• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 8, 2022

Black FedEx Driver Shot at By Two White Men in Pickup Truck in Mississippi

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In an incident that parallels the tragic killing of unarmed Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery, two white men in a pickup truck chased and shot at a Black man delivering packages for FedEx in Mississippi.

According to the Mississippi Free Press, on Jan. 24, a Black driver for FedEx said he was delivering packages in Brookhaven when two white men attacked and fired shots at him. The bullets missed him but were embedded in his delivery vehicle.

D’Monterrio Gibson, who is 24 years old and from Utica, Mississippi, told the Mississippi Free Press that he had just dropped off a package around 7 p.m. on Jan. 24. He noticed a white pickup truck driving toward him from a nearby residence near the property he delivered the package to.

“In my mind, I’m thinking (the driver) is leaving to go to the store or something like that, but then they get extremely close to me and start blowing their horn,” Gibson said. “I proceed to leave the driveway. As I’m leaving the driveway, he starts driving in the grass trying to cut me off. My instincts kick in, I swerve around him, and I start hitting the gas trying to get out of the neighborhood because I don’t know what his intentions are.

“I drive down about two or three houses. There’s another guy standing in the middle of the street pointing a gun at my windows and signaling to me to stop with his hands, as well as mouthing the word, ‘Stop.’ I shake my head no, I hide behind the steering wheel, and I swerve around him as well. As I swerve around him, he starts firing shots into my vehicle.”

The Clarion-Ledger reported that the two white men were arrested last week and identified as Gregory Case and his son Brandon Case. They were arrested, charged, and then released on bond Tuesday for the alleged attack. Gregory was charged with one count of conspiracy, while his son was charged with shooting into a motor vehicle.

Gibson said he felt that the police officers did not take him seriously initially and his attorneys feel that both suspects have been “undercharged” and should be facing charges of attempted murder for their actions.

Police Chief Kenny Collins, who is Black, does not want to blame racism for the actions of the Cases. He told The Daily Leader that “Brookhaven is not a racist, prejudiced town. You can’t judge a town by the actions of two individuals.”

In midst of the shakeup created by the lawsuit filed by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the National Football League (NFL) for racial discrimination, another Black executive was hired in upper management.

According to a press release from the Baltimore Ravens, Sashi Brown has been hired as the next president of the NFL team. This makes Brown the second Black man to become president of the football team. Brown is also the second Black president of an NFL team, joining the Washinton Commanders’ Jason Wright.

• Politics

by Derek Major

February 8, 2022

Bipartisan Bill Proposes to Ban Legislators from Trading Stocks in Public Companies

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A new bill banning legislators from trading stocks in public companies to keep them from profiting from insider knowledge is gaining bipartisan support.

The bill, proposed by Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), is gaining bipartisan steam as Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Texas Republican Chip Roy have thrown their support behind the bill, according to NBC News. The bill would require lawmakers as well as their immediate family to put any stocks they own into a blind trust eliminating any conflicts of interest.

“When we’re going to briefings about issues that might be percolating in the world or when we’re voting on legislation that could potentially move markets, it just seems inappropriate to me that we currently have the ability to be able to buy or sell stocks that may or may not be associated with those decisions,” Spanberger told NBC.

Spanberger introduced a similar bill last year, the Trust In Congress Act, which Roy cosponsored. Congress has tried to rein in stock trading by politicians with the Stock Act. However, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic showed just how advantageous it is for lawmakers to use information they receive to trade stocks.

According to Business Insider, 55 members of Congress, including Kelly, Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw and former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler violated the Stock Act, trading stock after closed-door briefings on the pandemic and the economic ramifications, including the skyrocketing unemployment and the significant number of daily deaths. The penalty for violating the Stock Act is a $200 fine.

Not all lawmakers support limits on the trading activities of lawmakers, includind Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, whose husband Paul Pelosi holds tens of millions of dollars worth of stocks and options.

“We are a free market economy. They should be able to participate in that,” Pelosi said late last year.

The issue has become a significant talking point on the midterm campaign trail in Pennsylvania and Arizona for both Democrats and Republicans.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

February 8, 2022

Pepa And Treach’s Daughter Ties The Knot With ‘Growing Up Hip Hop’ Co-Star In Las Vegas

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The daughter of rappers Sandra “Pepa” Denton and Anthony “Treach” Criss is now a married woman!

Egypt Criss, the 23-year-old star of the WEtv hit Growing Up Hip Hop, married her co-star and rapper Samuel “Sam Mattick” Wright in an intimate ceremony at the Little Vegas Chapel in Las Vegas on Jan. 31. The newlyweds celebrated their momentous day with Egypt’s parents and rapper Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

 

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A post shared by Egypt Criss (@foreveregyptcriss)

Following the ceremony, the bride shared her excitement and gratitude on Instagram, thanking those who sent their congratulations upon hearing the news.

“I want to say thank you to everyone for the beautiful Congratulation wishes. I am filled with love and joy,” she captioned a wedding photo with her husband.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 8, 2022

Andrew Yang Deletes Tweet Defending Joe Rogan From Racist Claims

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Former presidential and New York City mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang deleted his tweet defending controversial podcaster Joe Rogan after reading the room.

Rogan has been under fire for spreading COVID conspiracies and hurling racial slurs on his Spotify-hosted podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Amid fierce debates around Rogan’s alarming comments, Yang decided to speak up and defend him before quickly changing his mind.

“I don’t think Joe Rogan is a racist — the man interacts with and works with black people literally all of the time,” Yang captioned a since-deleted tweet, as captured by Business Insider.

“Do I know Black friends of Joe’s who would swear by him? Yes I do,” added the 2020 presidential candidate.

As soon as he hit send, Yang was called out, with DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison asking, “Dude… seriously?! You joking right Andrew? Is that now the new defining line… working with folks?!”

Dude… seriously?! You joking right Andrew? Is that now the new defining line… working with folks?! pic.twitter.com/PgBddFmK3f

— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) February 7, 2022

After being heavily criticized for the seemingly tone-deaf post, Yang deleted the tweet and re-explained himself.

“I like to believe the best of people – especially if I’ve met and spent time with that person. Sometimes it makes me miss something,” Yang said.

“I think we should have the capacity to forgive people – whether a podcaster or a mayor – if they mess up. Maybe it’s because I mess up too.”

https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1490555652175015936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1490555652175015936%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fandrew-yang-deletes-tweet-saying-joe-rogan-not-racist-2022-2

Rogan faces backlash for resurfaced video clips showing his repeated use of the N-word, among other racially insensitive remarks. The upset over Rogan’s racist comments came to light after musicians started pulling their music from Spotify due to Rogan promoting COVID-19 misinformation.

Amid all of the demands for action against Rogan, Spotify decided to remove over 100 episodes where he said racial slurs and COVID conspiracies. On Sunday, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told staff in a memo that he did not “believe that silencing Joe is the answer.”

The Rucker Brand is a staple in street basketball culture through its popular basketball tournament, which has seen the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Raking in just under $9 million in sales annually during its heyday, The Rucker is finding news ways to make itself relevant.

For its 75th anniversary, The Rucker Brand is honoring the legacy of founder Holcombe Rucker while reintroducing the world to its streetwear clothing line. After co-owners and co-CEOs Chris Rucker (grandson of Holcombe Rucker) and Dexter Gordon put integrity first and walked away from their lucrative partnership with Stall & Dean, the 100% Black-owned business is betting on themselves and relaunching the apparel line for the third time.

“The Rucker Brand is proud to relaunch their grassroots basketball-inspired lifestyle apparel line influenced by the memory of Holcombe Rucker and legendary players of Rucker Park in Harlem,” Chris Rucker, managing partner, co-owner, and co-CEO of The Rucker Brand, tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Their new Westsiders collection is available at select Foot Locker locations, online at footlocker.com, and is included in the 125th Street (Harlem) Foot Locker Black History Month in-store installation. The RUCKER X SOS collection is available on therucker.com, and its recent limited edition RUCKER X LEGENDS X NBPA collection to commemorate the recent renovation and reopening of Holcombe Rucker Park (the mecca of streetball) has sold out.

The Westsiders collection features six pieces, including a black hoodie, a zip-up hoodie with matching joggers, a black T-shirt, a white T-shirt, a basketball jersey, as well as slides and socks.

 

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“Rucker is a Black-owned basketball lifestyle legacy brand,” co-owner Dexter Gordon says. “Chris’s grandfather, Holcombe Rucker, stood for community, so it is important to us that the brand represent that sense of community as well. Being a global brand, community is also felt by the sense of pride and the feeling of belonging to something when people wear our clothing.

“When someone wears the Rucker name on their chest, we feel the responsibility of the legacy and tradition that The Rucker Brand represents.”

Highlighting the history created by his grandfather created at the same time as the NBA’s inception, Chris Rucker is making sure the Rucker Brand remains true to its history and what it represents within the Black community.

“Basketball was 55 years young when my grandfather, Holcombe Rucker, founded his
tournament,” Rucker says. “Ironically, the Basketball Association of America started at the same time and would later be known as the National Basketball Association, or NBA. (both the NBA and Rucker are celebrating their 75th anniversaries in 2022).”

FedEx is partnering with HBCU schools for the HBCU Student Ambassador Program, which will provide career-readiness skills and expand the company’s diversity pipeline.

HBCU school presidents, student program participants, and FedEx executives celebrated the New York Stock Exchange announcement on the first day of Black History Month.

The program will officially kick off this year, and student participants will be selected based on their career aspirations in areas such as e-commerce, sustainability, tech, logistics, marketing communications, sales, data analytics, and operations.

According to a FedEx release, eight HBCUs, Jackson State University, Tennessee State University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Mississippi Valley State University, Lane College, Paul Quinn College, Miles College, and Fayetteville State University, will participate in the program. Each school will select two students for 16 students who will be part of the inaugural class.

“We are excited about the FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador Program because it is imperative that we continue to create a diverse pipeline because investing in people makes us stronger. We are encouraging their input, so that we, too, can learn and grow through this process,” said Jenny Robertson, senior vice president of Integrated Marketing and Communications at FedEx.

All eight schools are located within a short distance of a FedEx operation or processing facility. The short distance will allow more opportunities for students to engage with team members and learn more about FedEx’s business operations.

Judy Edge, the corporate vice president of human resources at FedEx, said the program would help tomorrow’s leaders whether they become part of FedEx or move on to something else.

“The FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador program will continue to strengthen our important relationships with HBCUs across the country,” Edge said in a FedEx release. “We’re preparing tomorrow’s leaders, and the students we reach through this program will gain valuable practical experience that will help prepare them to enter the workforce. It will also help us to continue to bring diverse talent into our pipeline at FedEx.”

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 8, 2022

Will Smith Announces Memoir ‘WILL’ Has Sold One Million Copies

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After selling millions of records and racking up box-office hits, Will Smith has set a new mark for his latest creative work. In an Instagram post, the Wild Wild West actor said that his memoir, Will, has surpassed a million in sales.

“What’s up y’all? Ay, I just finished training. And I just literally, I literally just found out WILL is at one million, one MILLION copies sold. Put it on the screen! One million copies sold! Number-one New York Times bestseller, one million copies sold. All thanks to y’all, all thanks to y’all!”

“We sold a million books y’all! DAMN! One WILLion copies HA! Thanx everyone! #willthebook” the caption reads.

 

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Last summer, the rapper-turned-actor announced the book WILL, was on its way. In the memoir, Smith shares his journey from his childhood in Philadelphia to his rise as one of the most remarkable entertainment moguls in the modern era. He’s been a household name since the 1990s, starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and making his way on the movie scene in hit films like Bad Boys (1995) and Men in Black (1997). Over the last three decades, Smith has had a thriving movie career with multiple Oscar nominations, and Grammy wins. Now, he’s taking the world behind the scenes and sharing the evolution of his life.

The memoir was billed as an “inspirational tale of how his true self-knowledge helped to propel him to extraordinary success and then evolve further to a place of deeper peace – with himself, his loved ones, and the world.” Penguin Random House released the book in November 2021.

In one passage in the book, the Men In Black actor revealed he once had thoughts about killing his father, Willard C. Smith Sr., because he witnessed him physically attack his mother, Caroline Bright. According to People, the 53-year-old artist admitted that he briefly plotted revenge for what the 76-year-old man did to his mom.

• Lifestyle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 8, 2022

Issa Rae Offers Her Lavish LA Home on Airbnb for $56 A Day Over Super Bowl Weekend

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Issa Rae is allowing two lucky Airbnb users to experience living the good life in her hometown during Super Bowl weekend.

The Insecure creator recently partnered with Airbnb to rent out her lavish south Los Angeles home. The stay will be available this weekend for just $56 a night, Airbnb announced.

Inspired by her five-season long hit scripted series, Issa has curated an experience for lucky Airbnbers to visit some of the landmarks made popular by her critically-acclaimed show.

“Since my series debuted in 2016, it’s been an honor to showcase the people, culture, and businesses that make South LA such a vibrant part of the city,” Rae said in a statement.

“I became an Airbnb Host to create a stay where fans of the show can experience this for themselves. From dinner by Worldwide Tacos on game day, to art from my favorite local artists on the walls—this is LA, my way.”

As part of the experience, lucky guests will enjoy a virtual greeting from Issa, a catered game day for two, a curated guidebook into some of the local Black businesses to check out, a stylish pad with panoramic views and artwork by local Black artists, among more lavish perks.

“The streets, sights, and sounds of my hometown have long been a main character in my creative work,” RAE said.

While a focus on supporting Black businesses in Los Angeles, Rae aims to allow renters to enjoy a glam yet affordable stay while enjoying Super Bowl weekend in her stomping grounds, The New York Post reported. The game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams takes place Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium in nearby Inglewood.

“You may have heard that I’m rooting for everybody Black—and this mission is inspired by my LA community. During this epic weekend, I hope you come to appreciate my community’s rich history and its many contributions to LA,” Rae continued.

As part of Airbnb’s partnership with Rae, the company has committed to supporting equitable health services, youth development, and job creation in South LA.

• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

February 8, 2022

Shaquille O’Neal Says Gorillas ‘Go Crazy’ When They See Him, Miami Zoo Executive Confirms

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Even gorillas at the zoo try to square up with Shaquille O’Neal, NBA’s former ‘Big Man.’

In a recent episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” the former basketball star shared his experience every time he comes across a great ape at the zoo. The discussion initially started from his contemplation about growing his gray hair out. He joked that he would be more like a “silverback” gorilla in his comedic fashion than a “silver fox.”

O’Neal explained that gorillas “go crazy” when he visits the zoos.