact and influence our movements back here in the U.S. and around the world. We can create a base where we have the freedom to move about and establish ourselves in ways we have not been able to before.
“I also hope Black Americans shed the stigma that continental-born Africans “don’t like us” (and vice versa). There is a lot of miscommunication and ignorance on both sides of that conversation.”
“The more we visit and experience Ghana and other countries throughout the diaspora, the more we can have a mutual appreciation and respect for one another’s existence and contribution.”
Tell us about your sister-city relationship between Mayor Anthony S. Ford of Stockbridge, Georgia, and Honorable Mayor Christian Adu-Poku of Kumasi, Ghana.
“This relationship is the brainchild of myself and Dr. Alan Peterson II, Economic Development Director, City of Stockbridge. I was driving through the city and thought about how I wanted to do more to combat the racial unrest happening throughout the U.S. at the time, specifically within Stone Mountain, Georgia, at that moment. I then met with Dr. Peterson, and we remained in communication as I traveled back and forth to Ghana, establishing the community.”
“Dr. Peterson shared his vision of what this kind of relationship could be for the residents of Stockbridge, especially small to medium-size business owners and entrepreneurs. The District Chief Executive of the Afigya-Kwabre South district in Kumasi, Ghana, was very eager about this opportunity to fortify relationships in the U.S. From there, Dr. Peterson and I were able to broker the relationship between both parties and establish their sister-city relationship. The document was officially signed in December 2021, and I brought it back to the U.S. in January 2022. Now, we are currently working to establish programs and initiatives that will be mutually beneficial for Stockbridge and Kumasi.”
“We hope to create a pipeline for business owners to travel and look to Ghana to source and manufacture goods. We also are establishing ways Stockbridge residents can establish industries within this district in Ghana, helping to build the workforce there and to support their businesses back home in the U.S. We are going to sponsor festivals, cultural exchanges with West Africans and other community members from the diaspora, to share resources, information, and create ideas for future development.”
“We also want to speak to community members on both sides to see how we can ensure young girls and women can support one another between the two cities. Above all else, we hope to break down barriers on both sides and have both communities grow from the opportunity.”
