Shaquille O’Neal may be the first ex-NBA player to have a son and a daughter attend the same HBCU at the same time!

With a simple Instagram post with one line, O’Neal’s daughter, Amirah O’Neal, announced that she would be attending an HBCU, Texas Southern University.

“I see the doubt in they faces, they didn’t think I would make it, 🤟🏽” she wrote in the celebratory post.

 

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The 19-year-old was previously playing for her father’s school at Louisiana State University (LSU). She is now joining her brother, Shaqir O’Neal, who announced his intentions to play for TSU this fall earlier this year.

“SHAQIR O’NEAL IS GOING TO TEXAS SOUTHERN HBCU 💯 @shaqironeall @overtimenxt”

 

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According to HBCU Game Day, Amirah is a 6’1″ post player playing collegiate basketball under Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. During this COVID-19 shortened season, the TSU woman’s basketball team went 5-10 last year but had enjoyed a 20-10 win/loss record the previous season.

Amirah won’t be the only O’Neal to be in the same building this upcoming season. Her younger brother had already committed to the Houston HBCU earlier this year. The freshman will be playing for head coach Johnny Jones, who used to coach at Shaquille O’Neal’s alma mater, Louisiana State University.

It looks like it may soon be a family business as Amirah’s younger sister, Me’Arah, is being recruited by other Division I schools. Maybe she’ll also end up at Texas Southern University to join her siblings.

The bipartisan group of senators who introduced a $1 trillion infrastructure bill included several initiatives to help working families and people of color.

President Joe Biden and the group of senators, which did not include a single Black politician, announced the deal Saturday after months of back-and-forth negotiations.

The bill could be passed as soon as this week as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pushes the bill to get passed before Aug. 9, when a month-long recess for Congress starts.

Schumer urged all 100 senators to agree to start the amendment process Monday, saying the “longer it takes to finish the bill, the longer we’ll be here.”

The 2,702-page legislation includes a historic investment in broadband infrastructure deployment, helping lower prices for internet service and helping all Americans do their jobs, learn virtually, access healthcare, and stay connected.

According to the Joint Center for Political And Economic Studies, 34% of Black adults do not have home broadband, and 30.6% of Black households with one or more children age 17 or younger lack high-speed home internet.

The infrastructure bill also includes the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history. The bill will replace all of the nation’s lead service pipes to deliver safe and clean drinking water to families and children—including the families of color at the highest risk for lead exposure.

Communities of color in cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Newark are also at particular risk. In Flint, Michigan, where old, outdated water pipes resulted in lead poisoning for more than 10,000 children between 2015 and 2019, residents are still afraid to drink the public water.

Public transportation is also part of the bill. In addition to investments in already existing transportation systems, including New York’s MTA and Amtrak, the infrastructure package will replace thousands of transit vehicles, including buses, with clean, zero-emissions vehicles, reducing commute times and creating more opportunities for communities of color.

Reducing pollution in minority and low-income communities, including cleaning up Superfund sites, brownfields, coal, hard rock mines, and natural gas wells, is also included. The effort will not only clean up pollution in minority communities but, in doing so, create good-paying, union jobs in rural and minority communities.

The infrastructure package will also invest in the resilience of physical and natural systems in American history, helping safeguard communities of color from the climate crisis and extreme weather events, including storms, floods, landslides, wildfires, and winter storms.

“Given how bipartisan the bill is, and how much work has already been put in to get the details right, I believe the Senate can quickly process relevant amendments and pass this bill in a matter of days,” Schumer said according to CNBC.

• Business

by Kia Morgan Smith

August 2, 2021

Experiment Proves People With ‘Black-Sounding’ Names Have Harder Time Landing Jobs

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If you have a “distinctively Black name,” you are less likely to get that call back on a job interview, a nationwide study confirmed.

In the recent study, researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of California Berkeley sent out more than 83,000 fictitious job applications to 108 of the largest U.S. companies and found that applicants with randomly assigned, Black-sounding names were 2.1 percentage points less likely to get a phone call back.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, this translates to at least 7% of all jobs included in the experiment that discriminated against the fIctitious Black names.

“Our findings establish that systemic illegal discrimination is concentrated among a select set of large employers, many of which can be identified with high confidence using large scale inference methods,” according to the study. “Employment discrimination is a stubbornly persistent social problem.”

These findings will likely not come as a surprise to many Black job applicants, who have sued Fortune 500 companies in recent years for employment discrimination. Companies, including Coca-Cola, Google, and Target, have shelled out money over accusations of racial bias and discrimination against employees, according to Business Insider. Many other companies, such as Amazon and Facebook, have also faced racial bias accusations in the past.

One need just look at the racial makeup of some of these companies – particularly in the higher-paid, C-suite positions – to notice that Black people are majorly underrepresented across corporate America. These findings were also backed up in a 2018 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the most recent study, companies ranking in the top fifth of the study for racial bias were responsible for nearly half of the incidents of “lost contacts to Black applicants.”

Dawn Onley is a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 2, 2021

Meet The Black Woman Behind the Unique Paint, Sip and Sail Boating Experience #BlackBusinessMonth

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Captain Nashawn Taylor is the genius behind the country’s premiere paint, sip, and sail boating experience.

The DMV-based certified master captain is the owner of Be You!, “the one and only, artistic paint and sail charter,” her company website reads. As an artist and lover of the seas, Taylor was inspired to combine her passions into a unique one-of-a-kind experience that has received rave reviews.

“I’m an artist, and I’ve been doing art all my life and I also love the water,” Taylor told Travel Noire. “I’m a police officer by day and have worked on the marine unit patrolling the water. I liked the water so much that I decided to get my own boat.”

“That’s when I decided to combine my experiences and decided to do paint and sail because I realized No one else had that.”

Taylor has done her research and says her sip and sail experience is the only one you can find along the East Coast. Guests start off on the dock, where they paint on wine glasses before embarking on a yacht party that has the pictures to prove how lit things can get.

 

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“It’s all about expressing yourself,” she said. “It’s about enjoying your freedom, and your time. It’s more than just doing a boat charter. By booking with us, you’re getting an amazing sightseeing tour along with the painting.”

Taylor works with her guests to provide luxury and lavish packages for small and large groups that can include catered meals.

“It’s a one-stop-shop where you have the artistic portion and the painting on the water,” Taylor said.

The Black female boss recently celebrated her own birthday in Aruba and, of course, had a blast out on the water.

“Aruba is on fire,” she captioned a photo slide. “It’s still my birthday. Captian QT,” she added in hashtags.

Talk about living your best life. Taylor has it all covered.

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 2, 2021

Meet The Black Woman Behind Amazon’s $150 Million Black Business Accelerator Initiative #BlackBusinessMonth

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It was during a normal coffee break in 2019 when Tiffany Johnson joined with two other Amazon employees to come up with an idea to help Black business owners succeed as selling partners with Amazon.

Johnson, Rachad Lewis, and Jeremy Erdman teamed up to launch Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator (BBA) program that uses a $150 million pledge to help Black entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and marketing support.

“I want to help businesses that are overlooked,” Johnson says of her meaningful full at the retail giant. “The role small businesses play in our society is very personal to me.”

The Amazon program manager was already working to help small business owners grow on Amazon when she spearheaded the idea of the BBA program.

“My parents were entrepreneurs,” the Guyana native said. “They started several small businesses out of nothing and built them from the ground up.”

“I remember starting with a little shack in front of our home selling candies,” she recalled. “Then we moved to St. Lucia and started all over again. My parents sold movies, belts, sandals— typical items that tourists would look for when they come to the islands. What little they made, they took it and expanded on it to help the community.”

Johnson credits her parents’ drive and ambition for inspiring her to find her own way to pay it forward.

“Seeing my parents ignited a passion in me to create opportunities for others,” Johnson said. “I joined Amazon because I wanted to help sellers just like my parents find their opportunity.”

Johnson shared how seeing Black businesses struggle amid the ongoing pandemic motivated her to create a way for Amazon to help entrepreneurs in need while working against issues of systemic racism.

“It focuses on empowering Black-owned businesses on Amazon, providing the tools, capital, and support they need to become successful,” she said. “It’s not just a program, it’s a community. Whether you’re in the ideation phase or have an existing business and feel stuck, we want to support you.”

Over the next four years, Amazon’s BBA program is working to help Black business owners reach millions of customers across the country.

“We’re in a position to support these businesses and help their communities,” Johnson said. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 2, 2021

DaBaby Backpedals, Issues Apology For Homophobic Comments After Steady Stream of Cancellations

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When it rains, it pours!

Also known as rapper “DaBaby,” Jonathan Lyndale Kirk has been embroiled in controversy since he made homophobic remarks last week during his performance at Rolling Loud Miami.

Based on the remarks, he was dropped from yesterday’s Lollapalooza Festival. The Governors Ball Music Festival organizers announced earlier today that they had removed him from its upcoming lineup in New York City.

“Founders Entertainment does not and will not tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind. We welcome and celebrate the diverse communities that make New York City the greatest city in the world. Thank you to the fans who continue to speak up for what is right. Along with you, we will continue to use our platform for good.”

Stay tuned for a lineup addition. pic.twitter.com/ED4rhbL9Wm

— The Governors Ball (@GovBallNYC) August 2, 2021

The Governors Ball Music Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary, which is scheduled to take place Sept. 24 through Sept. 26 at Citi Field in Queens.

Now the rapper is walking back his comments and on Monday issued an apology saying the education he got about the matter was “received.”

 

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This cancellation comes on the heels of the organizers for Lollapalooza announcing via its Twitter account yesterday that they were taking DaBaby off its showcase of artists in Chicago yesterday.

Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love. With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight. Young Thug will now perform at 9:00pm on the Bud Light Seltzer Stage, and G Herbo will perform at 4:00pm on the T-Mobile Stage. pic.twitter.com/Mx4UiAi4FW

— Lollapalooza (@lollapalooza) August 1, 2021

According to CBS News, the initial fallout took place after comments DaBaby made while onstage at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami on July 25. “If you didn’t show up today with HIV/AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cell phone light up.”

Earlier today, Day N Vegas also announced DaBaby’s removal from its lineup for a planned November show.

“DaBaby will no longer be appearing at Day N Vegas 2021. Roddy Ricch has been added to the lineup.”

 

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• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 2, 2021

White Wendy’s Manager Fired After Being Caught on Video Calling Black Worker a ‘Communist’ B-Word

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A white manager at Wendy’s was caught on video berating a Black woman cashier in a nasty tirade and calling her a “‘communist f****** b*tch.” As a result, the woman was suspended for recording the video and sending it to upper management.

However, after the video of the confrontation went viral, Wendy’s changed course and fired the white manager, TMZ reports.

The Black woman, Sophia Cargill from Kalamazoo, Michigan, posted the video on TikTok and Instagram under the handle @mon3adatmac. As you can witness in the video clip below, she filmed the video to report the hostile work environment she had to endure.

Cargill created a GoFundMe account asking for donations to help her out while she decides if she will pursue legal actions since she was suspended without pay. She has raised approximately $13,000 out of the $25,000 she is requesting.

On July 28, after recording and then posting the video to her social media accounts, Cargill posted a message on her Facebook page asking for assistance in the matter.

“I’m being harassed at work I need help from the community to report this man to Corporate the number is below please help put an end to this the other two photos are there is to show you no one wants to work at Wendy’s on Gull Road. Two managers have quit. I’m A GM in trading the man in the pictures is the Assistant store manager please let’s help end this type of harassment and toxic workplaces!! The video is on my page”

According to TMZ, a Wendy’s spokesperson responded to the incident by stating, “We have no tolerance for harassment in the workplace. Upon learning of this situation, we acted immediately following our protocols and suspended those involved to run a thorough investigation.”

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 2, 2021

Black Women Fail Drug Test, Lose Jobs, After Drinking Popular Iaso Tea Laced With THC

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The CEO of a popular tea company has had to answer hard questions about recent claims that his weight loss tea has caused people to fail drug tests.

Back in March when several women in Charlotte, NC, came forward with claims that the Iaso Tea caused them to lose their jobs due to failed drug tests, WSOC reported. Three accused Total Life Changes (TLC) of having traces of THC in its raspberry lemonade tea.

The women claim they were fired from their jobs after they failed mandatory drug tests. They were tested positive for THC, the chemical found in marijuana. Now they are part of a class action lawsuit.

One woman, D’etta Friday, began using the product last July after seeing ads for TLC and talking to a friend who was selling the Iaso tea. But after applying for worker’s comp following an injury, she was surprised when the company asked her how long she had been consuming marijuana.

“She was like, ‘How long have you been using marijuana?’ And I said, ‘What? Marijuana? No, I don’t do drugs,’” Friday recalled. “I’m an advocate. I’m in minister classes. I’m writing a book. I’m doing all of this positive stuff in my community.”

However, she was called into human resources and fired from her job due to the failed drug test.

“I told him it says ‘0.0 THC.’ This is what I’ve been taking,” Friday said. “I do not do drugs. They escorted me to HR and HR took my badge and I’m in tears.”

Last Thursday, WSOC caught up with TLC’s owner Jack Fallon and asked him about the claims against his company’s products.

“We use third-party manufacturers all over the world,” Fallon said. “We trusted them and obviously we got let down in some of these instances.”

Fallon claims his company has stopped working with the manufacturers who added THC to his raspberry lemonade tea product. TLC no longer advertises its raspberry lemonade tea as having 0.0 percent THC and the company website has been updated to include a disclaimer, saying people subject to drug testing should avoid drinking it.

A class action lawsuit has now been filed by people who say they have suffered because of the positive drug tests. Both Kim Agnew-Edwards and Friday are included the lawsuit and told WSBTV that they had drugs tests that came up positive because of the tea.

Jennifer Montgomery told the outlet she drank the tea for five months then got a job as a truck driver but was let go because of the positive test result for marijuana.

“They don’t want to hear it. They have taken my license. Now they’re saying I have to go through some type of drug classes,” Montgomery told the outlet.

Reuters – U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday put fresh pressure on the White House to reinstate a COVID-19 pandemic-related residential eviction moratorium after lawmakers failed to extend it before it lapsed over the weekend.

House Democrats made an effort https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-house-take-up-residential-eviction-moratorium-extension-2021-07-30 to extend the moratorium implemented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to Oct. 18 but a Republican congressman blocked their bid to pass the measure by unanimous consent on Friday. The moratorium has protected millions of Americans who have fallen behind on rent from being forced from apartments and houses.

In a letter to fellow House Democrats, Pelosi on Monday urged President Joe Biden‘s administration to renew the moratorium without congressional action. Pelosi told lawmakers such an extension would provide more time to speed distribution of $46.5 billion already allocated by Congress for rental relief. Only about $3 billion of that sum has been distributed.

“The money must flow, and the moratorium must be extended by the administration,” Pelosi wrote.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plans to brief lawmakers on the eviction mitigation funds on Tuesday, Pelosi said.

Biden last Thursday urged Congress to extend the moratorium, noting that a Supreme Court opinion last month indicated that legislative approval would be required to do so.

Pelosi on Friday initially wanted the House to pass legislation that would extend the moratorium through the end of the year, then decided to pursue a renewal through Oct. 18 with a legislative maneuver requiring unanimous consent. In the end, Democratic leaders did not bring any legislation to a formal vote amid concerns by some lawmakers. The Senate also would have to approve any renewal passed by the House.

More than 15 million people in 6.5 million U.S. households are currently behind on rental payments, according to a study by the Aspen Institute and the CCOVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, collectively owing more than $20 billion to landlords.

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty said the moratorium’s end means “thousands of Black families and children could lose the roof over their heads at a time when the deadly pandemic is surging once again, and their lives are in disorder due to the pandemic.”

Landlord groups have opposed the moratorium, which the CDC implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19 and prevent homelessness during the pandemic. The CDC first issued it in September 2020 after a prior moratorium approved by Congress expired. The agency most recently extended it in June for a month before it finally expired at midnight https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-covid-19-residential-eviction-ban-set-expire-midnight-2021-07-31 on Saturday.

The National Apartment Association, with 82,600 members that collectively manage more than 9.7 million rental units, last week sued the U.S. government seeking billions of dollars in unpaid rent due to the moratorium.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Will Dunham)

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 2, 2021

‘Celebrity Influencer’ Pleads Guilty to Scamming $24 Million From Followers

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Social media has paved the way for plenty of pitfalls and potholes filled with people’s lies pretending to live larger than they actually do in real life.

In fact, one curious case has landed “Celebrity influencer,” Nigerian National “Ray Hushpuppi,” in a world of trouble after he admitted to his role in money laundering in school financing scams and additional cyber and business email compromise schemes, according to the Department of Justice.

Born Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, “Ray Hushpuppi” was indicted on April 29 and it was unsealed on July 26, showing that he, along with five other defendants, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

The criminal complaint that was started by the prosecution in February was also unsealed Monday.

The document revealed that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian National, pleaded guilty back on April 20. Abbas’ plea agreement, which was filed late last Tuesday, outlines his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that caused more than $24 million in losses to his fanbase.

“The defendants allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off,” Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison said in a written statement.

“Mr. Abbas, who played a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means. In conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we will identify and prosecute perpetrators of business email compromise scams, which is a massive and growing international crime problem.”