Meghan McCain Slams Elon Musk and Nick Cannon’s Twitter Exchange For Their ‘Impregnate the Planet Mentality’
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 12, 2022

Meghan McCain Slams Elon Musk and Nick Cannon’s Twitter Exchange For Their ‘Impregnate the Planet Mentality’

Meghan McCain, blasted entertainer, Nick Cannon, and businessman, Elon Musk in an op-ed after a Twitter exchange between the two men last week. She slammed both men, who have both fathered several children by multiple women, and chastised them for their “impregnate the planet mentality.”

The current contributor to The Daily Mail wrote about Cannon and Musk after it was reveled to the public that Musk welcomed a set of twins last year with an employee at one of his companies. The Tesla manufacturer confirmed the additions to his family. He posted to his Twitter account:

With the type of Twitter posts Musk posts regularly, it’s hard to tell if his comments are smothered in sarcasm or if he really feels this way. The newborn twins are Musk’s eighth and ninth children by three different women. Reportedly, his first child died of sudden infant death syndrome at 10 weeks old.

But, this isn’t what set McCain off. Cannon’s response seemed to do it for the former co-host of The View.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE has reported numerous times, Cannon has seven children by multiple women and is currently expecting his eighth and possibly more in the near future.

McCain showed screenshots of the men’s exchange regarding their desire to populate the world. Although she initially lashed out at both of them, she held her venom for Musk.

“What the heck is going on here?”

“This may be the creepiest tag team tweet thread in history.”

“I don’t care how many times Musk eviscerates cancel culture and woke-ism.”

“I don’t care that he is ‘supposedly’ buying Twitter to save it from the bots and thought-police, or colonizing Mars to save the human race.”

“This is flat out weird.”

She proceeds to berate Musk, who recently changed his mind about purchasing Twitter.

“This ‘impregnate the planet’ mentality is creepy and comes off like the actions of a cult leader more than an altruistic person who wants to expand their family and save the planet.”

McCain continued to express the need to institute traditional family values into society instead of having the mindset of the eccentric billionaire. She stated that it’s unrealistic for the average person who isn’t sitting on top of billions. She talks about the flaws in his thinking when it comes to populating the world.

“The very premise of his argument that we need to have as many children as possible is flawed and unrealistic.”

“I continue to be skeptical of Musk and his intentions in general, as I am with anyone who claims to be coming to save us.”

“In fact, by the day, he is sounding more and more like some type of false messiah.”

Black Entrepreneurs Under 20 Share Lessons They Learned On The Way To Success
by Derek Major

July 12, 2022

Black Entrepreneurs Under 20 Share Lessons They Learned On The Way To Success

The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement put a focus on Black businesses and led to a boom of new Black businesses and entrepreneurs, especially young ones.

The number of young Black men and women who have started their own businesses has skyrocketed and many have become successful entrepreneurs. CNBC talked with three Black entrepreneurs, Gabby Goodwin, Rachel Holmes, and Christon Jones, all under the age of 20, on keys to early success and dealing with challenges.

Goodwin was seven years old when she noticed she was constantly losing her barrettes. So she invented the first patented, double-face, double-snap barrette and turned it into GaBBY Bows in 2014. Eight years later, Goodwin, now 15, is also the CEO of Confidence, which sells natural hair care products.

Goodwin told CNBC that to be a successful business, you want to solve a problem and, from there, continue to solve the needs of your customers.

“We noticed that a lot of our customers were not only having issues with losing barrettes but also with the tangling and having a product that helps their children’s scalp or that helps maintain moisture in their child’s hair,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin, with her mother Rozalynn, started the Mommy and Me Entrepreneurship Academy to help young girls and moms start their own businesses. Goodwin added that finding a support network early on is paramount to a successful business.

(Courtesy Gabby Goodwin)

Rachel Holmes, 18, is juggling a social life, being an artistic swimmer, and being the CEO of Black Girls Mean Business, a virtual, free, nationwide summer business program for Black girls in high school. The program includes six Zoom workshops to improve business and career skills, and prepare girls for life after high school.

Holmes told CNBC that Black female entrepreneurs have to overcome the double-edged sword of sexism and racism to thrive, and her goal is to help Black girls overcome those obstacles.

“Black women face an incredible amount of discrimination in business coming from both racism and sexism,” Holmes said. “They are generally underestimated, denying them the respect, positions, and funding they deserve. I wanted to provide equity to help girls overcome these obstacles. By giving them the tools they need to be successful early on and empowering them, I hope to see more representation in executive positions and entrepreneurship.”

Holmes added that being a young Black entrepreneur has not only set her up for success, but others as well. One of the biggest tips she gave is to stay vigilant in the face of adversity.

“It can be daunting at times knowing that you will face barriers and knowing that people are watching what you do. But it’s amazing knowing I can make a difference and set an example. Representation matters!”

Christon Jones, a 15-year-old entrepreneur, is already a CEO, day trader, investor, and author. At the age of 10, Jones launched his business Return On Investment, which has three programs for Black entrepreneurs to learn about the stock market in general, as well as investing, trading, and how to create short- and long-term passive income.

black teen stock market
image: BlackBusiness.com

The teenager told CNBC his biggest challenges were age and race discrimination, which Jones noticed early on when seeking advice. Jones added that he was able to overcome the two obstacles by being consistent, using self-discipline, and being patient.

“Patience is probably one of the biggest things I know,” Jones added. “When you first start entrepreneurship, you kind of want to rush everything, you want to get your money, you want to be famous. You want to get all these connections, but really your journey is a lot slower.”

Marsai Martin Rejoins Hollister for Teen Creative Incubator Program
by Atiya Jordan

July 12, 2022

Marsai Martin Rejoins Hollister for Teen Creative Incubator Program

Black-ish alumna Marsai Martin reigns as the face of fashion brand Hollister—from partnering with her father on a denim campaign dubbed “Respect The Jeans” to now empowering youth to pursue their creative, career, and life ambitions alongside brand ambassadorship.

According to People, the 17-year-old actress and producer is teaming up with Hollister to relaunch its Brand Agent Program, a nationwide brand ambassador program, for high schoolers nationwide.

“My partnership with Hollister has been one of my favorite things that I’ve done this year,” Martin told People.  “So when the opportunity presented itself to work together again, it was a no-brainer.”

The brand is also implementing the “Hollister FWD Fund” to its existing program, which is a “platform designed to monetarily fuel teens’ passions and empower the next generation of changemakers,” as stated in a press release.

 “The FWD Fund and the opportunities it provides young designers is a great thing,” Martin added. Kids my age need a village to support their dreams and Hollister stepped up in a big way.”

Teens Gabby Ragsdale of California, Michael Burrell, Jr. of Illinois, Brooke Sibla of California, Antonio Arguelles of Texas, Zara Mendes of New Jersey, and Zikora Akanegbu of Maryland were all selected to be part of the year-long program.

According to the release, they will receive ongoing mentorship and coaching from experienced leaders and executives at Hollister and beyond as well as hands-on paid experience to prepare them for successful careers.

Martin’s career is only just beginning. At 14, she starred in and executive produced the 2019 film, Little, becoming Hollywood’s youngest person ever to do so. But that’s not all. She is stunning the world not only with her interior design show, Remix My Space, and nail line, Mari By Marsai, but with her passion of spreading joy on the fashion front.

At every turn, this impressive teen achieves red-carpet excellence.

“I’ve always been a fashionista in some way,” Martin previously told Fashionista. “I’ve always loved being comfortable as soon as I got home, but I used to love doing photo shoots, headshots, and all that stuff for my grandparents to see. I feel like my younger self would be proud of the things I’m be doing right now, because we’re in a world of style.”

Watch out for this young mogul in the making. She just might launch a fashion line next.

 

7-Eleven Stores In L.A. Encouraged to Close After Slurpee Giveaway Day Turns Deadly
by Derek Major

July 12, 2022

7-Eleven Stores In L.A. Encouraged to Close After Slurpee Giveaway Day Turns Deadly

7-Eleven franchises in Los Angeles were encouraged to close Monday night following multiple robberies that left two people dead.

On Monday, the chain celebrated its 95th birthday with free Slurpee drink giveaways and $1 snacks.

KTLA reports the closings were prompted by 7-Eleven corporate leaders.

“Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones,” the store said in a statement to the Los Angeles-based network. “We are gathering information on this terrible tragedy and working with local law enforcement. Right now, our focus is on Franchisee, associate, and customer safety. With that in mind, we have encouraged stores in the Los Angeles area to close tonight.”

Corporate leaders for the convenience store giant sent the statement out after a night of robberies and violence at 7-Eleven stores across the city, including one in Brea where a store clerk was killed and another in Santa Ana where a customer was shot and killed. Additionally, three others suffered serious injuries in the robberies.

Six 7-Eleven stores in the Ontario, Riverside, Santa Ana, Brea, La Habra, and Upland neighborhoods were either robbed at gunpoint or were the site of a shooting Monday night. Local law enforcement believes one man is responsible for some, if not all, of the robberies.

7-Eleven is one of the most popular convenience stores in the U.S. selling late-night food, snacks, and a variety of beverage, including its signature Slurpee. Monday was an important day for the franchise; it typically gives out Slurpees on the date it shares its name with.

It is unclear if the date or the free Slurpee giveaway had anything to do with the robberies.

“We don’t know if there’s any relation to today being July 11,” officer Ryan Railsback, a spokesman for the Riverside Police Department, told the New York Times. “Only the suspect can tell us that.”

There are more than 9,500 7-Eleven locations across the country, including 1,900 locations across California, which make up almost 20% of all U.S. locations.

R. Kelly Alleged Victim Claims They’re Engaged But Her Family Doesn’t Believe It
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 12, 2022

R. Kelly Alleged Victim Claims They’re Engaged But Her Family Doesn’t Believe It

Joycelyn Savage, one of the alleged victims of disgraced singer R. Kelly, revealed that the pair are engaged. But her family isn’t buying it.

In a letter Savage sent to Judge Ann Donnelly asking for leniency ahead of Kelly’s sentencing late last month, she claimed “I’m Robert Kelly’s fiance”, TMZ reports.

Savage, 26, gushed about how “amazing” her relationship with Kelly, 55, is and how she’s “not the victim that the government has portrayed me to be,” she wrote.

“He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Savage wrote in the letter.

“We have a very special connection and are deeply in love. I still support Robert to this day because I love him and will always be here to support him. Robert is not the monster that the government has described him to be. The Robert I know is very sweet, gentle, and kind. At the end of the day, he has always made sure that I’m taken care of, and any other women he was with as well.”

While the letter didn’t change the 30-year sentence R. Kelly was handed, it did alarm her parents, who had no idea about the alleged engagement.

“The family has not been notified of any such change in relationship status with Joycelyn Savage or Robert Sylvester Kelly,” attorney Gerald Griggs told Fox News on behalf of the family.

“The family has serious concerns about the validity of such a relationship giving the proven allegations against Mr. Kelly,” the statement continued. “The family still seeks direct contact with their beloved daughter Joycelyn and hopes to make contact with her separate and apart from Robert Sylvester Kelly. They love their daughter and will continue to be in her life long after Mr. Kelly is not.”

Kelly was sentenced to 30 years last month after he was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking. The disgraced Grammy Award-winning singer denies all wrongdoing and plans to appeal his conviction.

Black Banks Largely Trail Asian and Hispanic Banks In Number And Assets — Hurting Their Ability To Boost Black Wealth
by Jeffrey McKinney

July 12, 2022

Black Banks Largely Trail Asian and Hispanic Banks In Number And Assets — Hurting Their Ability To Boost Black Wealth

New data show Black banks fall extremely short in number and assets compared to banks owned by other ethnic groups across the United States.

Exactly 19 Black-owned banks had $7 billion in assets of the first quarter of this year, based on the “Mid-Year 2022 Minority Bank And Thrift Review” by Creative Investment Research. In contrast , 77 Asian-owned banks had $172 billion in assets and 33 Hispanic-owned banks had $141.6 billion in assets during the same time.

Simultaneously, 17 women-owned banks had assets of just over $9.75 billion.

The analysis reveals Black banks hold just roughly 2% of the $338 billion-plus for all ethnic banks examined. In contrast, Asian banks hold around 51% and Hispanic banks have about 42% of those assets.

“Black banks will never be meaningful at this level,” says William Michael Cunningham, an economist and owner of Creative Investment Research in Washington, D.C.

“They will always have limited impact.”

Assets at Black banks have grown since the George Floyd murder and COVID-19’s introduction to the world two years ago. Though relative to bank assets owned by other ethnic groups, not much has changed, Cunningham says.

The findings show Black banks lag peer banks in the key operating areas even as some of the nation’s largest banks have pledged billions of dollars to help African American banks grow in the past two years. The lower figures  also mean it will most likely take Black banks more time to trim the nation’s wealth gap for Black individuals and entrepreneurs, something much needed in the community.

The  solution is to meaningfully increase the number and assets of Black banks, Cunningham says.

“You need at least 50 new Black banks with $1 billion in assets each.” He added that could potentially happen if the Federal Reserve provided the capital and invited new Black participants into the sector.

Cunningham offered a $50 billion solution to the Black banking crisis in an opinion piece.

He tells BLACK ENTERPRISE the fresh research showed Asian and Hispanic banks have grown to their size because they have access to capital from people in their native countries. And he claims they don’t face the same elevated level of racial dissemination Black banks face, diminishing their ability to raise capital.

“Nothing will change for Black banks without the same kind of extra capital effort that the Fed made to prop up white banks after the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic,” Cunningham says.

Google Maps Has Made It Easier For Users To Find LGBTQ-Owned Businesses
by Derek Major

July 12, 2022

Google Maps Has Made It Easier For Users To Find LGBTQ-Owned Businesses

Google has introduced a label in Maps and search that allows businesses to self-identify as LGBTQ-owned, adding to a series of labels on the application.

Gizmodo reports the feature comes with the ability to report any related harassment. It is available to all businesses in the U.S. that have a profile on Google. Other labels already on the app identify businesses as Black, Latino, and veteran- and women-owned businesses.

The labels have to be applied by the business owners, not the public. Once added, the labels will show on Google Maps and in search results for LGBTQ+ owned businesses. Google already has tools and resources in place for people seeking LGBTQ+ businesses that allow business owners to add labels including LGBTQ-friendly, transgender safe space, and gender-neutral restrooms.

“This builds on our previous work with the globally available LGBTQ+ friendly and transgender safe space attributes, and offers a more objective attribute that only businesses can add to their profiles,” Mackenzie Thomas, product and marketing inclusion lead at Google, wrote in a blog post.

Business owners who want to apply the label will have to go to their profile, click on the edit profile button, and select “business information.” Users can then select the more tab and choose from categories that business owners can identify as.

Google has also included a system that allows business owners to report any abuse or harassment they receive from customers as a result of their label, including negative or abusive reviews and comments. Google will investigate each and all claims and take the appropriate action.

“A flag in the window of a small business has the power to bring queer folks together, to celebrate our joy, honor our history, and fight for our diverse community. It’s our hope that this attribute will allow business owners to celebrate their identity and community with the world,” Google added in the blog post.

Condoleezza Rice Joins Denver Broncos Ownership, Making Two Black Female Owners in NFL
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 12, 2022

Condoleezza Rice Joins Denver Broncos Ownership, Making Two Black Female Owners in NFL

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been added to the executive suite of the newly bought Denver Broncos.

The NFL team is now the first to have two Black women in an ownership group. After welcoming Mellody Hobson as part of The Walton-Penner group (ownership group of the Denver Broncos), Rice was added. 

“A highly respected public servant, accomplished academic and corporate leader, Secretary Rice is well known as a passionate and knowledgeable football fan who has worked to make the sport stronger and better,” Rob Walton, head of the ownership group, said in a statement. “She is the daughter of a football coach and served on the inaugural College Football Playoff Committee. She moved to Denver with her family when she was 12 years old and went on to attend the University of Denver for both college and graduate school. Her unique experience and extraordinary judgment will be a great benefit to our group and the Broncos organization.”

Rice was Secretary of State from 2005-2009 under then-President George W. Bush. In 2013 she was picked as one of the 13 members of the inaugural College Football Playoff Committee. She stayed there until the conclusion of the 2016 football season.

In 1984, Pat Bowlen purchased the Broncos and ceded control of the team in July 2014 to Joe Ellis, the Broncos’ team president and CEO, acknowledging that he had Alzheimer’s disease. Bowlen died in 2019, and the Pat Bowlen A trust took over ownership of the franchise, and initiated selling the team in February.

It was speculated the next owner would be Black due to recent news on how Black executives are treated in the NFL. Suitors such as Jay-Z, Byron Allen, and Robert F. Smith lined up; none of them got close to purchasing the team.

Black Don’t Crack! Simone Biles Offered a Coloring Book On Flight After Her Small Frame Mistaken For Being a Child
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 12, 2022

Black Don’t Crack! Simone Biles Offered a Coloring Book On Flight After Her Small Frame Mistaken For Being a Child

They say, ‘Black don’t crack.’ But Simone Biles’ beauty is so ageless that she’s often mistaken for a child.

The seven-time Olympic gold gymnast was in Washington DC, where she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday. On her flight home, Biles said a flight attendant mistook her for a child, Unilad reports.

Biles took to her Instagram Story to share the comical experience.

“Not the flight attendant trying to give me a coloring book when I board… I said ‘no I’m good, I’m 25,” she captioned the post.

“The other flight attendant gave me a mimosa so we’re in the clear,” she added.

At 4’8” and with a fresh face, Biles appears accustomed to being mistaken for a minor. But considering her résumé, celebrity status, and the giant diamond engagement ring on her finger, there are enough details to determine her adult status.

The post went viral after it was shared on Twitter by one user “crying” at the decorated gymnast being handed a coloring book.

“I would’ve taken it,” one user wrote. Another user who is also short-framed like Biles said she and her daughter hate when people say, “‘You’re so cuuuute!” And then they try and PICK YOU UP! I swear it’s the truth,” the user wrote.

Biles is tied for the most decorated gymnast in history and was in the nation’s capital as one of 17 people honored with the Presidental Medal of Freedom, NY Post reports. The decorated athlete is now the youngest recipient of the highest civilian honor a president can bestow.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)

When receiving the honor from President Joe Biden, Biles joked that she would have to find space for the medal among her 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. Other honorees include soccer star Megan Rapinoe, actor Denzel Washington, and Apple’s late co-founder, Steve Jobs.

Former WBLS Radio Host Shalia Scott Sues Station For Ageism, Discrimination After Termination
by Atiya Jordan

July 12, 2022

Former WBLS Radio Host Shalia Scott Sues Station For Ageism, Discrimination After Termination

New York City radio host Shalia Scott, who was terminated from her role at R&B station WBLS after nearly three decades on air, is firing back at her former employer with a lawsuit for discrimination and retaliation.

A complaint was filed on Friday in Manhattan federal court detailing an accusation against station owners MediaCo Holding Inc. and Emmis Communications Corp. of discriminating against the veteran host on both her age and gender, Billboard reported.

Additionally, attorneys for Scott, whose real name is Amilee Cattouse, say managers at WBLS “ridiculed” her on the basis of her age. Among other things, they told her not to play “old Negro spirituals” on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and not to create a concert lineup that was “too geriatric,” per the music and entertainment magazine.

The New York Daily News reported that the Harlem native, affectionately known as “New York’s Sweetheart,” announced her termination on June 2, claiming that the station’s parent company, MediaCo Holding Inc., decided not to renew her contract.

She added that the company told her “the station is going in a different direction.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shaila Scott (@shailakiss)

To date, Scott, who ranked No. 1 in her midday timeslot, reportedly has been replaced by someone that is approximately 25 years younger.

“This is yet another troubling example of the hurdles faced by even the most accomplished women,” attorney Valdi Licu said in a statement received by Vibe. “They are paid less than men who perform the same job and then discarded when they reach a certain age. Thankfully, Ms. Scott is one of the brave women who has decided to fight back.”

The lawsuit also claims Scott was paid significantly less than her male counterparts at Hot97, a popular urban contemporary station also owned by MediaCo, despite her “superior ratings and ability to generate revenue,” according to Billboard.

“I am shocked and saddened that WBLS decided that when I reached 59, it was time to discard me,” Scott, shared in a statement released by her law firm.

“I dedicated my career to radio and to the fans that listen, who I will miss greatly. I hope my decision to speak up will shine a light on the realities that women still get paid less than men for the same job and at a certain age, they are no longer valued.”

Scott’s departure from WBLS will only further her efforts for community work through her nonprofit, Sisterly Kiss Foundation. The New York radio legend was also recently heard on the recently launched millennial-focused classic hip-hop and R&B station, WXBK-FM “94.7 The Block.”

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